We read in Unggas on drugs that Martin Jelsma of the Transnational Institute , an analysis prepared for the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy that explains the situation of drug policy in the European Union and the current state of debate in the United Nations agenda. The commission is an initiative of former presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, César Gaviria of Colombia and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico in response to concerns related to the problem of drug use and drug trafficking in Latin America. The idea of ​​establishing a commission capable of consolidating a debate over the issue also addresses the need to review global drug policy in the field of United Nations Organization, which began in March 2008 and end with a meeting in Vienna, Austria, in March 2009. It is supported by the Center Edelstein, Fernando Henrique Cardoso Institute (IFHC), Open Society Institute (OSI), the Democratic Platform and Viva Rio

The current state of the debate on drug policy

Trends in the last decade in the European Union and United Nations

Martin Jelsma (TNI)
Supporting text for the first meeting of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy
Rio de Janeiro, April 30, 2008

This paper attempts to provide an overview of current trends in the search for possible alternative policies, especially in the field of European Union and United Nations. When talking about alternative policies, it is easy to fall into the trap of oversimplifying the difference between prohibition and legalization. However, think of such a dichotomy does not help much when looking for strategies for change. At an abstract level, the conceptual discussion, it might be useful sometimes to the concept of legalization on the table to question the current system. But legalization is not necessarily the answer or the solution to all problems related to the existence of an illicit drug economy. And measures extremely repressive drug control have harmful effects, also the absence of certain control measures could adversely affect public health.

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The aim of the commission is to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of policies to combat drugs in Latin America and to contribute towards policies more efficient, secure and humane. The first meeting was held in the city of Rio de Janeiro on April 30, 2008, marked the opening of an open and bold about it, defying the long period of silence and taboos surrounding the drug as a problem present in several dimensions no longer be thought only as a state responsibility.
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