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Organization of American States Launches Major Drug Policy Report

The Organization of American States (OAS) released a report today that envisions a world after the war on drugs. The forecasting process was launched after last year’s Cartagena Summit of the Americas where several Latin American presidents called for an end to drug-war fueled violence. These leaders recognize current failures and are urging the international community to consider scenarios for reform.

“High levels of drug war violence continue to drive the search for alternatives. The commitment made by the Organization of American States to review current drug policy is significant. It shows that there is an acceleration of a global movement considering high level drug policy reform. The regulation of drugs as a key strategy to lower levels of violence and organized crime is now on the table for discussion. I am proud that we are part of this process and welcome this report. We look forward to having robust dialogue on the alternative scenarios presented.”  
Donald MacPherson, Executive Director, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

The OAS report consists of two interconnected documents: an analytical look at current trends, practices, and policy challenges and a scenarios report, considering different possibilities about how policy might evolve in the future and the results that could be expected with each model towards 2025. Many civil society groups hope this process will begin a hemispheric conversation about a new approach to drugs that puts the focus on ending violence, instability and corruption.

The OAS will hold its next General Assembly in Antigua, Guatemala from the 4 – 6th June 2013. Drug policy will be the main item on the agenda. In addition, the United Nations General Assembly will convene a special session on drugs in 2016 and it is hoped the current scenarios will influence some of the discussion.

The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition is a partner project with the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), a research centre based at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University's Vancouver campus.