High Level Drug Policy Dialogue

High Level Drug Policy Dialogue

See the Final report of the Informal Drug Policy Dialogue meeting Orthodox Academy of Crete, Kolymbari, Crete 4-5 June 2004 [PDF document]. Also
available in Spanish {PDF document].

An informal drug policy dialogue took place in June on the island of Crete, as a result of a joint initiative by TNI and the Andreas G. Papandreou Foundation. The meeting was hosted by the Orthodox Academy in Kolymbari, and was guided by "Chatham House Rules" to encourage a free exchange of thoughts. The thirty participants included ministerial officials from several countries, representatives from UN and European institutions, and non-governmental drug policy experts engaged in an open-minded debate about ongoing trends.

Ever growing illicit drugs market has led increasing number of countries to question the validity of current policies of "zero tolerance", and to experiment with alternative approaches, by introducing modifications to laws, or by giving more emphasis to harm reduction targets. Such initiatives have led to stern criticism from the international drug control bodies and from individual countries, which see them as a threat to the integrity of the global regime. The motives and principles that underlie new drug policy innovations were discussed. This included a focus on such questions as how potential conflicts with existing UN treaties or growing international tensions over diverging policy trends be addressed and resolved; how the terms and climate of the global debate can be improved, and what role could the specialised UN and regional agencies play in that process?

Three areas where stances diverge the most were chosen for in-depth discussion:

1. Cannabis policies. Recent legislative changes have fuelled cannabis policy debates around the world. Issues tackled included decriminalisation and international legal restraints as an obstacle for policy experiments in that direction.
2. Harm Reduction. Successes are prompting more countries to introduce measures such as needle exchanges; establishment of drug injection rooms; substitution treatments and medical heroin prescription programmes for long-term addicts. WHO, UNAIDS and UNDP have already embraced Harm Reduction Strategies in their policy documents, which contradict the "zero-tolerance" approach underpinning the treaties and positions upheld by the UN drug control agencies.
3. Coca and opium poppy eradication. With the escalation of repression and worsening human rights situations in several drugs-producing regions, the question arises of introducing harm-reduction approaches as regards the supply side of the drug issue, particularly as regards small farmers involved in illicit crop cultivation. What are the options in confronting the booming opium harvest in Afghanistan, which do not immediately threaten the delicate balance of conflict prevention and reconstruction efforts? Could a revision of the status of the coca leaf help to resolve long-standing social conflicts in the Andrean region?

Organisers and participants were most satisfied with the outcomes, which proved that a well-informed and open-minded debate amongst policy makers and experts with differing views on this highly politicised issue is possible and can lead to constructive, viable and innovative strategies for the future. Follow-up plans are being drafted for a series of such informal meeting leading up to the next major UN drugs conference in 2008, where the current 10-year global drugs strategy will be evaluated and -hopefully - improved.