9 replies to this topic

[TakeAStepBack]

http://www.guardian....ugs-not-working

Governments should decriminalise drug use, according to high profile panel, including Kofi Annan and Richard Branson


The global war on drugs has failed and governments should explore legalising marijuana and other controlled substances, according to a commission that includes former heads of state and a former UN secretary general.

A new report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy argues that the decades-old "global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world." The 24-page paper was released on Thursday.

"Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won," the report said.

The 19-member commission includes former UN chief Kofi Annan and former US official George Schultz, who held cabinet posts under Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Others include former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, former presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, the authors Carlos Fuentes and Mario Vargas Llosa, the businessman Sir Richard Branson and the Greek prime minister, George Papandreou.

Instead of punishing users, who the report says "do no harm to others", the commission argues that governments should end criminalisation of drug use; experiment with legal models that would undermine organised crime syndicates; and offer health and treatment services for drug-users in need.

The commission called for drug policies based on methods empirically proven to reduce crime, lead to better health and promote economic and social development.

The commission is especially critical of the US, which its members say must lead changing its anti-drug policies from being guided by anti-crime approaches to ones rooted in healthcare and human rights.

"We hope this country [the US] at least starts to think there are alternatives," said the former Colombian president C

[deadheadskier]

wonder how many people have died due to the war on drugs vs how many would have had we just legalized it all and treated addicts as people with a disease, not criminals.

[TakeAStepBack]

Number of sentenced prisoners in federal prison by most serious offense
Offense 2000 2008 2009 Share 2009 % Chg 2000-2009
TOTAL 131,739 182,333 187,886 100.0% +42.6%
Violent 13,740 15,483 14,773 7.9% +7.5%
Property 10,135 11,080 10,913 5.8% +7.7%
Drug 74,276 95,079 95,205 50.7% +28.2%
Public-order 32,325 59,298 65,678 35.0% +103.2%
Other/unspecified 1,263 1,394 1,317 0.7% +4.3%


Not to mention those incarcerated, which we pay for, for nonviolent drug offenses. In 2009, 50% of the total were incarcerated on drug offenses....

[vic]

Number of sentenced prisoners in federal prison by most serious offense
Offense 2000 2008 2009 Share 2009 % Chg 2000-2009
TOTAL 131,739 182,333 187,886 100.0% +42.6%
Violent 13,740 15,483 14,773 7.9% +7.5%
Property 10,135 11,080 10,913 5.8% +7.7%
Drug 74,276 95,079 95,205 50.7% +28.2%
Public-order 32,325 59,298 65,678 35.0% +103.2%
Other/unspecified 1,263 1,394 1,317 0.7% +4.3%


Not to mention those incarcerated, which we pay for, for nonviolent drug offenses. In 2009, 50% of the total were incarcerated on drug offenses....

you got a source for that? wanna show it to someone

[TakeAStepBack]

Sure thing, vic.

http://www.drugwarfa...isons_and_Jails

The site sources its info from .gov

[In A Silent Way]

Check your premisses. Is the purpose of drug laws to prevent drug use, or to keep people in the enforcement industry employed?

[deadheadskier]

We'd be better off if all those working in enforcement worked in treatment instead

[TakeAStepBack]

Check your premisses. Is the purpose of drug laws to prevent drug use, or to keep people in the enforcement industry employed?

That's the crux, IASW. The unsaid reality of the situation.

[TakeAStepBack]

Also the profitability of the war. It's simply legalized robbery. These agencies bust "criminals" on the street for selling drugs they then confinscate and send back out onto the street through the back door at profit.

Shit, the CIA got caught red handed flying yayo into the country and distributing it through "organized crime".....

[TakeAStepBack]