World figures call for legal regulation of drug use

[TheDemSocialist]

Otto Pérez Molina, the president of Guatemala, floated an audacious idea last December. His government was considering legalizing the production of opium poppy — the source of heroin — as an alternative to combating drug-fueled bloodshed in Central America, where the number of violent deaths today mirrors those of the 1980s, when the region was entangled in civil wars.That seemingly fanciful proposal gained steam on Monday with the release of a pioneering report, “Take Control: Pathways to Drug Policies That Work.” In it a group of global luminaries calls for the decriminalization of all drug use and the legal regulation of psychoactive substances. The Global Commission on Drugs — headed by the likes of former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Reagan-era U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and former presidents of Latin America — represents the most distinguished group of leaders to call for drastic drug policy alternatives.
Punitive drug laws, the commission says, must be replaced by public health principles and a focus on human rights. Treat drug users as patients, not criminals, its members say, and counter drug traffickers by regulating illegal drug markets and slicing into the money — and power — generated by drug syndicates, which the United Nations estimates rake in $330 billion a year.
“The call for experimentation with regulation is just common sense, given the failures of the current one-size-fits-all approach," said John Collins, coordinator of the London School of Economics’ IDEAS International Drug Policy Project. “It’s clear that the old approach is politically unsustainable as member states such as the U.S. and Uruguay move ahead with new models of regulation around cannabis.”

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One things is for sure is that the world as a whole needs to reform how we look at drugs. I dont know if we should decriminalize everything, but I do believe we need to start looking at drug addiction as a disease.

 

[Simon Feltser]

All of the current politicians running for the office of the President of the United States have some connections to the pharmaceutical companies. President Obama of course promoted the largest government takeover of drugs with his “health-care” bill. This bill will be determined to be either unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, or it will become law. Under President Obama’s bill, if it is fully enacted, we will be forced to purchase private insurance allowing more Americans to become insured and purchase health care services and products, including drugs. I will be forced to pay for coverage of health services and products that I myself don’t consume, just so others who are normally too high of a risk to insure can purchase their drugs and services. I will probably choose to pay a fine instead, because I cannot morally contribute to a criminal industry that murders more people than it heals. Also, in 2009 the Obama White House reportedly made a secret deal with the pharmaceutical lobby to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government’s leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada

 

[TheDemSocialist]

This bill will be determined to be either unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, or it will become law.

This was decided a couple years ago...

 

[Simon Feltser]

This was decided a couple years ago...

Yes, yes. Mistake, sorry. By inattention

 

[oneworld2]

I don't think prohibition works and welcome any moves to initiate a more progressive outlook towards drug use and drug users.

TBH I didn't read all of the link but I do recall José Mujica{ amazing man and life too ) , the Uruguayan president , making similar moves to regulate the use of marijuana in his country. His arguments made perfect sense to me

 

[Reformedfindlay]

Yes, yes. Mistake, sorry. By inattention

we all mistakes, but i dont jealous you

 

[oneworld2]

On second thoughts it might lead to a rise in poor decision making