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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUruguay: President Mujica Blasts UN Official For Saying He Can't Legalize Marijuana
By Steve Elliott Hemp News Uruguay President Jose "Pepe" Mujica certainly didn't take any nonsense from the president of the International Narcotics Control Board, a United Nations agency, who claimed that Uruguay refused to meet with the agency before legalizing marijuana this week.
President Mujica brushed aside the criticism of INCB President Raymond Yans, calling Yans a liar and insisting his administration, despite what Yans says, is willing to discuss the law, reports Roque Planas at The Huffington Post.
Mujica accused Yans of using a double standard by criticizing Uruguay but saying nothing about two U.S. states, Colorado and Washington, legalizing recreational marijuana, pointing out that either of the states' populations exceed Uruguay's 3.4 million inhabitants.
"It's a vision of pirates, of a country which does not abandon the convention nor does it respect it," Yans had said on Wednesday, reports MercoPress. "We hope Uruguayan authorities understand this is a mistake, that it's not the correct path to follow when it comes to issues related to drugs."
- See more at: http://hemp.org/news/content/uruguay-president-mujica-blasts-un-official-saying-he-cant-legalize-marijuana#sthash.msRACUsN.dpuf
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seattledo
(295 posts)While I agree with what Uruguay is doing, I hope this doesn't make the UN look weak.
peoli
(3,111 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)I suppose someone on the UN security council could try to impose sanctions on Uruguay for its alleged violation of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Good luck with that.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)I don't think it makes them look weak, it just makes them look petty and meddlesome.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)On purpose.
Marijuana sales remain technically illegal, even though they are regulated under the Dutch policy of "pragmatic tolerance."
Just so they wouldn't violate the convention.
1000words
(7,051 posts)The point is there is a model that is managing just fine, and as far as I know Uruguay is not proposing anything radically different, aside from failing to placate the UN.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)peoli
(3,111 posts)
RainDog
(28,784 posts)Since they are now in negotiations with all nations who are signatory to the drug laws that the U.S. pushed for the U.N. back in 1961, then again in 1971, and so on.
More and more nations want the leeway to try other ways to deal with damage from illegal drug use - including removing the profit from marijuana, in this case, and making it something available via collectives with a set govt. price.
Nations should have this right to try other things since the international and national War on Drugs is a failure and a cash cow for special interests.
edited to add link about the wider story here - the ten year drug policy statement now under revision. a draft was leaked to the press, which is highly unusual. so, assume some nations are fighting back against U.S. demands for drug policy via the U.N.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11701527
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)...this is the UN. Change happens at a glacial pace. Maybe we'll see serious efforts to reform or remake the global prohibition treaties in 2026 or 2036. In the meantime, more countries acting like Uruguay (and Bolivia, which has rejected the treaty provisions on the coca leaf) can leave them even more tattered.
