Global Commission Reports the War on Drugs Is Failing, It's Time to Decriminalize teleSUR
go to original November 27, 2016

For the first half of 2016, Mexico’s murder rate rose over 15 percent compared to last year. This has prompted concern that the country’s recent gains in quelling the drug war might be slowing down. (CCTV America)

Drug criminalization as part of the ongoing war on drugs creates incredible economic and human harm across the world and it needs to change, according to a new report from the Global Drug Commission on Drug Policy.

In what the Commission has been arguing for years, the report advocated the decriminalization of drugs, and to combat violence, organized crime, high incarceration rates and improve security, as well as public health while saving money.

Decriminalization, however, should not be confused with legalization. While decriminalization would differ across legal systems, people using drugs or in possession of a personal amount would not be hit by criminal sanctions, including a criminal record, jail time, or in some countries even death.

The report detailed that while millions of people use drugs in nonviolent ways, for different reasons ranging from religious to recreational, “the predominant approach of governments around the world is to criminalize those who use and/or possess drugs.”

The report “Advancing Drug Policy Reform: A new approach to decriminalization,” outlined five key recommendations for governments. States were urged to abolish criminal, civil and death penalties for drug-related offenses.

Furthermore, states were recommended to implement alternative measures for low-level and nonviolent people involved in the drug trade and “eventually explore regulatory models for all illicit drugs.” On the international level, U.N. member states were urged to remove the penalization of drug possession as part of international drug treaties.

Read the rest at teleSUR

Related: Proposed Law in Mexico Could Expand Military Role in Drug War (InSight Crime)

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