UN and WHO call for drugs to be decriminalised

[Chris0nllyn]

Buried in a joint release on ending healthcare discrimination, the organisations called for the “reviewing and repealing punitive laws that have been proven to have negative health outcomes” by member states.

Among a number of measures, this included “drug use or possession of drugs for personal use”.

While the WHO has previously called for drugs to be decriminalised in the context of HIV reduction, the UN has limited its calls to health- and evidence-based solutions to drug abuse.

But last month, on the International Day Against Drug Abuse, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for tackling the problem through “prevention and treatment,” adhering to human rights.

Mr Guterres was Prime Minister of Portugal when the country launched its landmark drug decriminalisation programme, which also introduced greater resources for drug prevention and treatment projects.

Portugal saw its drug fatalities fall to one of the lowest in Europe and also reduced the prevalence of HIV among injectors.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/h...ganisation-drugs-decriminalised-a7818726.html

 

[Gilligan]

Meanwhile, in Holland, the Dutch have undergone a nearly 180-degree reversal in recreational drug policies, closing most of the "coffee shops" and banning tourists from the rest. As the rest of the world, including the US, seems to be moving toward something resembling aspects of the old Dutch model, the Dutch have, in the last 10-15 years, reversed course to a significant degree.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Meanwhile, in Holland, the Dutch have undergone a nearly 180-degree reversal in recreational drug policies, closing most of the "coffee shops" and banning tourists from the rest. As the rest of the world, including the US, seems to be moving toward something resembling aspects of the old Dutch model, the Dutch have, in the last 10-15 years, reversed course to a significant degree.

They certainly tightened up on the coffee shops, but they still have the Dutch drug model that puts aid above stigmatizing drug use as we do here.

Given the number of years the Dutch had "their way" and the US had "our way", only 26% of Dutch people used marijuana in their life. 5% used cocaine. Compare that to 44% and 14% respectively for the US.

 

[Gilligan]

Given the number of years the Dutch had "their way" and the US had "our way", only 26% of Dutch people used marijuana in their life. 5% used cocaine. Compare that to 44% and 14% respectively for the US.

Considering the extent to which cocaine, opioid and synthetic drug trafficking cases occupy their legal system, that 5% number seems odd.

 

[Wishbone]

Considering the extent to which cocaine, opioid and synthetic drug trafficking cases occupy their legal system, that 5% number seems odd.

It's been adjusted downward to compensate for global warming.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

Considering the extent to which cocaine, opioid and synthetic drug trafficking cases occupy their legal system, that 5% number seems odd.

That area is a large hub for drugs. They focus a lot of energy preventing trafficking, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that they are prosecuting trafficking cases.

A European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) report says 3.6% for people 15-35 years old.
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/4512/TD0616155ENN.pdf

 

[Gilligan]

I spent quite a bit of time in Holland, working, back in the 90s. Very interesting country, to say the least. ;-)

 

[Hijinx]

I spent quite a bit of time in Holland, working, back in the 90s. Very interesting country, to say the least. ;-)

Lets send all of our drug addicts to Holland. Let them treat them.

 

[GURPS]

decriminalize all drugs - fire everyone at the DEA [may be they can get jobs as mall cops]