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Drug Law reform

TNI is deeply concerned that drug laws currently have not only failed to curve expanding drug markets, but have instead led to human rights violations, a crisis in the judicial and penitentiary systems, the consolidation of organized crime, and the marginalization of drug users who are pushed out of reach of the health care systems. TNI and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) launched a joint Drug Law Reform Project to help stimulate the debate on appropriate legislative reforms by pointing out good practices and lessons learned in areas such as proportionality of sentences, prison reform, and the status of the coca leaf in the international conventions.
    Bolivia Withdraws from the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
    June 2011
    Drugs and Democracy

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

    Rome Declaration of 2011
    June 2011

    Italian, Brazilian and Argentinian judges in a joint statement say that the war on drugs has overwhelmed the judicial and penitentiary system and benefited organised crime.

    Kratom in Thailand: Decriminalisation and Community Control?
    May 2011
    Pascal Tanguay

    Kratom is an integral part of Thai culture and has neglible harmful effects. Community level control and education are recommended for the best path to harm reduction.

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 13
    The development of international drug control
    February 2011
    Martin Jelsma

    TNI's paper for the Global Commission on Drug Policy describes the foundations of the global drug control system, its degeneration into the 'war on drugs', and how international drug policy...

    Systems Overload: Drug Laws and Prisons in Latin America
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    December 2010

    Study reveals alarming pattern in imprisonment for drug crimes in Latin America

    Drug Law Reform: Lessons from the New Zealand Experience
    August 2010
    Sanji Gunasekara

    In 2007, the Government of New Zealand entrusted an independent agency, the National Law Commission, to review the country’s drug law. New Zealand’s approach to drug law reform may provide lessons for other countries.

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 8
    The Human Toll of the Drug War: A Pending Issue
    August 2010
    Kristel Mucino

    Driven by poverty to make ends meet many small drug sellers' are targeted by harsh drug policies, yet their persecution does nothing to tackle the root cause of drug-related crime or addiction.

    A Matter of Substance
    July 2010
    Ernestien Jensema

    This paper discusses the “substance-oriented approach” Dutch authorities implemented to to scare off potential small-scale cocaine smugglers. The focus was on the drugs, rather than the couriers, and on incapacitating the smuggling route, rather than deterrence by incarceration.

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 7
    Argentina: Reform on the way?
    July 2010
    Graciela Touzé

    In August 2009, the Argentina Supreme Court declared legislation criminalizing drug possession for personal consumption as unconstitutional. This briefing discusses the background of that decision, the small steps taken since, but argues that there is still much to do before a genuine reform...

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 6
    Sentencing for Drug Offences in England and Wales
    June 2010
    Genevieve Harris

    Sentencing for drug offences in England and Wales has recently undergone a wide-sweeping review and public consultation. The purpose of this report is to examine and evaluate this mechanism for law reform, without the need for legislative reform, and to consider the specific discussion around...

    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 5
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