Latin America

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts) Sun May 26, 2013, 03:45 PM May 2013

OAS chief calls for drug violence debate

OAS chief calls for drug violence debate

Push for reform to the "war on drugs" grows ahead of an Organisation of American States meeting in Guatemala in June.

Joe Hitchon Last Modified: 26 May 2013 12:49

Washington, DC - Following the release of a major draft report on drug policy in the Americas, the secretary-general of the Organisation of American States (OAS) has called for debate aimed at reform throughout the region to halt drug-related violence and increasing use.

"Delivering this report today," Jose Miguel Insulza said, “we are encouraged by the sincere aspiration, which I now have the privilege of presenting to the entire hemisphere, that this is not a conclusion but only the beginning of a long-awaited discussion.”

The draft report was shared with the 35 member countries of the OAS, and is now scheduled to be discussed in depth at the upcoming organisation's general assembly, on June 4 in Guatemala.

The call for a new debate comes in light of a strengthened resolve on the issue throughout the region. This relates to the violence associated with drug trafficking as seen along the US- Mexico border, as well as an increased prevalence of drug use and growing demand for health care services to treat addictions.

More:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/2013525124830563273.html

4 replies

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OAS chief calls for drug violence debate (Original Post) Judi Lynn May 2013 OP

Major! pgallahue May 2013 #1

Appreciate seeing your article. Glad Pres. Obama was there to witness Judi Lynn May 2013 #3

Yesterday the Uruguayan Parliament began working on a bill to totally legalize marijuana Catherina May 2013 #2

Outstanding news, and good video. Judi Lynn May 2013 #4

pgallahue

(16 posts)

1. Major!

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue May 28, 2013, 01:09 PM

May 2013

This is an absolutely huge development. Thanks for sharing this Judi.

It's hard to know exactly how this will play out but it lays the groundwork for a future debate. For more on this see:

A New Beginning on Drug Policy

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States released a report that considers possible alternatives to current drug policies internationally and represents the most high-level discussion about drug law reform ever undertaken.

The report envisions possibilities for ending the war on drugs as well as the introduction of policies rooted in public health and human rights.

Read the rest at: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/new-beginning-drug-policy

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts)

3. Appreciate seeing your article. Glad Pres. Obama was there to witness

Reply to pgallahue (Reply #1)

Wed May 29, 2013, 04:37 AM

May 2013

the fact the Americas are NOT satisfied with maintaining this approach. Hope he heard enough to promote some deeper, more serious thought about it.

The people who are doing all the suffering are the poor, both south of the border and within the U.S. What a shame. Everyone else is making out like bandits, all the way to the people who build and staff all the new private prisons to house all the small non-violent criminals caught with small amounts by US cops.

Welcome to D.U., pgallahue.

Catherina

(35,568 posts)

2. Yesterday the Uruguayan Parliament began working on a bill to totally legalize marijuana

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Tue May 28, 2013, 02:10 PM

May 2013

It's not going to be as open as Mujica first proposed because 60% of the country had concerns about legalizing it but his plan is to totally legalize the sale and consumption.

They're looking at the drunk driving laws and how to incorporate marijuana into those. Prensa Latina had a good article about that a few days ago but I can't find it now.

The bill legalizing the sale and use of marijuana in Uruguay will be discussed in Parliament in June, after undergoing several changes, Julio Bango, deputy of the ruling Frente Amplio (FA) and one of its promoters said on Monday.

Bango said the bill "is very close to reaching consensus" within the party and that they plan to "discuss the bill in the House of Representatives in late June" and pass the Senate in September if approved.

The bill authorizes the State to take "control and regulation of the business of importing, exporting, planting, cultivation, harvesting, production, acquisition, storage, marketing and distribution of cannabis or its derivatives."

The ruling leftist coalition has a majority in both the House of Representatives, where they are currently analyzing the bill, and also in the Senate, where it will be sent later, but the legalization of marijuana generates controversy and divides all parliamentary parties .
Bango also announced that the project will present new developments regarding the draft than previously known.

For example, you introduce the possibility of penalizing drivers who drive under the influence of cannabis "as part of the law on drivers who are under the influence of alcohol", and ban "any publicity that encourages the consumption of cannabis. "
"This law does not aim to promote the use of the drug, but regularizing and reducing abuse," he added.

...

http://www.ntn24.com/noticias/proyecto-de-ley-que-legaliza-92378

This AJE report was filmed before that

Judi Lynn

(160,621 posts)

4. Outstanding news, and good video.

Reply to Catherina (Reply #2)

Wed May 29, 2013, 04:44 AM

May 2013

That spokesman for the Uruguayan opposition just didn't disappoint at all, did he? Why is it they all look alike, eventually? Their rotten characters eventually take control of their faces regardless of how they started out.

Hilarious.

Great seeing Lucia Newman again. She was great working in the U.S., too.

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