Cannabis Legalization: From Trickle to Torrent
Despite U.N. Treaties, War Against Drugs a Losing Battle … Less than eight per cent of drug users worldwide have access to a clean syringe program. As the call for the decriminalization of drugs steadily picks up steam worldwide, a new study by a British charity concludes there has been no significant reduction in the global use of illicit drugs since the creation of three key U.N. anti-drug conventions, the first of which came into force over half a century ago. – IPS News
Dominant Social Theme: The war against drugs was a valiant one, even though a "rethink" is in order.
Free-Market Analysis: We were among the first alternative media websites to announce the so-called war on drugs was ending and High Alert acted soon after that to pursue elements of what could reasonably be expected to coalesce into the "cannabis industry."
At the same time, or nearly the same time, we announced our suspicions that this was part of a larger legalization campaign that would have an impact on a gamut of so-called victimless crimes.
This new British study, like others, corroborates our perspective. Probably, most people never agreed on the war on drugs to begin with. But now, suddenly, these opinions are coming to light.
More:
"Illicit drugs are now purer, cheaper, and more widely used than ever," says the report, titled Casualties of War: How the War on Drugs is Harming the World's Poorest, released Thursday by the London-based Health Poverty Action.
… Over the last few decades, several countries have either decriminalized drugs, either fully or partially, or adopted liberal drug laws, including the use of marijuana for medical reasons. These countries include the Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras and Mexico, among others.
According to the report, the governments of Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala seek open, evidence-based discussion on U.N. drugs policy reform. And "both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS not only share this view, but have called for the decriminalization of drugs use."
Read the above to see how fast the legalization of cannabis is moving and how deeply its roots now penetrate. WHO and UNAIDS have both called for the decriminalization of drug use. Granted that is not "legalization" but doubtless legalization will come over time.
It will be a regulated legalization, of course. The United Nations will likely be deeply involved, though this report identifies the United Nations as part of the problem. Catherine Martin, policy officer at Health Poverty Action, is quoted as saying, "The problem is that the U.N. is doing too much of the wrong things, and not enough of the right things."
While US$100 billion is earmarked for the war on drugs every year, nothing has changed. These funds actually monetize the drug trade, making it more profitable even as it is driven deeper into the black market where it is monopolized by violent drug cartels.
Additionally, the drug trade is deeply corrupting to Western intelligence facilities such as the CIA that are reportedly involved in the trade to generate funding for so-called off-the-books, black-ops funding.
The paper goes on to claim that the war on drugs has justified "murder, mass imprisonment and systematic human rights violations."
In fact, the report claims that the criminalization of the drug industry acts as a disease-spreader and generally has a negative impact on health, as many users will refuse to seek treatment for drug-related injuries for fear of incarceration.
Tens of millions have been deprived of drugs such as morphine that are particularly efficacious at relieving pain – as doctors are leery of prescribing too much.
Additionally, the war on drugs features eradication of drug crops, which often deprives a struggling farmer or community of revenues that are desperately needed. The war on drugs is meant to help struggling communities and individuals but often it turns into a destructive and impoverishing campaign.
The paper maintains that drugs ought to be treated as a health issue not as a military one. Drug-use should be focused on alleviating pain and should not be seen as an illicit activity.
This perspective supports private market initiatives that are springing up throughout North America, and probably in Europe as well. It is "medical marijuana" that is driving the pace currently, with various companies competing to create cannabis blends that will provide the maximum comfort and potential healing effects. Delivery systems are part of the competition as well.
With each passing day, week and month, the wave of decriminalization and legalization becomes more powerful. Those individuals and companies that anticipated what is now taking place are surely positioned to reap the rewards of increased drug tolerance in society or to take advantage of inevitable mergers and acquisitions that are to come.
You can see an article on that here:
Big Tobacco Will Bring Big Profits to Cannabis Entrepreneurs Positioned Now
What was once a trickle – a tentative one – is soon to become a torrent.
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