Did the U.S. Just Quash a UN Report Calling for Drug Decriminalization?

[marmar]

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appeared set to call on governments to end the criminalization of drug use and possession, according to DPA Honorary Board Member Richard Branson -- but in a dramatic turn of events withdrew its briefing paper under pressure from at least one country, according to the BBC.

The UN document, printed on formal UNODC letterhead with no mention of it being a draft, was apparently released this past Friday with an embargo. Confidential sources say that when a journalist violated that embargo, the UNODC decided to walk back the report, apparently under pressure from the U.S. government.

Considering that the American public and leaders such as President Obama are now calling for major drug policy reforms that reduce the role of criminalization in drug policy, it would be remarkable -- and some might say, hypocritical -- for the U.S. to play an active behind-the-scenes role in suppressing this document.

Yet it's encouraging that such a powerful statement about the need to decriminalize drug use and possession made it this far in the UN process. Hopefully the UNODC will eventually move forward and release this document, which reflects growing recognition that global drug control policies must reflect not just the punitive provisions of international drug control treaties but also the UN's health and human rights mandates. ...............(more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jag-davies/did-the-us-just-quash-a-u_b_8332566.html