Drug Law Reform

Systems Overload: Drug Laws and Prisons in Latin America

Study reveals alarming pattern in imprisonment for drug crimes in Latin America
Tackle Burma's Drugs Problem

Policy priorities should focus on how best to manage and reduce the many health and social harms associated with the reality of a persistent and ever changing drugs market.
A breakthrough in the making?

There is an undeniable regional trend of moving away from the ‘war on drugs’ in Latin America. This briefing explains the background, summarises the state of ongoing drug law reforms, and makes recommendations to move the debate forward.
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Czech Republic exemplifies smart and humane drug policy

There is nothing politically easier in most countries than scapegoating drugs and drug users as the source of all social problems. Politicians can expect a boost in their popularity when they support repressive measures against drugs and are dismissive of public services for people who use illicit drugs.
Bolivia Withdraws from the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

The Bolivian government formally notified the UN Secretary General of its withdrawal from the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Articles

Uruguay steps forward with Marijuana legalisation vote

The vote by Uruguay’s House of Representatives to legalize and regulate the country’s marijuana market represents a major step forward for the landmark reform effort.

Uruguay poised to legalize marijuana: Is this the right way forward?

'It is "definitely not the same as liberalising the market." This," he continued, "is a very strictly controlled regulation model...

Global trendsetter? Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana.

Marijuana legalization: Uruguay's lower house of parliament set a global first last night by voting to give the state control of marijuana production, distribution, and sales.

Nederland wietland ingehaald door Uruguay

Wij hebben het er al jaren over, Uruguay doet 't gewoon: wiet wordt er legaal.

Zuid-Amerika wil af van War on Drugs

"Al met al is dit een historische omslag", zegt Martin Jelsma van de denktank TNI uit Amsterdam en medeauteur van het OAS-rapport.

'War on drugs' heeft beste tijd gehad

Latijns-Amerika en Verenigde Staten gaan drugsbestrijding anders aanpakken: minder repressie, meer regulering

Colombian President Santos, OAS Chief Insulza to Present New Study on Drug Policy Alternatives

Washington, D.C.—This Friday, May 17, in Bogotá, Colombia, Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza will present Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos with the outcomes of the hemispheric drug policy review...

Participants listening to the debate on drugs policy

Who is winning "the war on drugs"?

Tom Blickman and Martin Jelsma from TNI are speaking at the debate Who is winning "the war on drugs"? about the global context of drug policy. The debate was organized by Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw on 13 February 2013.

Uruguay postpones vote on 'state as dealer' approach to drug regulation - but not for long?

Uruguay has been on the vanguard of drug policy reform in the Americas, proposing a state regulatory market for the cultivation and consumption of marijuana. President Mujica always said he wouldn't push the proposal if a majority of Uruguayans...

Portugal progresses toward integrated cannabis regulation

The “Portuguese model” of drugs decriminalisation has clearly demonstrated that greater tolerance to drug users does not lead to an increase in consumption. Nevertheless it is a model with immense loopholes and contradictions.

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Publications

Working towards a legal coca market

Pien Metaal

Modern use of the coca leaf in Argentina provides a series of examples that could contribute to dispelling many of the myths that have polarized debate about the subject over the last few years.

De wankelende ‘Weense consensus’ over drugsbeleid

Martin Jelsma

Nederland is met zijn drugsbeleid in de achterhoede terecht gekomen. Zo zijn Uruguay en de Amerikaanse staten Washington en Colorado, met hun besluit de cannabismarkt van teelt tot gebruik te legaliseren, Nederland voorbijgestreefd.

Bogotá’s medical care centres for drug addicts

The opening in September 2012 of the first centre for drug addicts in Bogota is a welcome first step towards more humane and effective drug policies in Colombia’s capital city, but to be effective needs to be integrated into proper overall drugs...

A breakthrough in the making?

Amira Armenta

Martin Jelsma

Pien Metaal

There is an undeniable regional trend of moving away from the ‘war on drugs’ in Latin America. This briefing explains the background, summarises the state of ongoing drug law reforms, and makes recommendations to move the debate...