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The will of the voters
Colorado and Washington have put legal marijuana on the map
John WalshTuesday, November 13, 2012
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Now that the voters in Colorado and Washington have approved marijuana legalization initiatives, attention has turned quickly to questions surrounding implementation—and in particular to speculation over how the federal government might react. This is entirely understandable, since it is no secret that the newly approved state initiatives conflict with federal law. -
Disproportionate penalties for drug offenses in Mexico
Study shows that federal resources are dedicated to the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of minor drug-related cases
Catalina Pérez Correa Kristel MucinoMonday, November 12, 2012
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The story of the Mexican drug war has generally focused on the violence perpetrated by drug cartels and the apparent inability to bring so many criminals to justice. Unfortunately—while it’s true many have evaded justice—there remain many more people who use drugs and those with very low levels of involvement in the drug trade, who have been swept up in recent crackdowns. -
Victims of the Latin American war on drugs make the case for reform
Kristel MucinoSaturday, November 10, 2012
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Latin American drug policies have made no dent in the drug trade; instead they have taken a tremendous toll on human lives. In 2009, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Transnational Institute (TNI) embarked on an ambitious project to document the real impact of Latin America’s “war on drugs” and to show its human cost through the video testimonies of the victims themselves. -
UN International Guiding Principles on Alternative Development
Coletta YoungersFriday, November 9, 2012
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In November 2011 I was invited by the Thai government to take part in an international delegation to develop a set of UN International Guiding Principles on Alternative Development. Our work began with a five-day journey along the Thai-Burma border to see first-hand the development programs that have been successful in virtually eliminating poppy production in that country. Over 100 government officials and experts from 28 countries visited the Thai “Royal Project,” which has research stations and development projects in five Northern provinces of the country. -
Taking the initiative on legal marijuana
Voters in Washington State appear poised to approve legal, regulated marijuana
John WalshFriday, November 2, 2012
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Two years ago, California’s bid to legalize marijuana—Proposition 19—achieved great notoriety in Latin America, but ultimately fell short at the ballot box. Next Tuesday, voters in the state of Washington appear ready to do what Prop 19’s supporters could not quite achieve—an Election Day victory. -
Cannabis pass abolished? Not really
Half-baked compromise in Dutch government coalition agreement continues disastrous coffeeshop policy
Tom BlickmanTuesday, October 30, 2012
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The new coalition government of conservative liberals (VVD) and social-democrats (PvdA) presented its coalition agreement on Monday. They agreed to abolish the cannabis pass, but access to coffeeshops remains limited to residents of the Netherlands. Customers need to identify themselves with an identity card or a residence permit together with a certificate of residence. Non-resident foreigners are still banned. In other words, there will be no cannabis pass, but the policy continues. -
Portugal progresses toward integrated cannabis regulation
Proposed legislation would authorise growing for personal use and the creation of Cannabis Social Clubs
Martin Barriuso AlonsoThursday, October 25, 2012
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In recent years there has been much talk of the so-called “Portuguese model,” based on an initiative that led to the use of illicit drugs being decriminalised in 2001. In fact, it is often said that Portugal was the first country in Europe to decriminalise drug use de jure, while Spain, for example, took that step de facto for the first time in 1974, except that it was not through a specific law but rather as a result of a Supreme Court ruling. -
The impact of Alternative Development in Burma and Laos
A message from the Asia-Europe People’s Forum to the International Conference on Alternative Development
Ernestien JensemaThursday, October 25, 2012
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At the Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) in Vientiane, Laos, from 16 to 19 October 2012, the Transnational Institute (TNI) organised a workshop on alternative development and crop substitution programmes in Northern Burma and Laos. The final declaration of the AEPF should also be looked upon as a helpful guideline for the International Conference on Alternative Development (ICAD) in Peru next month. TNIs Ernestien Jensema attended the workshop and reflects on its outcomes. -
How International Aid for Drug Enforcement Fuels Human Rights Abuses
Damon Barrett, Deputy Director of Harm Reduction InternationalTuesday, October 2, 2012
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It is increasingly clear that there is a fundamental lack of oversight of how international aid – provided by the US, Europe and the United Nations to poorer countries – is used to pursue anti-drug efforts. In this article Damon Barrett highlights some of the systematic human rights abuses this aid is facilitating. -
Amidst deep concern for Thailand's drug policies, some space for open debate
Ann Fordham, IDPC Executive DirectorFriday, September 28, 2012
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On 17th September, 2012, IDPC together with the Transnational Institute (TNI) held a high-level seminar in Bangkok co-hosted with the Thai Ministry of Justice Rights and Liberties Protection Department to discuss and review effective legal frameworks for managing drug-related problems. It was a crucial moment for such a discussion as the Thai government recently announced plans for the mass rehabilitation of up to 400,000 drug users in what essentially amounts to compulsory detention centres run predominantly by the Thai military in their ongoing push to make the country drug-free.
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