Chronja HaZe

Despite opening with an attack on legalization, the UN's new World Drug Report 2009 is refreshingly candid about the limitations of the criminal justice approach to drug use. Ryan Grim at Huffington Post notes that the report praises Portugal's decriminalization policy, which is remarkable considering that the UN had previously "suggested the policy was in violation of international drug treaties and would encourage 'drug tourism.'"

Attitudes are beginning to change at the UN, as this passage from the report clearly illustrates: At times, drug possession can serve as a pretext to detain an otherwise dangerous or suspect individual, but otherwise, the law must allow for non-custodial alternatives when a police officer stumbles upon small amounts of drugs. It is important that the incident be documented and the opportunity availed to direct the user to treatment if required, but it is rarely beneficial to expend limited prison space on such offenders. According to surveys, between a quarter and a half of the population of many countries in Europe and North America has been in possession of illicit drugs at one time or another in their lives. Most remained productive citizens. In only a small share of these cases would arrest, and the lifelong stigma it brings, have been appropriate.

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Zocalo

Ohhh this is good news. I wanna show it to my mother who literally thinks the U.N. is the greatest thing mankind has made (she used to work there).

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kuipo

I'm really glad of reading this, since it means there are still some intelligent people up there on power. Hopefully, more governments will understand this and do the best thing for their citizens.

DoobieBrother

Too bad our own drug czar won't even acknowledge these latest findings.

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We must do everything we can to keep Republicans out of office. If they ever regain majority, Republicans will erase everything we've worked for and put us right back where we started.

Ygdonmir

I was very surprised to see the UN change their stance on prohibition lately. It doesn't mean everyone will listen, but it's a huge step towards an end to this drug war nonsense.

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"Three things cannot long be hidden. The sun, the moon and the truth." -Buddha

Gee

Having the UN back decriminalization shows how things are dramatically changing.

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Legalize Cannabis and live Life in High Definition