GOV'T URGED TO EXAMINE DRUG LIBERALISATION POLICIES OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

AN INTERNATIONAL drug policy expert is advising local authorities to
examine the drug liberalisation policies of developed countries, and seek
their support if necessary, as Jamaica deliberates the National Ganja
Commission's recommendation to decriminalise use of the substance. "It
would be wise right now for Jamaica to seek some support from Canada, and
European countries, especially those who are also moving forward (in their
drug policy): the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal and
the UK," said Tim Boekhout van Solinge, a lecturer and researcher in
Criminology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

He was speaking to The Gleaner against the background of recent concerns
that Jamaica's foreign relations with the United States could be damaged if
it adopts a recommendation from the National Commission on Ganja to
decriminalise the use of cannabis for private, personal use.

These concerns came to the fore after US Embassy spokesman, Michael
Koplovsky, issued a reminder that the US government opposes the
decriminalisation of cannabis, raising fears that the island could lose its
certification next March when its drug-fighting policy comes up for review
by the US State Department.

But, far from potentially damaging its diplomatic relations with Europe,
Canada and the UK by decriminalising ganja use, Jamaica could find these
countries supportive of the move, Mr. van Solinge said, depending on the
specific terms of the new drug policy.

"The trend in the countries of the EU is clearly towards decriminalisation,
which is the general international trend," he observed, pointing to the
annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drugs
Addiction. "The one big exception is the United States."

For many years, Mr. van Solinge's homeland, the Netherlands, was the
exception to the rule in Europe because of its liberal cannabis policy. But
that has changed quite drastically in recent times. In Belgium, citizens
were earlier this year allowed to have a small quantity of cannabis for
personal use, without the risk of prosecution. Even Portugal, known for its
Catholic conservatism, has relaxed its drug laws. From July 1 this year,
the use of all previously banned narcotics - from cannabis to crack cocaine
- - was decriminalised.

"As someone who has visited Jamaica many times, I've always been surprised
that a culturally integrated social behaviour such as ganja use is still
prohibited, by law and in practice," he told The Gleaner.

The Dutch researcher stressed that decriminalisation does not mean
automatic decertification, since decriminalisation does not have to be
incompatible with the terms of the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

In fact, all EU members states, including those that have pushed ahead with
drug liberalisation policies, are signatories to the United Nations' three
drug conventions (1961, 1971 and 1988).

He believes Jamaica needs to be "creative" in its approach to liberalising
its drug policy.

"Maybe it is not wise now to formally change the law," he suggested.
"Countries sometimes have to use creativity to make a policy more liberal."

This could include having the Minister of Justice adopt the "expediency
principle", issuing a guideline that cannabis has a low priority or the
lowest priority in law enforcement.

Such is the approach in some parts of Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The principle of "harm reduction" is also part of the creativity of which
he speaks.

"This is becoming the new model internationally. You accept that illicit
drugs are going to be used, but instead of focusing on fighting them, you
try to live with them for the lowest harm or costs, both medically and
socially," he explained.

Indications are that the movement worldwide for liberalisation of drug
policies will be proceed at a feverish pace in the near future, and at the
highest level of international diplomacy.

"In June 1998, during the UN World Drug Summit, some 600 personalities,
professors, writers, politicians, including ex-ministers and ex-presidents,
and eight nobel laureates, signed an open letter Kofi Annan," recalled Mr.
van Solinge.

"We asked for an open debate on the future of international drug policies
because we believe the global war on drugs is causing more harm than drug
abuse itself. I know that Annan was very impressed by the letter... I have
the feeling he's open for a change," he suggested.