Report of the Global Commission on Drugs

[CV32]

Report of the Global Commission on Drugs

 

[excerpt]

 

The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. Fifty years after the initiation of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and 40 years after President Nixon launched the US government’s war on drugs, fundamental reforms in national and global drug control policies are urgently needed.

 

Vast expenditures on criminalization and repressive measures directed at producers, traffickers and consumers of illegal drugs have clearly failed to effectively curtail supply or consumption. Apparent victories in eliminating one source or trafficking organization are negated almost instantly by the emergence of other sources and traffickers. Repressive efforts directed at consumers impede public health measures to reduce HIV/AIDS, overdose fatalities and other harmful consequences of drug use. Government expenditures on futile supply reduction strategies and incarceration displace more cost-effective and evidence-based investments in demand and harm reduction.

[Silent Hunter UK]

Yep, saw the story about this; the right-wing press here took considerable exception.

[Warhorse64]

Heh ... it has, however, succeeded admirably in providing a lot of jobs for a lot of people in the enforcement area. Are we quite sure that wasn't the object all along?

[CV32]

I guess I consider myself pretty "right wing" on most issues, but I don't see the "drug war" as winnable either.