In an article we can see the original version in The Wall Street Journal , three former Latin American presidents spoke out against the current policies to combat drugs. Cardoso, Gaviria and Zedillo, former presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, say in an article that "the war on drugs has failed and it is time to replace an ineffective strategy with more humane drug policies and efficient" .

The presidents launched these proposals as leaders of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, a group composed of 17 personalities from the region which aims to promote a new way to tackle the drug problem.

Dan start your article with the central message of the report by the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy presented to the public recently in Rio de Janeiro. "The war on drugs has failed. And it's time to replace an ineffective strategy for drug policy more humane and efficient. "

They recognize that the review of U.S. drug policy is inspired by urgent in light of rising levels of violence and corruption associated with drugs. The alarming power of the drug cartels leads to criminalization of politics and a politicization of crime. And the corruption of judicial and political system undermines the foundations of democracy in several Latin American countries.

The former Latin American presidents openly proposed the decriminalization of marijuana. "We also propose the careful evaluation from the standpoint of public health, the possibility of decriminalizing the possession of cannabis for personal use."

The letter contains the findings of a report by the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, of which the three former presidents are part. The report, presented in Rio de Janeiro on February 11, proposes to treat drug use as a public health problem, so that authorities can focus on eradicating organized crime.

Also, Cardoso, Gaviria and Zedillo in his article advocating the importance of developing information campaigns on drug use among young audiences to attack the root problem, as was done with the snuff.

The former rulers believe that the policy of repression and criminalization of consumption practiced in recent decades, has failed both in the eradication of the habit as in combating distribution networks, "prohibitionist policies based on eradication, interdiction and criminalization of consumption simply have not worked. Violence and organized crime associated with narcotics trade remain critical problems in our countries. "

Latin America is the largest exporter of cocaine and cannabis in the world and is establishing itself as the leading supplier of opium and heroin. Therefore called on the United States and the European Union to engage in the fight against drug trafficking because "their domestic markets are the main consumers of drugs that produces Latin America."

Learn more

Infolata - Spanish translation of the WSJ article
Drugs and Democracy (PDF) - Text of support for the 1 st Meeting of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy.
Drugs and Democracy - emphasize global failure of drug policy.