Global Panel: The War on Drugs Has Failed

A group of global politicians have released a new report saying that the war on drugs has failed. The Global Commission on Drug Policy report asks world leaders to rethink their drug policies and to end criminalization for drug users.

The 19 member panel, which included people former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, former presidents Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, former Secretary of State George Shultz and writers Carlos Fuentes and Mario Vargas Llosa. The Global Commission on Drugs was funded by Sir Richard Branson.

Former president of Columbia, Cesar Gaviria, said:

“Our minimum goal is to get the U.S. to discuss the problem in all its magnitude and not to lock itself up in a policy that has failed. Mexico and Colombia must get the U.S. to debate. The belief that there is no alternative because of electoral reasons is not acceptable.”

The Global Commission on Drugs argues that strict drug policies fuel drug crime. But White House Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske rejects the idea that legalization would eliminate the drug problem.

A spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy said:

“Drug addiction is a disease that can be successfully prevented and treated. Making drugs more available, as this report suggests, will make it harder to keep our communities healthy and safe.”

[Source: BBC, WSJ]