United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leaked policy document in October 2015
This document clarifies the position of UNODC to inform country responses to promote a health and human rights-based approach to drug policy. It explains that decriminalising drug use and possession for personal consumption is consistent with international drug control conventions and may be required to meet obligations under international human rights law. DOWNLOAD HERE.
Decriminalisation of drug use for non-medical purposes and possession for personal consumption can be as a matter of law (“de jure”) and as a matter of practice or policy (“de facto”). De jure decriminalisation is the removal of criminal sanctions with the optional use of civil or administrative sanctions, such as fines or education. De facto decriminalisation (sometimes called depenalisation) is the decision in practice or as policy to not apply criminal or administrative penalties for certain offenses. In de jure decriminalisation models, personal possession and use remain unlawful, but are not criminal. In de facto decriminalisation models, personal possession and use remain criminal but may be addressed with alternative sanctions for offenders who are drug dependent or have committed minor crimes.
*However, during the actual ”United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs” (UNGASS April 2016) which met to review the world drug problem and develop a plan for action to address it at the highest political level, refused to address the contents of the document. UN Security was apparently ordered to confiscate the letter, and attendees were ordered to hand over their copies upon entering the building. According to a number of participants in the UN Special Session, they were told that the document was not allowed in the building. “As we were walking into the metal detectors right at the entrance, the security were confiscating it from people,” said Natalie Lyla Ginsberg, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Ms. Ginsberg continued, “I went back to ask the security guard why, and he said he got orders from the UN to specifically take the newspapers. He said he was just following orders.”
Original Article (Building Alien Worlds):
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leaked policy document in October 2015
Artwork Fair Use: Gary Halvorson
