LEGALISING DRUGS, WHAT?

The debate on drug abuse is likely to get hotter as contending
opinions on decriminalisation and legalisation of certain drugs are
bound to erupt. The latest report from the Global Commission on Drug
Policy, an international commission on drugs, has reached the
conclusion that the global war on drugs has failed. In order to
combat the growing number of drug abusers, the commission instead has
urged a change of strategy, including decriminalisation and changes
in legal regulation of certain drugs like cannabis.

Other reforms suggested by the international body offer strategic
alternatives that may impact the efforts against drugs more
positively than before. For instance, by shifting the focus on drug
cartels or international criminal syndicates rather than drug users,
farmers, couriers and middlemen, the aim is to dismantle the driving
forces behind the proliferation of drugs. By encouraging the
cultivation and production of the dreaded narcotics and chemical
drugs, these syndicates have created a well-integrated illicit global
system whose reach spreads far and wide.

While it makes sense to offer drug abusers space to turn to and thus
encourage them to renounce their addictions, legalising drugs is a
far different issue. Those in favour of decriminalisation
initiatives, which may include legalising certain prohibited
substances, cite examples of states such as the Netherlands,
Australia and Portugal etc to prove that such initiatives have not
led to a rise in drug abuse. However, on the flip side is the danger
of letting even those wary of indulging in even experimental use of
illicit substances to try their hand at it, once the fear of legal
and criminal prosecution is removed. In addition, the report seems to
suggest implementing such reform globally without taking into account
the cultural and geographical differences that exist in places other
than say Europe, South America or Mexico.

It is true that only repressive measures are not going to obtain the
results that are desired. With almost 250 million drug abusers
worldwide - according to UN estimates - and almost over a trillion
dollars spent on fighting drugs over the past decade, the
international community, especially the states suffering the most in
terms of drug cultivation, trade and abuse are far from reversing the
situation. This is why channelling financial resources on educating
people about drug abuse and providing treatment for drug abusers and
starting rehabilitation programmes for them to integrate in society
and start earning is so important. Many states are believed to have
started this but it is still way down on the priority scale than the
efforts directed at other aspects of combatting drugs.

Moreover, by increasing intelligence cooperation in this domain and
relegating more resources on drug awareness and health sector related
to drug addiction, there is hope that drug abuse will eventually
reduce if not be eliminated altogether.