Date: April 29, 2024 Mon

Time: 9:58 pm

Results for drug policy

251 results found

Author: Room, Robin Title: Cannabis Policy: Moving Beyond Stalemate Summary: This paper considers the findings of the Beckley Foundation's Global Cannabis Commission Report (Room et al, 2008). An overview of the scientific literature on cannabis, detailing its potential harms and those caused by its prohibition. It moves on to consider the various strategies that different jurisdictions have adopted to deal with cannabis use, before moving beyond the Conventions, arguing that countries should have more autonomy to develop policy best suited to their individual circumstances. Details: London: The Beckley Foundation, 2008, 242p. Source: Internet Source Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117828 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: International Drug Policy Consortium Title: Drug Policy Guide Summary: This drug policy guide aims to provide regional and national partners of the International Drug Policy Consortium with a resource that they can use to conduct reviews of the national drug policies and programs in their areas, and engage with policy-makers to work towards policy and program improvements. The guide will be updated annually to reflect changes in global evidence and experience. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2010. 116p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118081 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: New Zealand. Law Commission. Title: Controlling and regulating drugs Summary: This issues paper traces the history of drug policy and regulation in New Zealand and reviews the current approach to drug control and regulation. Details: Wellington, New Zealand: Law Commission, 2010, 402p. Source: Internet Source Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 117811 Keywords: Criminal Justice Policy Drug Offenses Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Reuter, Peter Title: The Unintended Consequences of Drug Policies. Report 5 Summary: This document is the fifth of five reports that assesses changes in global drug problem from 1998 to 2007. It looks specifically into the issues surrounding the unintended consequences of drug policies in consuming nations. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2009. 36p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117657 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Walsh, John Title: Lowering Expectations: Supply Control and the Resilient Cocaine Market Summary: Recent data from the Obama administration show that U.S. cocaine prices continued to fall through 2007, while purity remained high. The data undermined claims by Bush administration officials that supply disruptions had achieved unprecedented cocaine shortages in the United States. This report asserts that the U.S. can and should do more to reduce demand for cocaine, but a dramatic reduction in the size of the lucrative U.S. cocaine market should not be expected any time soon. A realistic and humane drug policy should focus on harm reduction - aiming to minimize the harms caused by illicit drug production, distribution and abuse, but also striving to minimize the damage done by policies meant to control drugs. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2009. 10p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117793 Keywords: Cocaine Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Control Drugs

Author: Werb, Dan Title: Effect of Drug Law Enforcement on Drug-Related Violence: Evidence from a Scientific Review Summary: This systematic review evaluated all available English language peer-reviewed research on the impact of law enforcement on drug market violence. The available scientific evidence suggests that increasing the intensity of law enforcement interventions to disrupt drug markets is unlikely to reduce drug gang violence. Instead, the evidence suggests that drug-related violence and high homicide rates are likely a natural consequence of drug prohibition and that increasingly sophisticated and well-resourced methods of disrupting drug distribution networks may unintentionally increase violence. From an evidence-based public policy perspective, gun violence and the enrichment of organized crime networks appear to be natural consequences of drug prohibition. In this context, and since drug prohibition has not achieved its stated goal of reducing drug supply, alternative models for drug control may need to be considered if drug supply and drug-related violence are to be meaningfully reduced. Details: Vancouver, BC: International Centre for Science in Drug Policy, 2010. 26p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118299 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Drug Related Violence Gangs

Author: Degenhardt, Louisa Title: Comparing the Drug Situation Across Countries: Problem, Pitfalls and Possibilities Summary: This briefing compares the drug situation in a number of developed countries presenting data to provide information for analysts and policy makers for more effective drug control. Details: London: Beckley Foundation, Drug Policy Programme, 2009. 26p. Source: Briefing Paper Nineteen Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 116393 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addition Drug Control Drug Policy Drugs

Author: Gallahue, Patrick Title: The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2010 Summary: This report provides an updated review of the status of the death penalty for drug offenses worldwide, with a particular focus on national legislation and state practice. Details: London: International Harm Reduction Association, 2010. 51p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118528 Keywords: Death Penalty Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Whiting, Aimee Title: Drugs Survey Summary: This report presents the findings from an online survey of 1008 adults in Australia about using illegal drugs and people's attitudes to illegal drugs in Australian Society. Details: Crows Nest, NSW: McNair Ingenuity Research, 2010. 33p. Source: Internet Resource:Conducted for Hungry Beast, February 2010 Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118720 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenses Drug Policy Public Opinion, Drugs

Author: Canty, Chris Title: Evaluation of a Community-Based Drug Law Enforcement Model for Intersectoral Harm Reduction Summary: This report presents the evaluation of four Australian pilot programs in community-based approaches to drug law enforcement. The pilot programs aimed at finding ways to ensure that drug law enforcement strategies, priorities and tactics at the local leval could be made more consistent with the official police commitment to a harm minimization philosophy. Trials were established within Fairfield in New South Wales, the Gippsland region in Victoria dn Mirrabooka and Geraldton in Western Australia. Details: Payneham, SA: Australasian Centre for Policing Research, 2001. 208p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2001 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118695 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Montenegro: Country Overview 2009 Summary: This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Montenegro for 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key areas - drug prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws, etc. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2009. 22p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 119127 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Prevention Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Policy Drugs (Montenegro)

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Serbia: Country Overview 2009 Summary: This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Serbia in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key areas - drug prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws, etc. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office for the European Union, 2009. 16p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Serbia and Montenegro URL: Shelf Number: 119126 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Prevention Drug Treatment Drugs (Serbia)

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Bosnia and Herzegovina: County Overview 2009 Summary: This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drug problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key areas - drug prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drug laws, etc. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2009. 39p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina URL: Shelf Number: 119125 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Treatment Drugs

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Former Yugoslav Republic of Madedonia: Country Overview 2009 Summary: This country overview provides a structured synopsis of the trends and characteristics of national drugs problems in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2009. It consists of a summary of the national drug situation presenting brief information in key areas - drug prevalence, prevention, harm reduction, drugs laws, etc. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2009. 20p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Macedonia URL: Shelf Number: 119124 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Policy Drugs

Author: Tinajero, Jorge Hernandez Title: Mexico: The Law Against Small-Scale Drug Dealing: A Doubtful Venture Summary: In August 2009, Mexico adopted a new law against small-scale drug dealing, which introduces some significant advances in key subjects, such as the recognizing of and distinguishing between user, drug addict and dealer. However it still has significant flaws in continuing to treat demand and supply of drugs as a criminal and market phenomenon that are likely to undermine its successful application. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2009. 8p. Source: Internet Resource; Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 3 Year: 2009 Country: Mexico URL: Shelf Number: 119232 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Trafficking

Author: Reuter, Peter H. Title: Assessing Changes in Global Drug Problems, 1998-2007: Main Report Summary: This report provides key findings of the RAND Europe study which assesses how the global market for illicit drugs has developed from 1998 to 2007 and describes worldwide drug policies implemented during that period to address the problem. The study assesses the impact of policy measures, both at the national and sub-national levels, on the illicit drugs problem. To the extent data allows, the project assessed how much policy measures, at the national and sub-national levels, have influenced drug problems. The analysis is focused on policy relevant matters but it does not attempt to make recommendations to governments. The evidence suggests that illicit drugs presented as much of a problem in 2007 as in 1998. Broadly speaking, while the situation may have improved slightly in some of the world's richer countries, it has substantially worsened in others, which include a few large developing or transitional countries. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2009. 68p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117653 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Regulation Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs

Author: Kilmer, Beau Title: Altered State? Assessing How Marijuana Legalization in California Could Influence Marijuana Consumption and Public Budgets Summary: To learn more about the possible outcomes of marijuana legalization in California, RAND researchers constructed a model based on a series of estimates of current consumption, current and future prices, how responsive use is to price changes, taxes levied and possibly evaded, and the aggregation of nonprice effects (such as a change in stigma). Key findings include the following: (1) the pretax retail price of marijuana will substantially decline, likely by more than 80 percent. The price the consumers face will depend heavily on taxes, the structure of the regulatory regime, and how taxes and regulations are enforced; (2) consumption will increase, but it is unclear how much, because we know neither the shape of the demand curve nor the level of tax evasion (which reduces revenues and prices that consumers face); (3) tax revenues could be dramatically lower or higher than the $1.4 billion estimate provided by the California Board of Equalization (BOE); for example, uncertainty about the federal response to California legalization can swing estimates in either direction; (4) previous studies find that the annual costs of enforcing marijuana laws in California range from around $200 million to nearly $1.9 billion; our estimates show that the costs are probably less than $300 million; and (5) there is considerable uncertainty about the impact of legalizing marijuana in California on public budgets and consumption, with even minor changes in assumptions leading to major differences in outcomes. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010. 68p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119335 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drugs (California) Marijuana

Author: International Drug Policy Consortium Title: The Illicit Drug Market and Its Possible Regulation: Act Upon the Market to Fight the Illicit Drug Industry Summary: Today the social costs associated with the consumption of drugs are mainly borne by the family of the user. The four-pillar policy (prevention, law enforcement, treatment and harm reduction) is not sufficient without a retraining and reintegration of the drug user into productive activity, this being effectively the fifth pillar on which a more proactive policy to contrast struggle against the illegal trade of drugs can be built. For a policy oriented towards rehabilitation, we need a small shift of funding from the justice system - made possible by a reduction in imprisonment for the drug user - to rehabilitation and employment programmes. The other components of this policy include: more aid to families; decriminalization of possession for personal consumption; alternatives to prison for problematic drug users, even if they commit petty crimes; establishing a revolving solidarity fund for social enterprises and the formulation of an anti-discriminatory law aimed towards the reintegration of problematic drug users, similar to those that which protects people with disabilities. Details: London: IDPC, 2010. 97p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119370 Keywords: Alternative to Incarceration Drug Markets Drug Offenders, Rehabilitation Drug Policy Druu Abuse and Addiction

Author: Caulkins, Jonathan P. Title: Drug Production and Trafficking, Counterdrug Policies, and Security and Governance in Afghanistan Summary: This report contributes to the ongoing debate about counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan, and in relation to counter-insurgency operations by adding a heretofore missing element–applied economic analysis of the effect of counter-narcotics policies. It does so by applying to a stylized depiction of the Afghan situation a standard model that economists and policy analysts have applied to a large range of policy areas. Details: New York: New York University, Center on International Cooperation, 2010. 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Afghanistan URL: Shelf Number: 119430 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Drug Trafficking

Author: Seelke, Clare Ribando Title: Latin America and the Caribbean: Illicit Drug Trafficking and U.S. Counterdrug Programs Summary: Drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean despite decades of anti-drug efforts by the United States and partner governments. The production and trafficking of popular illicit drugs—cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and methamphetamine—generates a multi-billion dollar black market in which Latin American criminal and terrorist organizations thrive. These groups challenge state authority in source and transit countries where governments are often fragile and easily corrupted. Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) largely control the U.S. illicit drug market and have been identified by the U.S. Department of Justice as the “greatest organized crime threat to the United States.” Drug trafficking-related crime and violence in the region has escalated in recent years, raising the drug issue to the forefront of U.S. foreign policy concerns. This report provides an overview of the drug flows in the Americas and U.S. antidrug assistance programs in the region. It also raises some policy issues for Congress to consider as it exercises oversight of U.S. antidrug programs and policies in the Western Hemisphere. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2010. 34p. Source: Internet Resource; CRS Report for Congress Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119439 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Trafficking (Latin America) Organized Crime

Author: McBride, Duane C. Title: The Drugs-Crime Wars: Past, Present and Future Directions in Theory, Policy and Program Interventions Summary: Research into the relationship between drug use and crime has generated a substantial body of literature. While these efforts have not established a causal link between the two behaviors, they do confirm a high correlation between drug use and many types of criminal behavior in a) the general population, b) populations of drug users, and c) arrested populations. The literature also shows that the drugs-crime relationship occurs within the framework of societal policies toward drug use that have ranged from regulated commercial approaches to strict prohibition. There is considerable debate about the strength and continuity of the relationship between drug use and crime. It is suggested that research focusing on the relationship would benefit from the application of theoretical models such as Ecosystems Theory and/or Social Capital. These models may help sort out the nature and complexity of the relationship as well as suggest more appropriate interventions. A review of programmatic approaches that have been used to break the drugs-crime relationship is presented that suggests the most successful approaches include a comprehensive range of services from assessment, implementation of services to meet assessed needs, and aftercare within the framework of graduated sanctions and comprehensive case management. In order to further examine the drugs-crime relationship, it is suggested that future research should use an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate the differential impact of state policies as well as and examine the effectiveness of specific treatment program elements. Details: Chicago: ImpacTeen, 2001. 116p. Source: Internet Resource; Research Paper Series, No. 14 Year: 2001 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119462 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Drug Treatment Drugs

Author: Sabin, Mike Title: Solutions to the Methamphetamine Crisis in New Zealand: A Study of Supply and Demand-Side Interventions and their Efficacy Summary: Methamphetamine, now second only to cannabis for illicit drug use rates in New Zealand, is commonly smoked, injected, snorted and ingested orally, causing a rapid progression to addiction. Chronic use of the drug often leads to anti-social, violent behaviour and serious mental illness. The purity of methamphetamine is linked to the degree of associated harm, increases of criminal offending and adverse socio-economic consequences. Recent surveys of social and criminal trends links methamphetamine with increasing prison populations, court cases and social costs, with $551 million worth of loss within New Zealand thought to be caused by the drug in 2006; more than any other drug. In analysing ‘what works and what doesn’t’ on the global stage, in particular within the United States, it is clear that New Zealand’s national drug policy of the last 10 years which focuses on harm minimisation, has been, and will continue to fail. Alongside this, with the limited efficacy of the supply-side interventions enacted in New Zealand in the early 2000s, the precursor and chemical diversion schemes are in need of overhauling. It is clear that there is no-one-silver bullet, but it is apparent that in the absence of successful demand reduction Police and Customs will be largely ineffective at tackling the subsequent supply. It is apparent that in the absence of so many of the interventions being employed successfully elsewhere, New Zealand has limited opportunities or likelihood of resolving the methamphetamine crisis. Conversely this study has identified a range of strategies with proven efficacy which if actioned effectively have the potential to bring about rapid change in this country. These strategies include overhauling the national drug policy and abandoning the focus on harm minimisation in favour of an approach based on harm elimination, which encourages citizens, in particular youth, to reject drug use. The establishment of a national drug control policy office which accounts directly to the Prime Minister and ensures administration and accountability of all drug policy objectives and outcomes across all ministries. A refocus of policing priorities toward organised criminal entities and improved powers and legislation to address precursor supply and disrupt criminal markets. The implementation of drug treatment courts and widespread, accessible treatment, alongside effective education and screening intervention. And the introduction of coordinated and concerted youth education and screening programmes, which utilise random student drug testing, and a focus on encouraging youth attitudes and behaviours which reject drug use. Details: Mongonui, New Zealand: MethCon Group Limited, 2008. 87p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 119468 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Reform Methamphetamine Organized Crime

Author: Keefer, Philip Title: Innocent Bystanders: Developing Countries and the War on Drugs Summary: Drug use and abuse is one of the most difficult challenges facing the contemporary world. If it is true that there has always been consumption of different types of drugs in different societies, although not in all of them, it is no less true that it generally took place in restricted, socially regulated realms, especially in ritualistic ceremonies. This is not the case today. Drug use has spread to all segments of society, with hedonistic motivations; although it is often not socially sanctioned, users are at times, depending on the drug, treated with leniency. It is well-established that all drugs are harmful to the health, even the legal ones, such as alcohol and tobacco, and that some drugs are more harmful, such as heroin and crack. The discussion of 'gateway drugs' is a medical issue on which there is no consensus. For the purposes of public policy design, the important thing to keep in mind is that drugs produce negative consequences for both users and societies in general, and that minimizing their consumption should be the main goal. The salient discussion, therefore, is about choosing among different strategies to achieve the same goal. Most of all, this report contributes to the debate by shedding light on the understanding of the economics and logistics of the drug market. Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010. 362p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119523 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drugs

Author: Walser, Ray Title: Mexico, Drug Cartels, and the Merida Initiative: A Fight We Cannot Afford to Lose Summary: Since Mexican President Felipe Calderón took office in 2006, a virulent war has raged with the Mex­ican drug cartels, and this drug-related violence has spilled across the U.S. border, threatening U.S. lives and public safety. Geostrategic pessimists fear that the U.S. has been taking Mexico's stability for granted and warn that Mexico is teetering on the brink of a drug-induced disaster. However, the seriousness of the drug threat to Mexico also presents a strategic opportunity. At the invitation of the Mexican government, the Bush Administration is working to establish a partnership to make Mexico safer and more secure without sacri­ficing the sovereignty of either nation. The Bush Administration's Merida Initiative—a three-year, $1.5 billion anti-drug assistance package for Mexico and Central America—is a quantitative and qualitative jump in support for the drug fight in the region. Unlike Plan Colombia, which helped to rescue Colombia from the throes of a narco-war, the Merida Initiative will provide assistance in equipment, tech­nology, and training without a significant U.S. military footprint in Mexico. President George W. Bush signed the Merida Initiative into law as part of the Supplemen­tal Appropriations Act of 2008 on June 30, 2008. In Mexico and in the press, the Merida Initiative is being viewed as a critical test of U.S.–Mexican rela­tions. Its implementation will be closely scrutinized on both sides of the aisle in Congress. The Merida Ini­tiative could become an important legacy of the Bush presidency in the Western Hemisphere and should create a solid platform for U.S.–Mexican coopera­tion for the next Administration. The initiative, however, is just a start. The U.S. needs to do more to secure the border, reduce the flows of illegal arms and illicit cash south into Mex­ico, and alter immigration laws to permit tempo­rary workers to cross the border legally to help fill the U.S. demand for labor. Policymakers need to develop a comprehensive strategy that covers all transit and source countries. Mexico needs to continue exercising the political will to combat the deadly drug cartels and continue reforming its judicial system, overhauling police and law enforcement, and modernizing and devel­oping its economy. Finally, the Mexican government needs to take an active role in preventing illegal third-country nationals from transiting Mexican territory, as well as in closing down smuggling orga­nizations that operate on Mexican soil and discourag­ing Mexican citizens from entering the U.S. illegally. Both nations would benefit substantially from a re­turn to law and order on both sides of the border. Details: Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation, 2008. 12p. Source: Internet Resource; Backgrounder, No. 2163 Year: 2008 Country: Mexico URL: Shelf Number: 119542 Keywords: Drug Cartels (Mexico) Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Violence

Author: Jelsma, Martin Title: Legislative Innovation in Drug Policy Summary: This briefing summarizes good practices in legislative reforms around the world, representing steps away from a repressive zero-tolerance model towards a more evidence-based and humane drug policy. The examples provide lessons learned in practice about less punitive approaches and their impact on levels of drug use and drug related harm to the individual and society. Evidence suggests that legislation lessening criminalization combined with shifting resources from law enforcement and incarceration to prevention, treatment and harm reduction is more effective in reducing drug-related problems. Fears that softening drug laws and their enforcement would lead to sharp increases in drug use, have proven untrue. The examples cited, in spite of their differences in scope and objectives, can be regarded as improvements on an ineffective overly repressive drug control model and they indicate a direction for more substantial reform and paradigm shifts in the future. Details: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Latin American Initiative on Drugs and Democracy, 2009. 18p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119553 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Weintraub, Sidney Title: Cooperative Mexican-U.S. Antinarcotics Efforts: A Report of the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy Summary: "Because of high U.S. narcotics consumption and Mexico’s role as the main transit country for cocaine from Colombia, the dominant narcotics activity in the Western Hemisphere takes place between the United States and Mexico. Competition among the large Mexican drug-trafficking organizations to maximize their sales in the United States has led to terrible violence in Mexico, and that country’s “war” against those organizations has amplified that violence. Mexico was a small player in the movement of cocaine to the United States before the 1980s, when the main route was from Colombia through the Caribbean to Florida. After that route was largely abandoned because of heavy U.S. sea and land interdiction, Colombian cocaine began to enter the United States through Central America and Mexico. This report focuses on four drugs: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Mexico produces the last three of these drugs, which are shipped directly to the United States. If reliance on Mexico as the final transit country for cocaine sales to the United States were to become too costly for the drug-trafficking organizations, the route could change again. And while the violence in Mexico might then diminish, cocaine would still come into the United States because of the demand for the drug. For many years the U.S. government was unwilling to admit explicitly that U.S. narcotics consumption bore some responsibility for the violence in Mexico. During a visit to Mexico in March 2009, however, the U.S. secretary of state finally stated the obvious: that U.S. narcotics demand was fueling drug violence in Mexico. This report thus comes at a time of antinarcotics cooperation between the two countries. This cooperation does not mean that the problems related to drug trafficking and consumption are on their way to solution, only that issues not discussed earlier can now be put on the table. The purpose of this report is to provide a full discussion of such issues." Details: Washington, DC: Center for Stratigic and International Studies, 2010. 57p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://csis.org/publication/cooperative-mexican-us-antinarcotics-efforts Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://csis.org/publication/cooperative-mexican-us-antinarcotics-efforts Shelf Number: 119606 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Gun Violence Narcotics

Author: Hughes, Caitlin Title: The Coordination of Australian Illicit Drug Policy: A Governance Perspective Summary: This study focuses on the coordination of Australian drug policy. The study provides a new approach to looking at coordination, through the lens of “good governance”. The principles for good governance of Australian illicit drug policy include the following: participation, consensus-orientation, accountability, transparency, responsiveness, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, and follow the rule of law. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 2010. 108p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.dpmp.unsw.edu.au/DPMPWeb.nsf/resources/Monograph+16.pdf/$file/Mono+18.pdf; DPMP Monograph Series; No. 18 Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.dpmp.unsw.edu.au/DPMPWeb.nsf/resources/Monograph+16.pdf/$file/Mono+18.pdf; DPMP Monograph Series; No. 18 Shelf Number: 117330 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Harm Reduction Illicit Drug Markets

Author: Reuter, Peter Title: A Report on Global Illicit Drugs Markets, 1998-2007 Summary: "This document provides the key findings of a project assessing how the global market for drugs developed from 1998 to 2007 and describing drug policy around the globe during that period. To the extent data allows, the project assessed how much policy measures, at the national and sub-national levels, have influenced drug problems. The analysis is focused on policy relevant matters but it does not attempt to make recommendations to governments." Details: Brussels: European Communities, 2009p. 74p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 17, 2010 at: http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/doc_centre/drugs/studies/doc/report_short_10_03_09_en.pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/doc_centre/drugs/studies/doc/report_short_10_03_09_en.pdf Shelf Number: 113912 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy

Author: Miron, Jeffrey A. Title: The Budgetary Implications of Drug Prohibition Summary: "Government prohibition of drugs is the subject of ongoing debate. One issue in this debate is the effect of prohibition on government budgets. Prohibition entails direct enforcement costs and prevents taxation of drug production and sale. This report examines the budgetary implications of legalizing drugs. The report estimates that legalizing drugs would save roughly $48.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $33.1 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $15.6 billion would accrue to the federal government. Approximately $13.7 billion of the savings would results from legalization of marijuana, $22.3 billion from legalization of cocaine and heroin, and $12.8 from legalization of other drugs. The report also estimates that drug legalization would yield tax revenue of $34.3 billion annually, assuming legal drugs are taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. Approximately $6.4 billion of this revenue would result from legalization of marijuana, $23.9 billion from legalization of cocaine and heroin, and $4.0 billion from legalization of other drugs. State-by-state breakdowns provide a rough indication of legalization’s impacts on state budgets, but these estimates are less reliable than those for the overall economy. Whether drug legalization is a desirable policy depends on many factors other than the budgetary impacts discussed here. Rational debate about drug policy should nevertheless consider these budgetary effects. The estimates provided here are not definitive estimates of the budgetary implications of a legalized regime for currently illegal drugs. The analysis employs assumptions that plausibly err on the conservative side, but substantial uncertainty remains about the magnitude of the budgetary impacts." Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, Department of Economics, 2010. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2010 at: http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/miron/files/budget%202010%20Final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/miron/files/budget%202010%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 118415 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Drugs

Author: Macallair, Daniel Title: Marijuana Arrests and California's Drug War: A Report to the California Legislature Summary: For nearly three decades, California’s criminal justice system has devoted ever-increasing resources towards the arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment of drug offenders. Drug offenses typically are categorized as manufacturing, distribution, and possession. Historically, manufacturing and distribution accounted for the preponderance of law enforcement resources as this category of offenders were seen as the greater menace since they were responsible for promoting and maintaining the illicit drug trade. Possession offenders, at least those who committed no additional offenses, were viewed with greater sympathy since they were the drug users who were often seen as the victims of their own addictions. Indeed, prison statistics prior to the 1990s showed imprisonments for manufacturing and sales far exceeding imprisonments for possession (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), 2009). However, beginning in the 1990s, prison statistics show a dramatic and unprecedented change in priorities, as possession offenders became the primary target of law enforcement. By 2008, for the first time in recorded history, the number of offenders imprisoned for drug possession exceeded the number of offenders imprisoned for manufacturing and sales. The unprecedented shift in California law enforcement priorities towards targeting the demand side of the drug war is clearly demonstrated by the extraordinary increase in the rate of arrests for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. While continued criminalization of marijuana has financial and social implications, current disparities in arrest point to issues needing careful consideration. If more discriminatory and erratic enforcement of marijuana laws is to be avoided, then the current push for legalization should be seen as an opportunity for comprehensive review of California’s deeply flawed drug criminalization and regulation policies. Current arbitrary, biased, and rising patterns of arrest for small-quantity marijuana possession argue strongly for meaningful reform. (Excerpts from publication) Details: San Francisco: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, 2009. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Legislative Policy Study: Accessed August 22, 2010 at: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Marijuana_Arrests_and_Californias_Drug_War.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Marijuana_Arrests_and_Californias_Drug_War.pdf Shelf Number: 119648 Keywords: Drug Offences Drug Policy Drugs (California) Marijuana

Author: Whitworth, Steven Scott Title: The Untold Story of Mexico's Rise and Eventual Monopoly of the Methamphetamine Trade Summary: This thesis examines the dominant role of Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in the multi-billion dollar trade in illegal narcotics between Latin America and the United States since 1995. It assesses the implications of the existence and operation of the four major and thriving, Mexico cartels (or DTOs) for both the United States and Mexico. The story of Mexico’s rise to prominence by the mid- to late-1990s as the primary transshipment route for cocaine entering the United States is well known. However, much less attention has been devoted to how the Mexican cartels, which now control 80 % percent of all illegal drug trafficking into the United States, have become the primary producer and trafficker of methamphetamine for the American market in the past decade. Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2008. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2008/Jun/08Jun_Whitworth.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Mexico URL: http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2008/Jun/08Jun_Whitworth.pdf Shelf Number: 119693 Keywords: Cocaine Columbian Cartels Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs Methamphetamine

Author: Gunasekara, Sanji Title: Drug Law Reform: Lessons from the New Zealand Experience Summary: New Zealand’s existing drug laws are out of date, overly complex and poorly aligned with official drug policy. In 2007, the Government decided to entrust an independent agency, the New Zealand Law Commission, to comprehensively review the country’s drug law. The Commission will present a final report which is likely to feature a new approach to personal pos­session and use of drugs placing less emphasis on conviction and punish­ment and more on the delivery of effective treatment. This is an important departure as, in many countries, and previously in New Zealand, drug laws have been developed and implemented with little consideration of their wider impact on social policy. The Commission's final report is likely to serve as a blueprint for drug law reform. Many of the recommendations will be applicable to other countries attempting to steer a balance between enacting progressive drug law reform while complying with their international treaty obligations. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute; London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies No. 8: Accessed September 1, 2010 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/Lessons%20from%20New%20Zealand%20Experience.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/Lessons%20from%20New%20Zealand%20Experience.pdf Shelf Number: 119715 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: Mejia, Daniel Title: The War on Illegal Drugs in Producer and Consumer Countries: A Simple Analytical Framework Summary: This paper develops a model of the war against illegal drugs in both producer and consumer countries. The paper studies the trade-off faced by the government of the drug consumer country between prevention policies (aimed at reducing the demand for drugs) and enforcement policies (aimed at reducing the production and trafficking of drugs), and shows how the optimal allocation of resources between these two alternatives depends on the key parameters of the model. We use available data for the war on drugs in Colombia, and against consumption in the U.S., to calibrate the unobservable parameters of the model, such as the price elasticity of demand for cocaine; the effectiveness of prevention and treatment policies; and the relative effectiveness of interdiction efforts. Details: Munich: CESifo, 2008. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper, No. 2459: Accessed September 14, 2010 at: http://www.cesifo.de/DocCIDL/cesifo1_wp2459.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.cesifo.de/DocCIDL/cesifo1_wp2459.pdf Shelf Number: 119800 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Prevention Drug Trafficking Drug Treatment Plan Colombia War on Drugs

Author: Kilmer, Beau Title: Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues and Violence in Mexico: Would Legalizing Marijuana in California Help? Summary: U.S. demand for illicit drugs creates markets for Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and helps foster violence in Mexico. This paper examines how marijuana legalization in California might influence DTO revenues and the violence in Mexico. Key findings include: 1) Mexican DTOs' gross revenues from illegally exporting marijuana to wholesalers in the United States is likely less than $2 billion; 2) The claim that 60 percent of Mexican DTO gross drug export revenues come from marijuana should not be taken seriously; 3) If legalization only affects revenues from supplying marijuana to California, DTO drug export revenue losses would be very small, perhaps 2–4 percent; 4) The only way legalizing marijuana in California would significantly influence DTO revenues and the related violence is if California-produced marijuana is smuggled to other states at prices that outcompete current Mexican supplies. The extent of such smuggling will depend on a number of factors, including the response of the U.S. federal government. 5) If marijuana is smuggled from California to other states, it could undercut sales of Mexican marijuana in much of the U.S., cutting DTOs' marijuana export revenues by more than 65 percent and probably by 85 percent or more. In this scenario, the DTOs would lose approximately 20% of their total drug export revenues. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2010/RAND_OP325.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2010/RAND_OP325.pdf Shelf Number: 119939 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Marijuana Violence

Author: Rolles, Stephen, ed. Title: A Comparison of the Cost-effectiveness of Prohibition and Regulation of Drugs Summary: Despite the billions spent each year on proactive and reactive drug law enforcement, the punitive prohibitionist approach has consistently delivered the opposite of its stated goals. The UK Government’s own data clearly demonstrates drug supply and availability increasing; use of drugs that cause the most harm increasing; health harms increasing; massive levels of crime created at all scales leading to a crisis in the criminal justice system; and illicit drug profits enriching criminals, fuelling conflict and destabilising producer and transit countries from Mexico to Afghanistan. This is an expensive policy that, in the words of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, has also created a raft of negative ‘unintended consequences’. The UK Government specifically claims the benefits of any move away from prohibition towards legal regulation of drug markets would be outweighed by the costs. No such cost-benefit analysis, or even a proper impact assessment of existing enforcement policy and legislation has ever been carried out here or anywhere else in the world. Yet there are clear Government guidelines that an impact assessment should be triggered by amongst other things, a policy going out to public consultation or when ‘unintended consequences’ are identified, both of which have happened with drug policy in recent years. Alternative approaches—involving established regulatory models of controlling drug production, supply and use—have not been considered or costed. The limited cost effectiveness analysis of current policy that has been undertaken has frequently been suppressed. In terms of scrutinizing major public policy and spending initiatives, current drug policy is unique in this regard. The generalisations being used to defend continuation of an expensive and systematically failing policy of drugs prohibition, and close down a mature and rational exploration of alternative approaches, are demonstrably based on un-evidenced assumptions. This paper is an attempt to begin to redress these failings by comparing the costs and benefits of the current policy of drug prohibition, with those of a proposed model for the legal regulation of drugs in the UK. We also identify areas of further research, and steps to ensure future drugs policy is genuinely based on evidence of what works. This initial analysis demonstrates that a move to legally regulated drug supply would deliver substantial benefits to the Treasury and wider community, even in the highly unlikely event of a substantial increase in use. Details: Bristol, UK: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2009. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2010 at: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/CBA%20New%202010.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/CBA%20New%202010.pdf Shelf Number: 120098 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Wood, Evan Title: Tools for Debate: US Federal Government Data on Cannabis Prohibition Summary: Several initiatives in the state of California, including Bill 2254 and the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis proposition, have fuelled the international discussion about the known impacts of cannabis prohibition and the potential impacts of a regulated (i.e., legal) market. Surprisingly, to date, an impact assessment of cannabis prohibition based on data derived through US federal government surveillance systems has been largely absent from this debate. Drawing upon cannabis surveillance systems funded by the US government, this report summarizes information about the impacts of US cannabis prohibition on cannabis seizures and arrests. The report also tests the assumption that increased funding for the enforcement of cannabis prohibition and subsequent increased seizures and arrests reduce cannabis-related harms, by evaluating US federally funded surveillance systems examining cannabis potency, price, availability and rates of use. Details: Vancouver, Canada: International Centre for Science in Drug Policy, 2010. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.icsdp.org/docs/ICSDP-2.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.icsdp.org/docs/ICSDP-2.pdf Shelf Number: 120117 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Marijuana

Author: Melis, Martina Title: Drug Policy and Development: How Action Against Illicit Drugs Impacts on the Millennium Development Goals Summary: It is now widely accepted that current drug control strategies have had limited success in reducing the overall scale of the illicit drug market, and have led to significant unintended consequences, that have impacted adversely on a range of areas of international cooperation. The tensions between drug control strategies and, for example, the prevention of HIV or the protection of human rights, are well documented. This briefing paper highlights similar tensions between the concerns and objectives of the development community, and the objectives and strategies implemented in the name of drug control. UN agencies and member states have made some progress in recent years in addressing these tensions, but there is a long way to go to find an integrated approach to drug control that maximises the protection of health and human rights, and the promotion of social and economic development. The UN Development Programme, and most development NGOs, have been largely absent from this debate, but could be making a significant contribution to the elaboration and implementation of more effective drug policies and strategies. Illicit drugs impact on development in a number of ways. Drug use contributes to diminished health, leading to higher healthcare costs and decreased earning at the population level. This is most noticeable in the area of HIV/AIDS where the sharing of needles not only spreads HIV infection among people who inject drugs but also serves to fuel the broader spread of the epidemic. Involvement in the illicit drugs market diverts people and resources from licit recorded economic activities. The huge profits associated with the drug market foster organised crime and corruption, which in turn inhibit the development of good governance. Environmental degradation resulting from the cultivation and refinement of naturally derived drugs is also being increasingly documented. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2010. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesssed October 28, 2010 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/Drug%20policy%20and%20development%20briefing.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/Drug%20policy%20and%20development%20briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 120118 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Illicit Drug Markets

Author: Moraes de Castro, Anderson Title: Drug Control and Its Consequences in Rio de Janeiro Summary: Although Rio de Janeiro (Rio) has not been the capital of Brazil since the 1960s, it is a beautiful city known internationally for its fireworks show on New Year's Eve on Copacabana beach and its carnival parades in the Sambadrome. The local violence associated with police repression and illicit drugs - known as Rio's urban war - is also known well beyond Brazil's national borders. This article presents the challenges of responding to the illicit drug market and its associated violence in Rio, highlighting the characteristics and dynamics of the markets, the impacts of the current drug policy approach adopted by the State of Rio on the scale of the illicit market, and its implications for the human rights and security of affected populations, in particular for the slum dwellers. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: IDPC Briefing Paper: Accessed December 1, 2010 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/IDPC%20Briefing%20Paper%20Violence%20in%20Rio.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Brazil URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/IDPC%20Briefing%20Paper%20Violence%20in%20Rio.pdf Shelf Number: 120332 Keywords: Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Violence Drugs (Rio de Janeiro) Violent Crime

Author: Transnational Institute Title: Alternative Development or Business as Usual? China's Opium Substitution Policy in Burma and Laos Summary: A significant part of opium and its derivative heroin on the market in China originates from the ‘Golden Triangle’ – roughly the area that spans northern Burma, Thailand and Laos. It supplies a large number of injecting drugs users in China, and is considered a major security concern by the Chinese authorities. To counter this threat, the Chinese government have launched opium substitution programmes in northern Burma and Laos. The schemes, promoting agricultural investments by Chinese companies, have seen a dramatic increase in recent years. They include large-scale rubber plantations and other crops such as sugarcane, tea and corn. Serious concerns arise regarding the longterm economic benefits and costs of rubber development for poor upland villagers. Although some economic benefits are derived from rubber development, the villagers enjoying these new resource revenue streams are not the poorest. Wealthier farmers with savings and better social networks can more easily tap benefits; hence socio-economic gaps are developing in the communities. Without access to capital and land to become involved in rubber concessions, upland farmers practicing swidden cultivation (many of whom are (ex-) poppy growers) have few alternatives but to work as wage labourers on agricultural concessions. They are forced to accede to government relocation programmes or to economic factors, as they have no other means of income. Conclusions and recommendations: The huge increase in Chinese agricultural concessions in Burma and Laos is driven by China’s opium crop substitution programme, offering subsidies and tax waivers for Chinese companies; China’s focus is on integrating the local economy of the border regions of Burma and Laos into the regional market through bilateral relations with government and military authorities across the border; In Burma large-scale rubber concessions is the only method operating. Initially informal smallholder arrangements were the dominant form of cultivation in Laos, but the topdown coercive model is gaining prevalence; The poorest of the poor, including many (ex-) poppy farmers, benefit least from these investments. They are losing access to land and forest, being forcibly relocated to the lowlands, left with few viable options for survival; New forms of conflict are arising from Chinese large-scale investments abroad. Related land dispossession has wide implications on drug production and trade, as well as border stability; and Investments related to opium substitution plans should be carried out in a more sustainable, transparent, accountable and equitable fashion with a community-based approach. They should respect traditional land rights and communities’ customs. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing No. 33: Accessed December 1, 2010 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief33.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief33.pdf Shelf Number: 120333 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Opium

Author: New York State. Division of Criminal Justice Services Title: New York State Felony Drug Arrest, Indictment and Commitment Trends 1973-2008 Summary: Felony Drug Arrest, Indictment and Commitment Trends 1973-2008 presents information on the criminal justice processing of felony drug cases, beginning from the time of implementation of the Rockefeller Drug Laws in 1973 and ending in 2008, the year before enactment of the 2009 Drug Law Reform. Felony drug case processing is presented to establish a baseline for future reports assessing the impact of the 2009 drug law changes. Details: Albany: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, 2010. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Law Reform Series, Report No. 1: Accessed December 8, 2010 at: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/pio/annualreport/baseline_trends_report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/pio/annualreport/baseline_trends_report.pdf Shelf Number: 120419 Keywords: Drug Laws (New York State) Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: New York State. Division of Criminal Justice Services Title: Profile of Felony Drug Offenders Committed to New York State Prison 2008 Summary: New York’s Rockefeller Drug Laws, enacted in 1973, mandated long prison sentences for many drug offenders. After several amendments to the original laws, in April 2009 the Legislature instituted significant changes. Mandatory prison sentences for some drug offenses were eliminated, and minimum sentence lengths were reduced for others. In October 2009, Article 216 of the Penal Law became effective, expanding judicial discretion to offer drug court alternatives to certain addicted non-violent offenders. The 2009 drug law reform is expected to result in fewer non-violent drug offenders sentenced to prison in New York State, and increase the number of individuals participating in community-based treatment. To provide context for analyzing the impact of the drug law reform, a companion report entitled Felony Drug Arrest, Indictment and Commitment Trends 1973-2008, presents trends in the processing of criminal justice processing of felony drug cases since the implementation of the Rockefeller Drug Laws in 1973. This report profiles 5,190 individuals who were committed to DOCS as drug offenders in 2008, the year prior to the enactment of the new drug laws. These individuals were committed after being sentenced to prison for the felony sale or possession of a controlled substance (Penal Law 220) or marijuana (Penal Law 221). This report details: the types of drug conviction offenses for which offenders were sentenced to prison; the extent of the offenders’ criminal histories prior to the 2008 drug commitment; gender, race/ethnicity and age of the commitments; differences between commitments from New York City and the Rest of State; and county-based commitment trends, offense class levels, and prior histories (included as appendices). Details: Albany: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, 2010. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Law Reform Series, Report No. 2: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/pio/annualreport/2008drug_commitment_profile.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/pio/annualreport/2008drug_commitment_profile.pdf Shelf Number: 120409 Keywords: Drug Laws (New York State) Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Transnational Institute Title: Systems Overload: Drug Laws and Prisons in Latin America Summary: A comparative study on the impact of drug policies on the prison systems of eight Latin American countries – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay – reveals that drug laws have contributed to the prison crises these countries are experiencing. The drug laws impose penalties disproportionate to many of the drug offenses committed, do not give sufficient consideration to the use of alternative sanctions, and promote the excessive use of preventive detention. The study found that the persons who are incarcerated for drug offenses tend to be individuals caught with small amounts of drugs, often users, as well as street-level dealers. Specifically, the study finds that most of the persons imprisoned for drugs are not high- or medium-level drug traffickers, but rather occupy the lowest links in the chain. According to the report, these laws have overcrowded the prisons – with a high human cost – but have not curbed the production, trafficking, or use of drugs. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute; Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2010. v.p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2010 at: http://www.druglawreform.info/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=category&cid=122&Itemid=46&lang=en Year: 2010 Country: Central America URL: http://www.druglawreform.info/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=category&cid=122&Itemid=46&lang=en Shelf Number: 120557 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Prisons (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecu

Author: Donohue, John J., III Title: Rethinking America's Illegal Drug Policy Summary: This paper provides a critical review of the empirical and theoretical literatures on illegal drug policy, including cross-country comparisons, in order to evaluate three drug policy regimes: criminalization, legalization and “depenalization.” Drawing on the experiences of various states, as well as countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands, the paper attempts to identify cost-minimizing policies for marijuana and cocaine by assessing the differing ways in which the various drug regimes would likely change the magnitude and composition of the social costs of each drug. The paper updates and evaluates Jeffrey Miron’s 1999 national time series analysis of drug prohibition spending and the homicide rate, which underscores the lack of a solid empirical base for assessing the theoretically anticipated crime drop that would come from drug legalization. Nonetheless, the authors conclude that given the number of arrests for marijuana possession, and the costs of incarceration and crime systemic to cocaine criminalization, the current regime is unlikely to be cost-minimizing for either marijuana or cocaine. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2011. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series; Working Paper 16776: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://mfi.uchicago.edu/publications/papers/donohue_drugpolicy.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://mfi.uchicago.edu/publications/papers/donohue_drugpolicy.pdf Shelf Number: 120757 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Policy Drug Control Drug Legalization Drug Policy

Author: Jelsma, Martin Title: The Development of International Drug Control: Lessons Learned and Strategic Challenges for the Future Summary: The emergence of more pragmatic and less punitive approaches to the drugs issue may represent the beginning of change in the current global drug control regime. The spread of HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users, the overcrowding of prisons, the reluctance in South America to remain a theatre for military anti-drug operations, and the ineffectiveness of repressive anti-drug efforts to reduce the illicit market have all contributed to the global erosion of support for the United States-style war on drugs. Over the last decade rapidly widening cracks have begun to split global drug control consensus. The zero-tolerance ideology is increasingly challenged by calls for decriminalisation, harm reduction and embedding human rights principles in drug control. And in recent years the merits of a regulated legal market for cannabis has been accepted as part of the mainstream debate about a more effective control model. This paper describes how the foundations for the global control system were established, the radicalization of the system toward more repressive implementation, consequently leading to soft defections and de-escalation efforts becoming more widespread; and in the last section projects a future for the ongoing reform process toward a modernization and humanization of the control system’s international legal framework as laid down in the UN drug control conventions. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Prepared for the First Meeting of the Commission, Geneva, 24-25 January 2011: http://www.tni.org/paper/development-international-drug-control Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.tni.org/paper/development-international-drug-control Shelf Number: 120902 Keywords: Drug Abuse Policy Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Jelsma, Martin Title: Lifting the Ban on Coca Chewing: Bolivia's Proposal to Amend the 1961 Single Convention Summary: January 31, 2011, marked the close of the 18-month period during which countries could submit objections to Bolivia’s proposal to remove from the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs the obligation to abolish the practice of coca chewing. A total of eighteen countries formally notified the UN Secretary General that they could not accept the proposed amendment: the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Russian Federation, Japan, Singapore, Slovakia, Estonia, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico and Ukraine. The U.S. convened a group of ‘friends of the convention’ to rally against what they perceived to be an undermining of the ‘integrity’ of the treaty and its guiding principle to limit the trade and use of narcotic drugs exclusively to medical and scientific purposes. The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC or the Council) will have to decide how to proceed, most likely during its substantive session in Geneva this July. This briefing paper analyses the reasons behind the proposed amendment and the opposing arguments that have been brought forward, and outlines the various options to be considered as the fate of Bolivia’s proposal is determined. Simply rejecting the amendment will not make the issue disappear. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies No. 11: Accessed April 8, 2011 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/lifting-the-ban-on-coca.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Bolivia URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/lifting-the-ban-on-coca.pdf Shelf Number: 121286 Keywords: Coca Leaf Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control (Bolivia) Drug Policy

Author: Erickson, Patricia G. Title: Drugs, Violence and Public Health: What Does the Harm Reduction Approach Have to Offer? Summary: This paper considers the topic of drug-related violence — that is, violence on our streets and in our communities — as a serious and urgent aspect of the problem of urban drugs. While violence has traditionally been considered a problem for criminal justice, a matter for the police and courts to respond to, a public-health model also offers a way of understanding, dealing with, and perhaps preventing, violence in urban areas. Harm reduction provides a framework to discuss new options that may be part of a “sensible solution” to the urban-drug problem. I will consider: (1) the fundamental issue of how drugs and violence are related; (2) the effectiveness of the harm-reduction approach and of criminal justice in dealing with violence; and (3) the need and likelihood of adopting this type of solution in Canada. Details: Vancouver, BC: The Fraser Institute, 2001. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2011 at: http://oldfraser.lexi.net/publications/books/drug_papers/UDErickson.pdf Year: 2001 Country: Canada URL: http://oldfraser.lexi.net/publications/books/drug_papers/UDErickson.pdf Shelf Number: 121293 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Violent Crime (Canada)

Author: OpenDoors Title: The Criminal Justice Costs of Marijuana Prohibition in Rhode Island Summary: According to the new report by OpenDoors, “The Criminal Justice Costs of Marijuana Prohibition in Rhode Island,” marijuana prohibition has widespread and significant fiscal and human costs, results in unfair and racially disproportionate punishment, and has no demonstrated public safety benefits. There were 1,771 arrests for marijuana possession in 2009, and in 2008 there were 584 incidents of incarceration for marijuana possession. The report recommends decriminalization of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and estimates that this would save $12.7 million in criminal justice costs per year. Additionally, the report concludes that there is no proof of any crime control benefits of these incarcerations, finding that, “in the year after release from a prison sentence for marijuana, only 7% of individuals were reconvicted for a violent offense, only 2.5% for a violent felony.” Despite the fact that white people smoke marijuana at higher rates, black people are punished disproportionately: black people are arrested 1.6 times more frequently for marijuana and those arrested are incarcerated eight times more frequently than whites. The analysis in the report is based on arrest, court, and Department of Corrections data and the methodology was reviewed by the Department of Corrections. The report also summarizes medical research that demonstrates that marijuana is significantly less of a public health risk than alcohol. The results have been distributed to the Rhode Island Senate Special Commission to Study the Prohibition of Marijuana, which is meeting for the final time Tuesday, March 15 to study Rhode Island’s current marijuana laws. Legislation has also been submitted in both the Senate and the House to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The report concludes that this legislation would result in significant fiscal savings. Currently, thirteen other states partially decriminalize marijuana possession, including Massachusetts, which made possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil offense in a 2008 ballot referendum by a vote of 65% to 35%. Details: Providence, RI: OpenDoors, 2010. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 14, 2011 at: http://opendoorsri.org/sites/default/files/CostsofMarijPolicyReportFINAL3.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://opendoorsri.org/sites/default/files/CostsofMarijPolicyReportFINAL3.pdf Shelf Number: 121341 Keywords: Drug Policy Marijuana (Rhode Island) Marijuana Prohibition

Author: Caulkins, Jonathan P. Title: Smuggling and Excise Tax Evasion for Legalized Marijuana: Lessons from Other Excise Taxes Summary: We explore three lines of evidence that may shed light on whether marijuana excise tax revenue could be threatened by black market sales and smuggling: (1) Comparing the Ammiano Bill’s proposed $50 per ounce tax to various other current and proposed excise taxes on a variety of metrics, (2) Placing a $50 per ounce tax in the context of cross-sectional state-level data relating tobacco smuggling to tobacco excise taxes, and (3) Comparing the tax to current marijuana prices on a per pound basis. This exercise suggests that:  As compared with other familiar excise taxes, a $50 per ounce excise tax on marijuana is either very high or truly unprecedented depending on the metric employed.  California should expect at least some degree of tax evasion; it is hard to see why evasion would be less of an issue than it is with cigarettes.  California should not rule out the possibility that tax evasion would wipe out essentially all of the potential revenues from a $50 per ounce excise tax. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND Drug Policy Research Center, 2010. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 766-RC, 2010. 10p. Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 121357 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana (California) Smuggling Tax Evasion

Author: Mansfield, David Title: Poppy Free Provinces: A Measure or a Target? Summary: This report focuses on the concept of “poppy free” provinces — an increasingly important metric by which performance in counter-narcotics in Afghanistan is currently being judged. It is based on the fourth consecutive year of fieldwork conducted in the provinces of Nangarhar and Ghor under the auspices of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit’s Applied Thematic Research into Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy project, known in short as “WOL” and funded by the European Commission. The report does not offer a synthesis of the previous years of fieldwork undertaken, although clearly it draws on the body of knowledge established by this work. The report details the processes by which two provinces achieved what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has come to refer to as “poppy free” status1 in the 2007/08 growing season. The two provinces are Nangarhar in the East of the country and Ghor in the central region. These are two markedly different provinces, not only from the perspective of the resources that the population have at their disposal, but also in the scale and depth of their engagement in the production and trade in opium. Matching the contrast in resources and engagement in opium poppy cultivation is the way in which Nangarhar and Ghor achieved their “poppy free” status in 2007/08 and the subsequent impact on the socioeconomic and political situation in these two provinces. The report contrasts the way in which these two provinces became opium poppy free in the 2007/08 growing season. It highlights the proactive role played by the Governor of Nangarhar in banning opium poppy: his use of coercion, persuasion and tribal structures to create an environment in which the population was not confident that there was sufficient unity within the tribes to prevent the opium crop being destroyed were they to plant it. The report also outlines how early eradication in key districts served to increase this perception of risk and, when combined with a successful attempt by the local authorities to create the impression that the heightened profile of the Unites States military in the province was primarily aimed at counter-narcotics rather than counterinsurgency, succeeded in deterring planting across Nangarhar. The report highlights how the situation in Ghor could not be more different. Here, the negligible levels of cultivation were the consequence of environmental and market forces. It shows how low opium yields and falling farm-gate prices have acted against opium poppy and, in the wake of dramatic increases in wheat prices in the 2007/08 growing season, have made it irrational to cultivate opium poppy. The reports shows that those who persist with cultivation typically do so because they have no other sources of cash income. Details: Kabul: Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, 2009. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2011 at: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/AREU_PoppyFreeProvinces_MeasureOrTarget.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Afghanistan URL: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/AREU_PoppyFreeProvinces_MeasureOrTarget.pdf Shelf Number: 121398 Keywords: Drug Policy Narcotics Control Opium Poppy Cultivation

Author: Birdwell, Jonathan Title: Taking Drugs Seriously: A Demos and UK Drug Policy Commission Report on Legal Highs Summary: Since first coming to public prominence at the end of 2009, legal highs have posed a major challenge to existing legal and legislative structures designed to deal with drugs. With the market in manufactured psychoactive substances like mephedrone moving faster than public policy can accommodate, this report asks whether the assumptions enshrined in the 40-year-old Misuse of Drugs Act are still valid when applied 21st century drugs market. Bringing together stakeholders from across all areas involved in drugs policy - including frontline practitioners such as medical professionals, youth workers and law enforcement - Taking Drugs Seriously brings bold, innovative responses to an area too often dominated by stale rhetoric. The report points a way forward for public policy, taking account of the opportunities for new thinking presented by the challenges of the modern drugs market. Details: London: Demos, 2011. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2011 at: http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Taking_Drugs_Seriously_-_web.pdf?1305207826 Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Taking_Drugs_Seriously_-_web.pdf?1305207826 Shelf Number: 121748 Keywords: Drug Abuse Policy (U.K.) Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Reform Drugs

Author: Global Commission on Drug Policy Title: War On Drugs: Report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy Summary: The global war on drugs has failed. When the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs came into being 50 years ago, and when President Nixon launched the US government’s war on drugs 40 years ago, policymakers believed that harsh law enforcement action against those involved in drug production, distribution and use would lead to an ever-diminishing market in controlled drugs such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis, and the eventual achievement of a ‘drug free world’. In practice, the global scale of illegal drug markets – largely controlled by organized crime – has grown dramatically over this period. While accurate estimates of global consumption across the entire 50-year period are not available, an analysis of the last 10 years alone shows a large and growing market. In spite of the increasing evidence that current policies are not achieving their objectives, most policymaking bodies at the national and international level have tended to avoid open scrutiny or debate on alternatives. This lack of leadership on drug policy has prompted the establishment of our Commission, and leads us to our view that the time is now right for a serious, comprehensive and wide-ranging review of strategies to respond to the drug phenomenon. The starting point for this review is the recognition of the global drug problem as a set of interlinked health and social challenges to be managed, rather than a war to be won. Commission members have agreed on four core principles that should guide national and international drug policies and strategies, and have made eleven recommendations for action. The Commission’s recommendations include: ● End the criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs but who do no harm to others. ● Encourage experimentation by governments with models of legal regulation of drugs (especially cannabis) to undermine the power of organized crime and safeguard the health and security of their citizens. ● Ensure that a variety of treatment modalities are available – including not just methadone and buprenorphine treatment but also the heroin-assisted treatment programs that have proven successful in many European countries and Canada. ● Apply human rights and harm reduction principles and policies both to people who use drugs as well as those involved in the lower ends of illegal drug markets such as farmers, couriers and petty sellers. Details: Rio de Janeiro: Global Commission on Drug Policy, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2011 at: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report Shelf Number: 121881 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Policy Drug Policy Drug Regulation Illegal Drug Markets

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Khat Use in Europe: Implications for European Policy Summary: Khat leaves are cultivated in the highlands of the Horn of Africa, Southern Arabia and along the East African coast. In many countries, chewing khat is an age-old tradition. More recently, the mass migration of people from the Horn of Africa has been associated with the spread of khat usage to neighbouring countries, Europe and the rest of the world. Exact numbers of regular khat users on a worldwide scale do not exist, however estimates range up to 20 million. This paper presents the challenges associated with the spread of khat consumption. Details: Lisbon: EMCDDA, 2011. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Drugs in Focus No. 21: Accessed July 5, 2011 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_137392_EN_TDAD11001ENC_WEB.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_137392_EN_TDAD11001ENC_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 121963 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drugs Immigrants Khat (Europe)

Author: Eisenbach-Stangl, Irmgard Title: Two Worlds of Drug Consumption in Late Modern Societies Summary: Europeans belong to the largest consumers of illicit drugs, absorbing about one fifth of the global heroin, cocaine and cannabis supply, as well as one third of ecstasy production (UNODC World Drug Report, 2008). However, the vast majority of Europeans have never tried any illicit substance. In popular perception, illicit drugs still represent alien cultures challenging traditional European patterns, including consumption of our favourite drugs – alcoholic beverages. Illicit drug-taking, no matter what type of drug and its amount, is considered an evil in itself; it is regarded as a serious transgression of social norms. This perception is perpetuated and reinforced by legal norms which – in most European countries – penalize a wide range of behaviours associated with illicit drugs. As a rule, this includes the possession and consumption of illegal drugs. Parallel to that, most European countries have established extended drug services dealing with drug-related problems in a more assimilative way. A crucial issue has been how many people transgress social and legal norms. Therefore, the general public, policy-makers, politicians and drug professionals alike demand, first of all, information on the prevalence of drug consumption. The question of what and how much they consume seems to be almost irrelevant. Only a few years ago the Global Workshop on Drug Information Systems (2002) identified the need for improved methods of estimating the quantities of illicit drugs consumed by users to complement the increasing sophistication and reliability of data on drug production and on drug seizure. Another important gap in the literature is the absence of reliable information on the costs of drug consumption at individual level. This knowledge is crucial to understanding the economic (and criminal) behaviour of individual consumers which includes not only drug purchasing but also continuous efforts to generate money to buy drugs. To fill these knowledge gaps, a project was carried out by the European Centre in collaboration with UNODC and financed by the Austrian federal ministry of European and international affairs. The European monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug addiction acted as observer. The overall goal of the project was to contribute to the development of useful and appropriate models of estimating drug consumption. The objectives were to assess consumption patterns of five main drugs – heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, cannabis – including the amounts consumed, and to assess consumption costs for each of the drugs. The study was based on data gathered from two different samples of drug users in six cities in six European union countries. Details: Vienna: European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, 2011. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Policiy Brief: Accessed July 8, 2011 at: http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1263572258_23948.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1263572258_23948.pdf Shelf Number: 122014 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Europe) Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Policy Drug Policy

Author: Harris, Genevieve Title: Conviction by Numbers: Threshold Quantities for Drug Policy Summary: Threshold quantities (TQs) for drug law and policy are being experimented with across many jurisdictions. States seem attracted to their apparent simplicity and use them to determine, for example, whether: a possession or supply offence is made out (e.g. Greece); a matter should be diverted away from the criminal justice system (e.g. Portugal); or a case should fall within a certain sentencing range (e.g. UK). Looking at examples from the EU and beyond, however, it is becoming clear that there are no ‘magic numbers’ in drug policy and that this tool brings its own complications and pit-falls. This briefing will therefore seek to provide an overview of the current discussion around TQs and will explore the mechanism of TQs including their benefits and drawbacks as a policy and legal tool. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 14: Accessed July 11, 2011 at: http://www.druglawreform.info/images/stories/documents/dlr14.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.druglawreform.info/images/stories/documents/dlr14.pdf Shelf Number: 122022 Keywords: Drug Abuse Policy Drug Control Drug Offenses Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Drug Policy Profiles -- Portugal Summary: The EMCDDA Drug policy profiles aim to describe some of the main characteristics of national drug policies in Europe and beyond. The profiles do not attempt to assess these policies, but instead outline their development and main features. The objective is to help readers — from researchers to policymakers — gain a better understanding of the way in which countries control drugs and respond to drug-related security, social and health problems. This first profile describes the national drug policy of Portugal, a policy that has attracted significant attention recently in the media and in policy debates. It considers national strategies and action plans, the legal context within which they operate and the public funds spent, or committed, to resource them. It also describes the political bodies and mechanisms set up to coordinate the response to the multi-faceted problem and the systems of evaluation that may help to improve future policy. Details: Lisbon: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2011 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_137215_EN_PolicyProfile_Portugal_WEB_Final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Portugal URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_137215_EN_PolicyProfile_Portugal_WEB_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 122048 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Portugal) Drug Control Drug Policy Drugs

Author: Anderson, David M. Title: Khat: Social Harms and Legislation: A Literature Review Summary: This paper summarises the findings of a literature review focused on drawing together existing evidence on the reported ‘social harms’ of khat to consumers in the UK. It also provides a commentary on the legislation brought in to control and prohibit khat in other countries. The review found a general lack of robust evidence on the link between khat use and social harms. Social harms associated with khat remain a concern among the UK’s immigrant Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities but there was little evidence of a clear causal relationship to support this view. There is a much stronger evidence base for the medical harm associated with khat which suggests that the dangers of khat consumption are relatively low. Details: London: Home Office, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Paper 95: Accessed July 15, 2011 at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/occ95?view=Binary Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/occ95?view=Binary Shelf Number: 122072 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drugs Khat (U.K.)

Author: Ojeda, Susana Title: Alternative Development from the Perspective of Colombia Farmers Summary: Alternative Development programmes have been widely discussed from the point of view of experts, technocrats, politicians and academics, with advocates and detractors debating whether such programmes contribute to decreasing the cultivation of llegal crops. However, little is known about the opinions of the people targeted by these programmes and the implications that they have for their daily lives. This analysis hopes to play a role in correcting this imbalance by analysing alternative development programmes carried out in Colombia during the government of Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010) from the perspective of Colombian farmers. Highlighting concerns of the farmers and making several reccommendations which include: •The farmers need to have permanent access to the state institutions that would allow them to fully develop their rights as citizens in areas of rural and environmental development, road infrastructure, education, and health. The state must be consistent in its implementation of rural development programmes that cover the whole country, and must stop giving paternalistic handouts. •There must be an end to the imposition of projects drawn up in the offices of those in power and by the international aid community, that do not take into account local knowledge and needs. The call for effective and real participation by farming communities must be taken into account in the drawing up of rural development projects. •Work with the communities must be based on their skills and traditions, and must be supported by their social networks. In this way the communities will be empowered and will be able to carry out projects that have a positive impact. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing No. 36: Accessed August 1, 2011 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/brief36.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Colombia URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/brief36.pdf Shelf Number: 122243 Keywords: Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Narcotics (Colombia)

Author: Barrett, Damon, ed. Title: Children of the Drug War: Perspectives on the Impact of Drug Policies on Young People Summary: Children of the Drug War is a unique collection of original essays that investigates the impacts of the war on drugs on children, young people, and their families. With contributions from around the world, providing different perspectives and using a wide range of styles and approaches, including ethnographic studies, personal accounts, and interviews, the book asks fundamental questions of national and international drug control systems: • What have been the costs to children and young people of the war on drugs? • Is the protection of children from drugs a solid justification for current policies? • What kinds of public fears and preconceptions exist in relation to drugs and the drug trade? • How can children and young people be placed at the forefront of drug policies? Four thematic sections address: • Production and trade • Race, class, and law enforcement • Families and drug policy • Children, drug use, and dependence. Details: New York: International Debate Education Association, 2011. 241p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2011 at: http://www.childrenofthedrugwar.org/ Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.childrenofthedrugwar.org/ Shelf Number: 122471 Keywords: Children, Drug Use Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Zuffa, Grazia Title: How to Determine Personal Use in Drug Legislation. The “Threshold Controversy” in the Light of the Italian Experience Summary: Distinguishing between drug possession for personal use and supply and trafficking is widely acknowledged as one of the most difficult and controversial issues facing drug legislators and policy makers. To address the problem, two solutions are typically enacted: the threshold scheme and the “flexible” model. According to the former, pre-defined quantities of the substances are presumed for personal use, while in the flexible model (or “discretionary system”) the court rules whether possession of drugs is intended for personal use or for supply, taking into account all the available circumstances. The purpose of this paper is to examine the advantages and the shortcomings of the different options, based on the Italian experience, as well as their real effectiveness in dealing with the problem. As the threshold controversy in the Italian context is closely intertwined with the debate over “criminalisation versus decriminalisation”, it will be necessary to examine changes in drug legislation, in particular evaluating the current 2006 drug law. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 15: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/The-threshold-controversy-in-the-light-of-the-italian-experience.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Italy URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/The-threshold-controversy-in-the-light-of-the-italian-experience.pdf Shelf Number: 122620 Keywords: Drug Control (Italy) Drug Policy Drug Regulation Drugs

Author: Jacobson, Mireille Title: Regulating Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: An Overview with Preliminary Evidence of Their Impact on Crime Summary: Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that allow certain individuals to use marijuana for medical purposes. This report provides an overview of state medical marijuana laws and preliminary findings on the relationship between medical marijuana dispensaries and local crime, based on results from an ongoing analysis in the City of Los Angeles. The authors analyzed data for the ten days prior to and ten days following the June 7, 2010, closure of over 70 percent of the 638 dispensaries then in operation. Crime reports within a few blocks around closed dispensaries were compared with crime reports near those that remained open. The authors found that crime increased in the vicinity of closed dispensaries relative to the vicinity around dispensaries allowed to remain open. The effects are concentrated on crimes, such as breaking and entering and assault, which may be particularly sensitive to the presence of security. Hypotheses for what might drive these results include the loss of on-site security and surveillance, a reduction in foot traffic, a resurgence in outdoor drug activity, or a change in police efforts. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2011 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2011/RAND_TR987.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2011/RAND_TR987.pdf Shelf Number: 122906 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Policy Medical Marijuana

Author: Kuzmicz, Ewelina Title: Drug Policy in Poland - Time for a Change Summary: Drug possession is a prohibited act liable to prosecution and penalty of incarceration. The criminalization of drug possession has been functioning in Poland for 10 years. Now is the time to evaluate its costs and effects. The criminalisation of drug possession does not meet the policy goals that inspired this approach, proves to be costly and has a number of negative effects. Although punishing for possession is perceived as a helpful instrument of police operations, it fails to reduce the drug use and trafficking, it costs the state budget at least 80 million PLN per year (EUR 20 million) and affects mainly young people and users of marijuana. The decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use should be introduced. In practice, this would mean that possession of small quantities for personal use would not constitute a criminal offence and would not be liable to incarceration. Details: Warsaw, Poland: Institute of Public Affairs, 2010. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Analyses & Opinion No. 13/110: Accessed September 28, 2011 at: http://www.isp.org.pl/uploads/analyses/1718781744.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Poland URL: http://www.isp.org.pl/uploads/analyses/1718781744.pdf Shelf Number: 122938 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Poland) Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: Hicarova, Tatiana Title: Summary Final Report Project to Evaluate Selected Drug-Possession Provisions of Act No. 300/2005 – Criminal Code of the Slovak Republic Summary: The project to evaluate the application of selected illegal drug possession provisions of Act No. 300/2005 – the Criminal Code – is the first project of its kind in Slovakia, evaluating the impact of relevant illegal drug possession provisions of the Act, and examining the trends in illegal drug use and punishment imposed in cases of their possession. The project was initiated by the Open Society Foundation Slovakia and was carried out in the period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009 by the research team cooperating with academic institutions and the Slovak National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction with the assistance of key departments of the Government of the Slovak Republic. The launch date of the project (January 1, 2006) corresponded with the effective date of the new Criminal Code of the Slovak Republic (“Criminal Code”). As a result of fundamental changes in the legislative framework governing possession of illegal drugs, the Foundation believed it was significant to find out to what extent the legislative intent presented in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill has been accomplished (a clear differentiation between users of illegal drugs and drug traffickers/dealers, application of alternative forms of punishment in cases of illeg al drug possession for personal use) through the only criterion specified in the Criminal Code – the quantity of illegal drug. The project sought to compare the legislative intent manifested in the new legislation with the actual application, in judicial practice, of the relevant illegal drug possession statutory provisions. For this reason, we examined the application of § 171 (possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for personal use) and § 172 (1) (d), any illegal drug possession. The project combines qualitative and quantitative methods currently considered the most efficient research strategy in similarly designed studies. We pursued the implementation of these fundamental research goals in three formally and structurally separate, but closely interconnected, sub-studies to produce one inseparable whole. Two sub-studies (1 and 2) used qualitative research methods consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The third, quantitative sub-study combined secondary analyses of the existing public health care and epidemiological statistical results with full meta-analyses of data sources of the existing data sets (population studies, statistical information of the Police Corps Presidium, the Forensic Expertise Institution of the Police Corps Presidium, the Public Prosecutor General’s Office of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) during a period of approximately ten years. Details: Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Open Society Foundation, 2010. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed September 28, 2011 at: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/drugpolicy/articles_publications/publications/slovak-drug-possession-report-20110301/evaluation-drug-paragraphs-20110308.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Slovakia URL: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/drugpolicy/articles_publications/publications/slovak-drug-possession-report-20110301/evaluation-drug-paragraphs-20110308.pdf Shelf Number: 122939 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Slovak Republic) Drug Offenders Drug Offenses Drug Policy

Author: Fortner, Michael Javen Title: The Carceral State and the Crucible of Black Politics: An Urban History of the Rockefeller Drug Laws Summary: The expansion of the carceral state and the mass incarceration of African American males have been of great concern to academics and activists. The dominant explanations for these outcomes emphasize white supremacy and the Republican law and order rhetoric that developed during the late 1960s. This paper complicates this narrative: it examines the role that African-American activists played in the development of local and national drug policy. Tracing the discourse around crime and law enforcement within New York City’s African American community from 1950s until the 1970s, this papers finds that the “urban crisis” narrative did not develop in spite of black politics: it developed, in great measure, because of black politics. The law and order rhetoric of the post-60s GOP might have been employed at the expense of racial minorities living in urban ghettos, but black politics played a preparatory role for this new Republican discourse. This paper concludes that the carceral state and the mass incarceration of African American males is as much a result of black fears as it is a result of white racism. Details: Unpublished paper, 2011. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed October 22, 2011 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1944608 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1944608 Shelf Number: 123081 Keywords: African Americans Drug Offenders Drug Policy Imprisonment Minorities Rockefeller Drug Laws (New York State)

Author: The World Bank. Central America Unit, Poverty Reduction Title: Crime and Violence in Central America: Volume II Summary: Central America‘s hopes for a rebirth following the resolution of the region‘s civil wars have been marred by the torrent of violence which has engulfed El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and begun to threaten Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. In addition to the pain and suffering experienced by victims, crime and violence exacts high costs, diverting investment, reducing economic growth, and undermining confidence in the region‘s fragile democracies. Among the key drivers of crime and violence in the region are drug trafficking, youth violence and gangs, the widespread availability of guns, and weak criminal justice institutions. Proven evidence-based prevention measures coupled with criminal justice reform can reduce crime and violence. Key messages and recommendations from the report include the following: 1) Crime and violence should be understood as a development issue. The high rates of crime and violence in the region have direct effects on human welfare in the short-run and long-run effects on economic growth and social development. Estimates of the effect on violence on growth imply that reducing crime could substantially boost growth in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. 2) The strongest single explanation for the high rates of violence in the region—and their apparent rise in recent years—is drug trafficking, principally the transport of cocaine from producer nations in the south to the consumer market in the United States. The drug trade contributes to the widespread availability of firearms, generates violence within and between drug cartels, and spurs further lawlessness by undermining criminal justice institutions. Controlling for other factors, areas with intense levels of drug trafficking in Central America have homicide rates 65 percent higher than other areas in the same country. Murder rates are also higher in areas with greater shares of female-headed households and larger populations of young men. Overall crime victimization rates are at their most extreme in the region‘s capitals and other large cities. 3) The countries of the region have under-invested in prevention approaches which have proven effective in reducing crime and violence elsewhere. A public expenditure analysis on crime and violence prevention undertaken for this study in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama shows that spending has been modest for crime prevention measures. Crime prevention through environmental design and urban renewal programs can generate rapid decreases in property crime and inter-personal violence. Integrated citizen security approaches, combining modern methods of policing with prevention interventions by both government and non-governmental organizations, have seen initial success in El Salvador and should be tried elsewhere. The public health approach, which focuses on addressing risk factors for violent conduct, is especially promising for addressing violence against women and youth violence. 4) The criminal justice systems of several countries in the region have been deeply corrupted by drug trafficking, enabling traffickers to take advantage of existing institutional weaknesses, and the mano dura (―iron fist‖) approach has proven largely ineffective and possibly counterproductive. In some countries, the police have largely lost the trust of citizens; nearly half of Salvadorans and Hondurans and 2 out of 3 Guatemalans believe their local police are involved in crime. Clearly, improving criminal justice systems is essential. This includes reforming the judiciary, attorneys generals offices, and police forces. An especially urgent priority is ensuring strong accountability of the criminal justice system to citizens. This should be done through an inter-institutional approach, focusing on transparent selection, promotion, and sanctioning mechanisms. The optimization of court administration and case management with internal processes reengineering—such as the development of management information systems and performance indicators—provide important mechanisms to better diagnosis problems, track system outputs, monitor reform programs, and rationalize resources. 5) There are multiple possible entry points to integrate violence and crime prevention into policy. In one instance, the most promising approach may be in the context of a slum upgrading or municipal development project. In another, it may be in the context of reform of the health service. In a third, it may be in the context of reform of the criminal justice system. There is no one ―ideal‖ approach. The common denominator is that successful interventions are evidence-based, starting with a clear diagnostic of types of violence and risk factors and ending with a careful evaluation of the intervention‘s impact to inform future actions. 6) Drug trafficking poses a major challenge to Central American governments. The experiences of Mexico and Colombia, economic theory, and the historical record in the United States all suggest that an escalation of interdiction efforts—at any scale the Central American governments could mount, even with assistance from abroad—would most likely increase levels of violence without diminishing the capacities of drug traffickers. Consequently, marginal funds are more likely to reduce violence if devoted to crime prevention efforts and criminal justice reforms. 7) Gun ownership is an outgrowth of the drug trade and the history of civil conflict in some countries. Within these environments, which promote the demand for weapons, reducing gun ownership is a difficult undertaking. Regional and international evidence shows that the implementation and enforcement of firearms legislation, such as a ban on carrying firearms, combined with supply-side measures, such as controlling secondary firearms markets, are the most promising to reduce availability of firearms and reduce armed violence. National firearms policies are unlikely to reduce the availability of weapons unless they are undertaken as part of a regional approach with international efforts to stem the flow of contraband weapons from abroad, particularly Mexico and the United States. 8) The victims and perpetrators of violent crime are largely young men. In Central America as in the rest of the world, men age 15-34 account for the overwhelming majority of homicide victims, and they also comprise the membership of youth gangs. While gangs are doubtless a major contributor to crime in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, the very limited evidence indicates they are responsible for only a minority share of violence; multiple sources suggest perhaps 15 percent of homicides are gang-related. To address issues of youth violence, policy makers in the short run should borrow from the evidence-based toolkit of programs from other regions, such as early childhood development and mentoring programs, interventions to increase retention of high-risk youth in secondary schools, and opening schools after-hours and on weekends to offer youth activities to occupy their free time. While many programs to reduce youth violence have been introduced in the region, few if any have been subject to rigorous impact evaluation. Impact evaluations should systematically document what works in youth violence prevention in Central America. 9) Major data gaps hinder policy making. Several countries of the region have made substantial progress in recent years in improving their mechanisms for recording crime, particularly homicides. Such efforts should be continued and paired with expanded use of crime information systems, which experience in other areas has shown can be a valuable tool to direct criminal justice efforts. Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010. 187p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 56781-LAC: Accessed October 26, 2011 at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/Eng_Volume_II_Crime_and_Violence_Central_America.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Central America URL: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/Eng_Volume_II_Crime_and_Violence_Central_America.pdf Shelf Number: 123152 Keywords: Criminal Cartels Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Gang Violence Gun Control Homicides Violent Crime (Central America)

Author: Vargas Meza, Ricardo Title: USAID’s Alternative Development policy in Colombia Summary: Development as practised by USAID and the Colombia government was always guided more by security rather than development considerations. This report examines the key aspects of USAID's alternative development policy and its implementation in Colombia during the last decade. Key Points • Alternative development must not be part of a militarised security strategy, which is the predominant approach in Colombia. Instead of simply attempting to reduce the area planted with illicit crops, Alternative Development programmes should operate within the framework of a rural and regional development plan. • Alternative Development programmes must foster social processes in which the community participates and is empowered throughout the entire project cycle, from formulation to evaluation. • Before intervening in conflict zones, such as drug crop-growing areas or transit corridors, international cooperation agencies should carry out detailed assessments of factors such as: changes in land tenure structures as a result of the armed conflict; existence of emerging powers related to drug trafficking, paramilitaries or other armed actors; situation of legitimate community organisations (Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities), among others. • International cooperation agencies should analyse in depth the role of Alternative Development, examining the process of territorial control by organised criminal groups. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing Nr. 38: Accessed November 1, 2011 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief38.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Colombia URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief38.pdf Shelf Number: 123201 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Illegal Drugs (Colombia)

Author: Edwards, Sandra G. Title: Drug Law Reform in Ecuador: Building Momentum for a More Effective, Balanced and Realistic Approach Summary: Across the hemisphere, frustration is growing with the failure of the "war on drugs." Many Latin American countries face rising rates of drug consumption, despite harsh drug laws that have left prisons bursting at the seams. Typically, users and low-level dealers bear the brunt of the sanctions, while high-level actors with money and power carry on with impunity. In response, numerous countries are exploring alternative policies. For example, in August 2009, Mexico enacted a law decriminalizing the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use. That same month, the Argentine Supreme Court determined that imposing criminal sanctions for the possession of drugs for personal use is unconstitutional, a ruling that paves the way for pending legislation that would decriminalize the possession of all illicit drugs for personal consumption. Brazilian officials are working on reforms that would advance legislative changes in 2002 and 2006 that partially decriminalize possession of drugs for personal use. In short, an incipient drug law reform movement appears to be gaining traction across the region and even in the United States. In Ecuador, the Correa government's comprehensive justice sector reform project includes significant changes in drug legislation. The country has one of the most punitive drug laws in the hemisphere. In a perversion of justice, those accused of drug offenses are assumed guilty unless they can prove their innocence, mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines ensure excessively long sentences and arrest quotas have led to the imprisonment of growing numbers of those at the lowest end of the drug trafficking trade. By 2008, Ecuador's justice system had reached a breaking point, overwhelmed by huge caseloads of drug-related offenses, and prisons were bursting at the seams. The need for significant reforms was painfully clear. This brief explains why and how the Ecuadorian government arrived at its decision to undertake significant drug law reform and how, if implemented successfully, those reforms could result in more effective, just and humane national drug control policies, setting an example for the rest of the region. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute - TNI, 2010. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2011 at: http://www.wola.org/drug_law_reform_in_ecuador Year: 2010 Country: Ecuador URL: http://www.wola.org/drug_law_reform_in_ecuador Shelf Number: 123244 Keywords: Drug Abuse (Ecuador) Drug Control Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Transform Drug Policy Foundation Title: The War on Drugs: Creating Crime, Enriching Criminals Summary: The global war on drugs has been fought for over 50 years, to achieve its stated goal of a “drug-free world”. Yet despite the ever increasing resources spent on police and military efforts to suppress the illicit drug trade, supply has more than kept pace with rising global demand. Indeed, most indicators suggest drugs are cheaper and more available than ever before. This briefing summarises the crime-related costs stemming from the war on drugs, which include: • Organised crime arising from the illicit drug trade, and its knock-on effects in terms of money laundering, corruption and violence • Street-level crime committed by drug gangs and by dependent drug users attempting to support their habits • The criminalisation of users, excessive levels of incarceration, and crimes committed by governments under the banner of the drug war • The economic costs of drug war-related crime, and the criminal justice response to it There is overlap with other areas of the Count the Costs initiative – human rights (including a detailed discussion of prison issues), security and development, discrimination and stigma, public health, the environment and economics. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Founcation, 2011. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: Year: 2011 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 123567 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illicit Drugs Organized Crime War on Drugs

Author: Transform Drug Policy Foundation Title: The War on Drugs: Causing Deforestation and Pollution Summary: Examining a range of environmental issues surrounding the war on drugs, the briefing includes several case studies as well as sections on: •The futility of drug crop eradications •The aerial fumigation of drug crops, a practice that is still permitted in the world’s second most biodiverse country, Colombia •The deforestation that occurs as law enforcement drives drug crop producers into ever more remote and ecologically valuable regions •The pollution caused by unregulated, illicit drug production methods While some of the consequences of the war on drugs are relatively well known and understood by those aware of the issue, the environmental impacts of current drug policy are seldom given proper consideration. This must change. As this briefing outlines, if these environmental costs are to be minimised or avoided, alternative forms of drug control must be explored. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Environment-briefing.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Environment-briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 123591 Keywords: Crop Eradication Deforestation Drug Control Drug Policy Environment Pollution War on Drugs

Author: Transform Drug Policy Foundation Title: The War on Drugs: Undermining Human Rights Summary: The global “war on drugs” has been fought for 50 years, without preventing the long-term trend of increasing drug supply and use. Beyond this failure, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified many serious “unintended negative consequences” of the drug war – including widespread human rights abuses.(1) These human rights costs result not from drug use itself, but from choosing a punitive enforcement-led approach that, by its nature, criminalises many users, often the most vulnerable in society, and places organised criminals in control of the trade. This briefing summarises these human rights costs. There is naturally overlap with other areas of the Count the Costs project, including: security and development, discrimination and stigma, public health, crime, the environment, and economics. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2011. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Human_rights_briefing.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Human_rights_briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 123633 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Human Rights War on Drugs

Author: International Drug Policy Consortium Title: TNI-IDPC-Sentencing Council: Expert Seminar on Proportionality of Sentencing for Drug Offences Summary: The Expert Seminar on Proportionality of Sentencing for Drug Offences was an initiative of the Transnational Institute working together with the International Drug Policy Consortium (‘IDPC’) and co-hosted by the Sentencing Council of England and Wales. The seminar was funded by the European Commission and the Open Society Institute and took place in London, England in May 2011. This seminar is the third in a series of expert discussions on drug policy designed to feed into moments of opportunity for policy and law reform at national and international level with detailed technical analysis and through examples of best-practice from across different jurisdictions. The moment of opportunity in this case was the Sentencing Council’s consultation on sentencing for drug offences which is due to produce definitive sentencing guidelines for England and Wales in the next year. A total of 31 people attended and comprised a mixture of domestic and international policy officials, the judiciary, and practitioners as well as representatives from non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. Four themes were covered over the course of the day: proportionality, the International Human Rights Perspective; the UK Experience and Consultation on Sentencing for Drug Offences; the Concept of Proportionality with a Focus on Different Levels of Involvement in Drug Offences; and drug ‘mules.’ Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2011. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2012 at http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/IDPC-TNI%20Proportionality%20Report%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/IDPC-TNI%20Proportionality%20Report%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 124198 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Human Rights Sentencing Guidelines

Author: Kramer, Tom Title: Financing Dispossession: China's Opium Substitution Programme in Northern Burma Summary: Northern Burma’s borderlands have undergone dramatic changes in the last two decades. Three main and interconnected developments are simultaneously taking place in Shan State and Kachin State: (1) the increase in opium cultivation in Burma since 2006 after a decade of steady decline; (2) the increase at about the same time in Chinese agricultural investments in northern Burma under China’s opium substitution programme, especially in rubber; and (3) the related increase in dispossession of local communities’ land and livelihoods in Burma’s northern borderlands. The vast majority of the opium and heroin on the Chinese market originates from northern Burma. Apart from attempting to address domestic consumption problems, the Chinese government also has created a poppy substitution development programme, and has been actively promoting Chinese companies to take part, offering subsidies, tax waivers, and import quotas for Chinese companies. The main benefits of these programmes do not go to (ex-)poppy growing communities, but to Chinese businessmen and local authorities, and have further marginalised these communities. Serious concerns arise regarding the long-term economic benefits and costs of agricultural development— mostly rubber—for poor upland villagers. Economic benefits derived from rubber development are very limited. Without access to capital and land to invest in rubber concessions, upland farmers practicing swidden cultivation (many of whom are (ex-) poppy growers) are left with few alternatives but to try to get work as wage labourers on the agricultural concessions. Land tenure and other related resource management issues are vital ingredients for local communities to build licit and sustainable livelihoods. Investment-induced land dispossession has wide implications for drug production and trade, as well as border stability. Investments related to opium substitution should be carried out in a more sustainable, transparent, accountable and equitable fashion. Customary land rights and institutions should be respected. Chinese investors should use a smallholder plantation model instead of confiscating farmers land as a concession. Labourers from the local population should be hired rather than outside migrants in order to funnel economic benefits into nearby communities. China’s opium crop substitution programme has very little to do with providing mechanisms to decrease reliance on poppy cultivation or provide alternative livelihoods for ex-poppy growers. Chinese authorities need to reconsider their regional development strategies of implementation in order to avoid further border conflict and growing antagonism from Burmese society. Financing dispossession is not development. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2012. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2012 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/tni-financingdispossesion-web.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Burma URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/tni-financingdispossesion-web.pdf Shelf Number: 124276 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Opium (Burma) War on Drugs (Burma)

Author: Mauer, Marc Title: To Build a Better Criminal Justice System: 25 Experts Envision the Next 25 Years of Reform Summary: In a new publication of The Sentencing Project 25 leading scholars and practitioners have contributed essays on their strategic vision for the next 25 years of criminal justice reform. Issues addressed in the collection include racial justice strategies, linking public health and criminal justice reform, challenging the war on drugs, and the viability of fiscal pressures as a focus for reform. Details: Washington, D.C.: The Sentencing Project, 2012. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2012 at http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_25_eassys.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_25_eassys.pdf Shelf Number: 124637 Keywords: Administration of Justice Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Systems Drug Policy Incarceration Juvenile Justice Racial Disparity Sentencing Reform Voting Rights

Author: Cowen, Nick Title: Rehabilitating Drug Policy: What Can We Do Better to Reduce Offending by Drug Addicts? Summary: This report examines what is currently working in drug rehabilitation, and what could be done better, with specific reference to the criminal justice system and criminal justice outcomes in England and Wales. The following sections attempt to answer two key questions: 1. What drug interventions are effective? 2. How should effective drug interventions be delivered? The primary evidence is a series of open-ended interviews with practitioners and advocates in the field of drug addiction. In addition, this report attempts to distil some of the implications of current empirical evidence on treatment. Greater weight is given to systematic reviews of the evidence where they have been carried out. Details: London: Civitas, 2012. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 30, 2012 at: http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/RehabilitatingDrugsPolicy2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/RehabilitatingDrugsPolicy2012.pdf Shelf Number: 125097 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.) Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Florida. Senate. Committee on Criminal Justice Title: Review Penalties for Drug-Free Zone Violations Summary: Florida law increases the gravity of certain drug offenses and the severity of the penalty when these offenses are committed within 1,000 feet of certain places and facilities, such as within 1,000 feet of the real property of a K-12 school. These protected areas are sometimes referred to as “drug-free zones” or “DFZs.” DFZ laws have been advocated to protect the users of these places and facilities and as valuable drug enforcement and prosecution tools, but also have been criticized as being unfair, indiscriminatly punitive, and not accomplishing purposes for which they are typically intended. This report provides information relevant to Florida’s DFZ provisions so that legislators can assess whether these provisions should be retained in their current form, modified, or repealed. Some options are provided for legislators to consider. Details: Tallahassee: Florda Sentate, 2011. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Interim Report 2012-116; Accessed April 30, 2012 at: http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/2012/InterimReports/2012-116cj.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/2012/InterimReports/2012-116cj.pdf Shelf Number: 125098 Keywords: Drug Offenses - Drug Policy Drug-Free Zones (Florida)

Author: Murray, Chad Title: Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations and Marijuana: The Potential Effects of U.S. Legalization Summary: Mexico's drug war has claimed more than 30,000 lives since 2006. The intensity and duration of this violence has produced an environment in which “few Mexican citizens feel safer today than they did ten years ago, and most believe that their government is losing the fight.” However, the problem of drug violence in Mexico is not domestic, but transnational in nature. President Barack Obama recently noted that “we are very mindful that the battle President Calderón is fighting inside of Mexico is not just his battle; it's also ours. We have to take responsibility just as he is taking responsibility.” It is U.S. demand for illicit drugs that provides the primary incentive for Mexican narcotics trafficking. Therefore, there is a possibility that a change in U.S. drug policy could negatively affect the revenues of Mexican DTOs, and even their ability to wage violence. This paper will examine the validity of that argument, as well as several of the issues that would accompany such a fundamental policy shift. The purpose of this report is to evaluate current U.S. policy on marijuana, extract lessons learned from policy changes in other countries, analyze the effects that legalization of marijuana in the United States might have on Mexican DTOs, and provide recommendations for future U.S. policies. Current U.S. laws will serve as a starting point to determine if existing decriminalization or medicinal marijuana reforms have had any impact on Mexican DTOs. After examining what effects, if any, these policies have had, reforms in other countries will be examined. From the case studies of Portugal, the Netherlands, and Mexico, lessons will be drawn to give context to any possible ramifications or benefits of U.S. marijuana legalization. Finally, concrete recommendations will be made on whether recent marijuana policy reforms should be maintained, improved, or repealed. Details: Washington, DC: George Washington University, The Elliott School of International Affairs, 2011. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Elliott School of International Affairs/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission: Capstone Report: Accessed April 30, 2012 at: http://elliott.gwu.edu/assets/docs/acad/lahs/mexico-marijuana-071111.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Mexico URL: http://elliott.gwu.edu/assets/docs/acad/lahs/mexico-marijuana-071111.pdf Shelf Number: 125103 Keywords: Decriminalization Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Drug Trafficking (Mexico) Drug Violence

Author: Jiggens, John Lawrence Title: Marijuana Australiana : Cannabis Use, Popular Culture and the Americanisation of Drugs Policy in Australia, 1938-1988 Summary: The word 'marijuana' was introduced to Australia by the US Bureau of Narcotics via the Diggers newspaper, Smith's Weekly, in 1938. Marijuana was said to be 'a new drug that maddens victims' and it was sensationally described as an 'evil sex drug'. The resulting tabloid furore saw the plant cannabis sativa banned in Australia, even though cannabis had been a well-known and widely used drug in Australia for many decades. In 1964, a massive infestation of wild cannabis was found growing along a stretch of the Hunter River between Singleton and Maitland in New South Wales. The explosion in Australian marijuana use began there. It was fuelled after 1967 by US soldiers on rest and recreation leave from Vietnam. It was the Baby-Boomer young who were turning on. Pot smoking was overwhelmingly associated with the generation born in the decade after the Second World War. As the conflict over the Vietnam War raged in Australia, it provoked intense generational conflict between the Baby-Boomers and older generations. Just as in the US, pot was adopted by Australian Baby-Boomers as their symbol; and, as in the US, the attack on pot users served as code for an attack on the young, the Left, and the alternative. In 1976, the 'War on Drugs' began in earnest in Australia with paramilitary attacks on the hippie colonies at Cedar Bay in Queensland and Tuntable Falls in New South Wales. It was a time of increasing US style prohibition characterised by 'tough-on-drugs' right-wing rhetoric, police crackdowns, numerous murders, and a marijuana drought followed quickly by a heroin plague; in short by a massive worsening of 'the drug problem'. During this decade, organised crime moved into the pot scene and the price of pot skyrocketed, reaching $450 an ounce in 1988. Thanks to the Americanisation of drugs policy, the black market made 'a killing'. In Marijuana Australiana I argue that the 'War on Drugs' developed -- not for health reasons -- but for reasons of social control; as a domestic counter-revolution against the Whitlamite, Baby-Boomer generation by older Nixonite Drug War warriors like Queensland Premier, Bjelke-Petersen. It was a misuse of drugs policy which greatly worsened drug problems, bringing with it American-style organised crime. As the subtitle suggests, Marijuana Australiana relies significantly on 'alternative' sources, and I trawl the waters of popular culture, looking for songs, posters, comics and underground magazines to produce an 'underground' history of cannabis in Australia. This 'pop' approach is balanced with a hard-edged, quantitative analysis of the size of the marijuana market, the movement of price, and the seizure figures in the section called 'History By Numbers'. As Alfred McCoy notes, we need to understand drugs as commodities. It is only through a detailed understanding of the drug trade that the deeper secrets of this underground world can be revealed. In this section, I present an economic history of the cannabis market and formulate three laws of the market. Details: Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Social Change Research, 2004. 294p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed April 30, 2012 at: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/15949/ Year: 2004 Country: Australia URL: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/15949/ Shelf Number: 125108 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Marijuana (Australia) Organized Crime

Author: Alonso, Martin Barriuso Title: Cannabis Social Clubs in Spain: A Normalizing Alternative Underway Summary: Cannabis social clubs (CSC) are noncommercial organisations of users who get together to cultivate and distribute enough cannabis to meet their personal needs without having to turn to the black market. They are based on the fact that the consumption of illegal drugs has never been considered a crime under Spanish legislation. Taking advantage of this grey area, private clubs that produce cannabis for non-profit distribution solely to a closed group of adult members have existed for years. Since their appearance in 2002, CSCs have enabled several thousand people to stop financing the black market and to know the quality and origin of what they are consuming, whilst creating jobs and tax revenue. All of this has happened without having to withdraw from existing UN drug treaties. This article outlines the nature and functioning of these clubs. It also proposes a better route for legalisation of drugs: rejecting the creation of an open trade system, similar to that of alcohol or tobacco and opting instead for a consumer-focused, non-profit model that avoids many of the risks inherent in a market dominated by the pursuit of economic profit. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 9: Accessed May 2, 2012 at: http://www.druglawreform.info/images/stories/documents/dlr9.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Spain URL: http://www.druglawreform.info/images/stories/documents/dlr9.pdf Shelf Number: 125118 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Legalilzation Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: California Police Chiefs Association. Task Force on Marijuana Dispensaries Title: White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries Summary: Proposition 215, an initiative authorizing the limited possession, cultivation, and use of marijuana by patients and their care providers for certain medicinal purposes recommended by a physician without subjecting such persons to criminal punishment, was passed by California voters in 1996. This was supplemented by the California State Legislature’s enactment in 2003 of the Medical Marijuana Program Act (SB 420) that became effective in 2004. The language of Proposition 215 was codified in California as the Compassionate Use Act, which added section 11362.5 to the California Health & Safety Code. Much later, the language of Senate Bill 420 became the Medical Marijuana Program Act (MMPA), and was added to the California Health & Safety Code as section 11362.7 et seq. Among other requirements, it purports to direct all California counties to set up and administer a voluntary identification card system for medical marijuana users and their caregivers. Some counties have already complied with the mandatory provisions of the MMPA, and others have challenged provisions of the Act or are awaiting outcomes of other counties’ legal challenges to it before taking affirmative steps to follow all of its dictates. And, with respect to marijuana dispensaries, the reaction of counties and municipalities to these nascent businesses has been decidedly mixed. Some have issued permits for such enterprises. Others have refused to do so within their jurisdictions. Still others have conditioned permitting such operations on the condition that they not violate any state or federal law, or have reversed course after initially allowing such activities within their geographical borders by either limiting or refusing to allow any further dispensaries to open in their community. This White Paper explores these matters, the apparent conflicts between federal and California law, and the scope of both direct and indirect adverse impacts of marijuana dispensaries in local communities. It also recounts several examples that could be emulated of what some governmental officials and law enforcement agencies have already instituted in their jurisdictions to limit the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries and to mitigate their negative consequences. Details: Sacramento: California Police Chiefs Association, 2009. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2012 at: http://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/CAPCAWhitePaperonMarijuanaDispensaries.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/CAPCAWhitePaperonMarijuanaDispensaries.pdf Shelf Number: 125120 Keywords: Drug Policy Medical Marijuana (California)

Author: Blumenfeld, Leah H. Title: Trading Democracy for Security? The Effects of the International Drug War on the Quality of Democracy in the Dominican Republic, 1996 -2008 Summary: The purpose of the research is to study the relationship between international drug interdiction policies and domestic politics in fragile democracies, and to demonstrate how international drug control policies and the use of force fit the rhetoric of war, are legitimized by the principles of a just war, but may also cause collateral damage and negative unintended consequences. The method used is a case study of the Dominican Republic. The research has found that international drug control regimes, primarily led by the U.S. and narrowly focused on interdiction, have influenced an increasingly militarized approach to domestic law enforcement in the Dominican Republic. The collateral damage caused by militarized enforcement comes in the form of negative perceptions of citizen security, loss of respect for the rule of law and due process, and low levels of civil society development. The drug war has exposed the need for significant reform of the institutions charged with carrying out enforcement, the police force and the judicial system in particular. The dissertation concludes that the extent of drug trafficking in the Dominican Republic is beyond the scope of domestic reform efforts alone, but that the programs implemented do show some potential for future success. The dissertation also concludes that the framework of warfare is not the most appropriate for the international problems of drug traffic and abuse. A broader, multipronged approach should be considered by world policy makers in order to address all conditions that allow drugs to flourish without infringing upon democratic and civil rights in the process. Details: Miami: Florida International University, 2010. 244p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1191&context=etd Year: 2010 Country: Dominican Republic URL: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1191&context=etd Shelf Number: 125439 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking (El Salvador) Drug Trafficking Control Drug War

Author: Rolles, Steve Title: The Alternative World Drug Report: Counting the Costs of the War on Drugs Summary: The Alternative World Drug Report, launched to coincide with publication of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2012 World Drug Report, exposes the failure of governments and the UN to assess the extraordinary costs of pursuing a global war on drugs, and calls for UN member states to meaningfully count these costs and explore all the alternatives. After 50 years of the current enforcement-led international drug control system, the war on drugs is coming under unparalleled scrutiny. Its goal was to create a "drug-free world". Instead, despite more than a trillion dollars spent fighting the war, according to the UNODC, illegal drugs are used by an estimated 270 million people and organised crime profits from a trade with an estimated turnover of over $330 billion a year – the world’s largest illegal commodity market. In its 2008 World Drug Report, the UNODC acknowledged that choosing an enforcement-based approach was having a range of negative "unintended consequences", including: the creation of a vast criminal market, displacement of the illegal drugs trade to new areas, diversion of funding from health, and the stigmatisation of users. It is unacceptable that neither the UN or its member governments have meaningfully assessed these unintended consequences to establish whether they outweigh the intended consequences of the current global drug control system, and that they are not documented in the UNODC’s flagship annual World Drug Report. This groundbreaking Alternative World Drug Report fills this gap in government and UN evaluations by detailing the full range of negative impacts resulting from choosing an enforcement-led approach. Details: Count the Costs.org, 2012. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/AWDR.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/AWDR.pdf Shelf Number: 125458 Keywords: Costs of Crime Costs of Criminal Justice Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Illegal Drugs Organized Crime

Author: Beckett, Katherine Title: The Consequences and Costs of Marijuana Prohibition Summary: This report draws on a wide range of data sources to assess the consequences and costs of enforcing criminal laws that prohibit the use of marijuana. Despite widespread and longstanding disagreement about the continuation of marijuana prohibition, the number and rate of marijuana arrests have increased significantly in the United States since the early 1990s. These arrests are not evenly distributed across the population, but are disproportionately imposed on African Americans. Our findings regarding the costs and consequences of marijuana prohibition, as well as state and local efforts to relax it. Details: Seattle, WA: Law, Societies and Justice Program, University of Washington, 2008. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2012 at: http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/BeckettandHerbert.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.aclu-wa.org/library_files/BeckettandHerbert.pdf Shelf Number: 113851 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Marijuana (Washington State)

Author: Maxwell, Les Title: ‘New Cannabis’: The Cornerstone of Illicit Drug Harm in New Zealand Summary: Cannabis is the most controversial and widely debated illicit drug in the world. Cannabis evokes emotive competing commentary from a globally connected pro cannabis lobby who conduct very focused and articulate campaigns to overturn drug laws and policies. In the last forty years there has been a plethora of assessments and studies that have espoused contrary views on the harms posed by cannabis use which has led to confusion amongst the general population. A number of pre-eminent international agencies have highlighted the increasing threat posed by high potency or ‘re-engineered’ cannabis (‘new cannabis’), particularly from a health perspective. It is no surprise ‘new cannabis’ has been a steadily increasing feature of the New Zealand cannabis environment since the late 1990’s. The New Zealand Government, at Ministerial level, recently formally acknowledged New Zealand had a “drug problem”. The prevalence of cannabis in the Oceania Region, particularly New Zealand, as illustrated in this assessment are amongst the highest in the world and are largely of our own making. New Zealand society appears to have been comfortable with high prevalence levels of cannabis within our communities for at least the last fifteen years. Whilst New Zealand has not totally ignored cannabis issues, the emergence of synthetic drugs since the late 1990’s has been a key distraction. This assessment provides commentary on the successful drug control frameworks operating in other countries that have achieved significant reductions in other illicit drug abuse in recent years through recognising and targeting cannabis as the major contributing first drug in the chain towards other drug abuse. Although New Zealand has been affected to some extent by the general trend of global trivialisation of cannabis, further action should be taken to reduce both the supply and demand for cannabis. The challenge is for government to review and where appropriate strengthen measures to reduce cannabis prevalence over the long term to contribute to reducing the prevalence of other illicit drugs. Details: Wellington, DC: New Zealand National Drug Intelligence Bureau, 2007. 111p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2012 at: http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2008/Cannabis_Strategic_Assessment_Final3_2007_mirror.pdf Year: 2007 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2008/Cannabis_Strategic_Assessment_Final3_2007_mirror.pdf Shelf Number: 117835 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Illicit Drugs (New Zealand) Marijuana

Author: Pew Research Center. Global Attitudes Project Title: Mexicans Back Military Campaign Against Cartels: Despite Doubts About Success, Human Rights Costs Summary: As Felipe Calderón’s term as Mexico’s president draws to a close, Mexicans continue to strongly back his policy of deploying the military to combat the country’s powerful drug cartels. Eight-in-ten say this is the right course, a level of support that has remained remarkably constant since the Pew Global Attitudes Project first asked the question in 2009. Support for Calderón’s strategy continues despite limited confidence that the government is winning the drug war, and widespread concerns about its costs. Just 47% believe progress is being made against drug traffickers, virtually identical to the 45% who held this opinion in 2011. Three-in-ten today say the government is actually losing ground against the cartels, while 19% see no change in the stand-off between the authorities and crime syndicates. At the same time, the public is uneasy about the moral cost of the drug war: 74% say human rights violations by the military and police are a very big problem. But concern about rights abuses coexist with continued worries about drug-related violence and crime – both of which strong majorities describe as pressing issues in Mexico. President Calderón himself remains popular. A 58%-majority has a favorable opinion of Mexico’s current leader. Although down from a high of 68% in 2009, this rating nonetheless puts him on par with the 56% who have a positive view of the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s (PRI’s) Enrique Peña Nieto, whose ratings clearly topped those of his opponents when the poll was conducted between March 20 and April 2 of this year. Whether Peña Nieto or any of the other presidential candidates have a solution to Mexico’s drug problems is an open question for the Mexican public. When asked which political party could do a better job of dealing with organized crime and drug traffickers, about equal numbers name Calderón’s National Action Party (PAN) (28%) and Peña Nieto’s PRI (25%), while only 13% point to the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Fully 23% volunteer that none of the parties is particularly capable of dealing with this critical issue. These are the principal findings from the latest survey in Mexico by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project. Conducted face-to-face with 1,200 adults from across the country, the poll also finds that most Mexicans (61%) blame both the United States and their own country for the continued drug violence within their borders. While solid majorities would welcome U.S. assistance in combating the cartels if the aid came in the form of training, equipment or intelligence support, only a third would approve deploying U.S. troops on Mexican soil. Overall, a majority (56%) of Mexicans have a favorable opinion of the United States, with about the same number (53%) convinced that Mexicans who migrate to the U.S. have a better life. Despite this perception, most Mexicans have no interest in migrating north across the border, although the percentage who say they would move to the U.S. if they had the means and opportunity has remained fairly steady since 2009. Details: Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2012/06/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Project-Mexico-Report-FINAL-Wednesday-June-20-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2012/06/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Project-Mexico-Report-FINAL-Wednesday-June-20-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 125627 Keywords: Drug Cartels Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug Violence Drug War (Mexico) Organized Crime

Author: Zedillo, Ernesto Title: Rethinking the “War on Drugs” Through the US-Mexico Prism Summary: The papers contained in this book are based on presentations from the conference Rethinking the “War on Drugs” Through the US-Mexico Prism, organized by the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on May 12 and 13, 2011. The motivation for the conference reflected in this volume stems from our belief that the existing framework for dealing with drug policies does not work. As part of our ongoing effort to support the creation and dissemination of ideas toward preserving international peace and security, we organized a forum at the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization in which we could take stock and distill the relevant research and empirical evidence generated over the years with regard to the present drug policies and make an effort to determine whether there is some potential for alternative policies. We elected to confront the research and existing policies with the state of affairs on this issue as seen through the prism of Mexico and the US. Details: New Haven, CT: Yale Center for the Study of Globalization at Yale University, 2012. 175p. Source: Internet Resource: A Yale Center for the Study of Globalization eBook: Accessed July 20, 2012 at: http://www.ycsg.yale.edu/center/forms/rethinking-war-on-drugs.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.ycsg.yale.edu/center/forms/rethinking-war-on-drugs.pdf Shelf Number: 125710 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug Violence War on Drugs (Mexico and U.S.)

Author: Dahlgren, Stephan Title: The Protection of Children from Illicit Drugs - A Minimum Human Rights Standard. A Child-Centered vs. a User-Centered Drug Policy Summary: This report is a legal analysis of how human rights should be respected in the field of drug policy. The authors have reviewed international law governing both drug policy and human rights. They also examined statements from 20 international organizations and five UN agencies, which are active in this field. The main finding of the report is that Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (often referred to as CRC) is the only one of the nine conventions governing human rights dealing with illicit drugs. There can be no mistaking of the meaning and intention of what CRC Article 33 aims to. It reads: "States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances." Thus, it is an obligation of every country that has ratified CRC to protect and sustain children's human rights to ensure a drug-free childhood. (Children are defined as persons under 18.) CRC is the most widely ratified of all conventions related to human rights. CRC Article 33 must always be the basis for any discussion of drug policy and human rights, internationally as well as nationally. Details: Sweden: Fri Förlag, 2012. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2012 at: http://wfad.se/images/articles/Protectionfromdrugs2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://wfad.se/images/articles/Protectionfromdrugs2012.pdf Shelf Number: 126292 Keywords: Child Protection, Drug Abuse Drug Abuse Prevention Drug Addiction and Abuse Drug Policy Human Rights

Author: Douglas, Bob Title: Alternatives to Prohibition. Illicit Drugs: How We Can Stop Killing and Criminalising Young Australians. Report of the second Australia21 Roundtable on Illicit Drugs held at The University of Melbourne on 6 July 2012 Summary: Australia’s illicit drug markets continue to thrive. Young people are being encouraged to experiment because huge profits are made from drug markets controlled by powerful criminal networks. Australia’s reported rates of cannabis and ecstasy (MDMA) use are among the highest in the world. Every year, new drug types appear in Australia. But the criminal justice system is unable to stamp out psychoactive drug use. People accused of drug related crimes fill our courts and those convicted fill our prisons. The collateral damage from efforts to suppress the drug trade continues to disrupt civil society and destroy young lives. About 400 Australians die each year through heroin overdose alone. By international standards our rates of drug-related deaths are extremely high. The July 2012 Roundtable included a group of 22 high level experts and young people, who examined changes in policy in four European countries and considered future options for Australia. These discussions identified a range of ways in which Australian policy could be reset. Some are modest and incremental reforms, while others are more ambitious and will require wide community consideration. Details: Weston, ACT, AUS: Australian21 Limited, 2012. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2012 at: http://www.australia21.org.au/publications/press_releases/A21_Alternatives_to_Prohibition_SEP_12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.australia21.org.au/publications/press_releases/A21_Alternatives_to_Prohibition_SEP_12.pdf Shelf Number: 126296 Keywords: Drug Abuse Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Illicit Drugs (Australia)

Author: Douglas, Bob Title: The Prohibition of Illicit Drugs is Killing and Criminalilsing Our Children and We Are All Letting It Happen. Report of a high level roundtable held at the University of Sydney on Tuesday 31st January 2012 on the topic “What are the likely cost Summary: In response to the Global Commission report, Australia21, in January 2012, convened a meeting of 24 former senior Australian politicians and experts on drug policy, to explore the principles and recommendations that were enunciated by the Global Commission. The group also included two young student leaders, a former senior prosecutor, a former head of the Australian Federal Police, representatives of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform and a leading businessman. The Australian group agreed with the Global Commission that the international and Australian prohibition of the use of certain “illicit” drugs has failed comprehensively. By making the supply and use of certain drugs criminal acts, governments everywhere have driven their production and consumption underground and have fostered the development of a criminal industry that is corrupting civil society and governments and killing our children. By defining the personal use and possession of certain psychoactive drugs as criminal acts, governments have also avoided any responsibility to regulate and control the quality of substances that are in widespread use. Some of these illicit drugs have demonstrable health benefits. Many are highly addictive and harmful when used repeatedly. In that respect they are comparable to alcohol and nicotine, which are legal in Australia and, as a result, are under society’s control for quality, distribution, marketing and taxation. Australia has made great progress in recent decades reducing the harm from tobacco – a drug which kills half the people who use it. Details: Weston, ACT, AUS: Australia21, 2012. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2012 at: http://www.australia21.org.au/publications/press_releases/Australia21_Illicit_Drug_Policy_Report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.australia21.org.au/publications/press_releases/Australia21_Illicit_Drug_Policy_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 126297 Keywords: Drug Abuse Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Illicit Drugs (Australia)

Author: UK Drug Policy Commission Title: A Fresh Approach to Drugs: The Final Report of the UK Drug Policy Commission Summary: We all have an interest in knowing which policies work in tackling problems associated with drug use. Many members of the public, and many politicians, believe that our drug policies are not working. But the debate about how we address the challenges of mind-altering drugs is polarised in a way not seen in most other policy areas. The UK Drug Policy Commission was established to address these problems in a different way. Its aim has been to show how independent scrutiny of evidence can produce both better results and more effective use of resources in drug policy and practice. Existing drug policies have struggled to limit the damage drug use can cause, and now new challenges are emerging. The rapid development of new drugs is changing drug markets too quickly for the traditional methods we use to control drugs to be effective. The economic crisis may be impacting on the nature of drug use and drug problems and, with fewer resources, the capacity of services to respond will be limited further. Added to that, the speed and scale at which services are being devolved to a local level may create increasing and unpredictable variations in the kind of services offered in different parts of the UK. In this report, UKDPC proposes a radical rethink of how we structure our response to drug problems. It provides an analysis of the evidence for how policies and interventions could be improved, with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners to address the new and established challenges associated with drug use. UKDPC aims to foster a fresh approach to drug policy: one in which evidence takes priority, creating light rather than heat in the debate on drugs, so that we can create an environment that works to reduce dependence on drugs, safeguards communities and delivers value for money. Details: London: UK Drug Policy Commission, 2012. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2012 at: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/a-fresh-approach-to-drugs-the-final-report-of-the-uk-drug-policy-commission.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/a-fresh-approach-to-drugs-the-final-report-of-the-uk-drug-policy-commission.pdf Shelf Number: 126760 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (U.K.) Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Ten Velde, Liza Title: The Northern Triangle’s Drugs-Violence Nexus: The role of the Drugs Trade in Criminal Violence and Policy Responses in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras Summary: Mexico has occupied the limelight when it comes to media attention focusing on drug-related violence in Latin America. However, it is actually Central America's Northern Triangle – consisting of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador – currently experiencing much higher rates of violence and increasing Drug Trafficking Organization (DTOs) activity, thus providing an illustration of the 'balloon effect' previously experienced by Mexico itself after the implementation of Plan Colombia which was conceived at the end of the 90's. Together the countries of the Northern Triangle now form one of the most violent regions on earth. Although it is clear that the violence in Honduras,El Salvador and Guatemala is pervasive and able to destabilize these Central American societies to a large extent, no consensus seems to exist on its exact causes. As in Mexico, much of the violence is attributed to the increased role of Central America as a transit region for controlled drugs destined for the US. This paper will address the particulars of the high levels of criminal violence in the Northern Triangle, and try to assess to what extent the drugs trade is responsible for this violence. The recently reinvigorated debate on alternative approaches to drug control strategies in the Americas suggests changes in drugs policies can be expected from the central American region, but in spite of the similarities of the challenges posed to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras when it comes to drug-related problems and criminal violence, the positions occupied by the political leaders of these countries in this incipient debate differ considerably. Concluding remarks It is clear that the upsurge in levels of criminal violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle can be attributed to a considerable extent to the growing importance of this region for drug trafficking operations. The increased presence of Mexican DTOs and the threat they pose to local criminal organizations is a notable source of violent conflict. Meanwhile, the ties between DTOs and local transportistas and gangs have also strengthened, with the latter groups becoming better organized and increasingly involved in the drug trade. As noted, determining with any precision to what extent drug-related issues are responsible for growing criminal violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras is as yet impossible. Even determining precisely the role of the much broader category of organized crime has proved to be unfeasible. The correlation between growing violence and intensified drug operations in the Northern Triangle, however, is striking. In itself, this could mean that the call for alternative approaches from one of these countries’ leaders might not come as such a surprise, given the extent to which the violence and drug trade are destabilizing the region. What should not be overlooked, however, is the extent to which the mano dura approaches and accompanying strategy of militarization as pursued by the Northern Triangle’s governments are in themselves sources of severe destabilization and of rising levels of violence. This, combined with the alleged use of drug trafficking as a pretext for increasing state control over areas with conflicts between local citizens and the authorities further complicates the situation. Notwithstanding, these difficulties should not lead us to disregard the fact that the call for a discussion on alternative approaches by Guatemala’s president is a remarkable development, which has significantly contributed to and broadened the wider regional debate on a departure from the prevailing war-on-drugs strategies. In the face of US opposition and disagreement of some of the other Central American countries, this has been no small feat. The current discrepancy between repressive drug control legislation in the Northern Triangle combined with the mano dura approaches of the region’s authorities to criminal violence and drug trafficking, and the proposed alternative measures is enormous, but the Guatemalan government seems to be serious about its desire to learn more about potential alternative policy options. While it is of course not realistic to expect a fundamental redirecting of the region’s strategies to counter drug trafficking and criminal violence in the short term, some cautious optimism in assessing the possibility of changes towards more effective and humane drug policies in the Northern Triangle might not be entirely misplaced. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Debate Paper No. 19: Accessed December 7, 2012 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/debate19.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Central America URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/debate19.pdf Shelf Number: 127146 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug-Related Violence Violent Crime (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras)

Author: Walther, Michael F. Title: Insanity: Four Decades of U.S. Counterdrug Strategy Summary: In the 4 decades since President Richard Nixon first declared war on drugs, the U.S. counterdrug strategy has remained virtually unchanged—favoring supply-reduction, law enforcement and criminal sanctions over demand-reduction, treatment, and education. While the annual counterdrug budget has ballooned from $100 million to $25 billion, the availability of most illicit drugs remains at an all-time high. The human cost is staggering—nearly 40,000 drug-related deaths in the United States annually. The societal impact, in purely economic terms, is now estimated to be approximately $200 billion per year. The global illicit drug industry now accounts for 1 percent of all commerce on the planet—approximately $320 billion annually. Legalization is almost certainly not the answer; however, an objective analysis of available data confirms that: 1) the United States has pursued essentially the same flawed supply-reduction strategy for 40 years; and, 2) simply increasing the amount of money invested each year in this strategy will not make it successful. Faced with impending budget cuts and a future of budget austerity, policymakers must replace the longstanding U.S. counterdrug strategy with a pragmatic, science-based, demand-reduction strategy that offers some prospect of reducing the economic and societal impacts of illicit drugs on American society. Details: Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S. Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, 2013. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Carlisle Papers: Accessed January 17, 2013 at: www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 127280 Keywords: Drug Control (U.S.) Drug Enforcement Drug Policy War on Drugs

Author: Monaghan, Geoffrey Title: Police Support for Harm Reduction Policies and Practices Towards People Who Inject Drugs Summary: Over the last twenty five years or so an increasing number of police services from countries around the world have devised and implemented policies and practices that have specifically supported increasingly widespread harm reduction policies and practices aiming to prevent, halt and reverse HIV and hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) epidemics amongst PWIDs and their sexual partners. This briefing paper aims to shift the focus of the debate on policing and HIV-related outcomes and explore these more positive relationships and, where appropriate, the related benefits to be derived by police services engaging directly with people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Modernising Drug Law Enforcement - Report 1: Accessed March 5, 2013 at: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-report-1_Police-support-for-harm-reduction.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-report-1_Police-support-for-harm-reduction.pdf Shelf Number: 127845 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Use and Abuse

Author: Count the Costs Title: The War on Drugs: Wasting billions and undermining economies Summary: Whilst accurate figures are hard to come by, global spending on drug law enforcement certainly exceeds $100 billion each year. Given current economic conditions it is more important than ever that spending is effective and not a waste of taxpayer money. However, the huge investments in enforcement have consistently delivered the opposite of their stated goals—to reduce drug production, supply and use. Instead they have created a vast criminal market. This in turn has substantial social and economic costs, through crime and ill health, far exceeding even the billions in enforcement spending. There are huge opportunity costs to wasteful expenditure on this scale. As drug enforcement budgets continue to grow, other areas are being starved of funds, and cuts in government budgets are hitting public services and support for the needy. Despite the appalling track record of failure, the level of value-for-money scrutiny applied to drug enforcement spending has been almost zero, at both national and international levels. At a time of global economic crisis, after literally trillions wasted over the last half-century, it is time to meaningfully count the real economic costs of the war on drugs. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2012. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 8, 2013 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Economics-briefing.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Economics-briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 127899 Keywords: Drug Law Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Use and Abuse Economics of Crime Organized Crime War on Drugs

Author: Armenta, Amira Title: The Illicit Drugs Market in the Colombian Agrarian Context: Why the issue of illicit cultivation is highly relevant to the peace process Summary: The repeated appearance of coca producing zones is related to the unequal distribution of wealth in Colombia, and to the dynamic of land concentration which continues expelling peasants who migrate to new settlement areas. Colombia must re-examine and fix the existing relationship between policies of force and alternative development programmes, and should decide whether eradication is still a valid prior condition for alternative development. Institutional mechanisms of participation should be created for communities and integrated with local and regional development processes. Colombia needs to establish limits to its agricultural frontier. The cost-benefits of alternative development investment in remote areas are poor, because infrastructure is bad and services are basic. Consequently, it would be advisable to discourage settlement in those areas, which usually have fragile ecosystems suitable for preservation. The Land Restitution Law makes restitution claims difficult for poor displaced families. A genuine and fair restitution policy would constitute one important step in consolidating a future peace. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2013. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing Nr. 40: Accessed March 8, 2013 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief40_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Colombia URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/brief40_0.pdf Shelf Number: 127904 Keywords: Drug Law Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Use and Abuse (Colombia) Illicit Drugs

Author: Collins, John, ed. Title: Governing The Global Drug Wars Summary: International drug control efforts began in 1909, with the aim of eradicating the abuse of certain drugs by controlling their supply. A complex international system of enforcement grew up based on this belief in supply control. A century on, the empirical data is available and overwhelming: the system has failed. Worse, it has become increasingly clear that the human cost of pursuing many of its policies renders them unjustifiable. From mass incarceration in the United States and Asia, to the HIV/AIDS epidemic flooding Russia and the waves of violence rippling through Latin America – current global drug policies are worsening current global drug problems. This is no longer a point of controversy, but as Joseph Spillane suggests, is something which ‘no serious scholar questions’. Nevertheless, driven by a mixture of bureaucratic and ideological inertia, the international drug control system, governed through the UN and enforced by a number of core states, continues to pursue many of the same failed policies. This report asks why the system evolved in the way that it did, and explores the potential for reform. Often, those seeking to understand the complex and opaque international drug control system look to the wording of its various conventions and governing treaties – both of which are open to wide interpretation. However, as William McAllister points out, the system evolved through complex diplomatic, bureaucratic, social and interpersonal forces. It is only through an understanding of these broader forces that we can properly explain how the system was constructed and why it continues to function in the way that it does. Building on this discussion of historical complexity, David Courtwright examines the reasons why some drugs have traditionally been the subjects of ‘war,’ while others have become deeply ingrained in the mainstream economy. This is a question expanded upon by James Mill’s survey of the questionable scientific evidence underpinning cannabis’ co-option into international controls. As Joseph Spillane’s analysis shows, in order to better understand current international drug policies we should focus more attention on the considerable harms that these policies create. In particular he suggests that researchers should concentrate on the wealth of evidence available from the daily experience of contemporary drug addicts, which reveals the, often-harrowing impacts of the various drug wars. Paul Gootenberg analyses the interaction between international policies and shifting cocaine ‘commodity chains’ in Latin America over the last century, culminating in the current Mexican crisis. In so doing, he highlights a seemingly inherent tendency of international drug policy makers to create larger and more violent problems than their interdictionist policies resolve. Former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss and her colleague Diane Steber evaluate Switzerland’s interaction with the international system, highlighting the pressure exerted on states trying to pursue policies outside the traditional supply-centric paradigm. David Bewley-Taylor then examines ‘the UNGASS decade’ between 1998 and 2008, when the international community committed itself to achieving ‘a drug free world’. He argues that the consensus that characterised this period is now fracturing as nation states are more openly pursuing alternative approaches. In the final section of this report we look towards the future of the system and highlight specific areas in need of immediate reform. Damon Barrett shows that the current system is lacking in basic human rights oversight, and as a result is permitting systematic human rights abuses. Joanne Csete focuses on the International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) support for unscientific policies internationally and its refusal to endorse best practice public health policies, particularly around HIV/AIDS prevention. She argues that the INCB remains ‘the most closed and least transparent of any entity supported by the United Nations.’ The machinery of international drug control has solidified around outdated modes of thinking and failed policies. Despite this, it has proved remarkably successful at restricting policy experimentation worldwide and encouraging the continuation of counterproductive approaches. Two steps need to be taken. First, there need to be immediate measures to incorporate basic human rights standards and improve the level of oversight within the system. This is particularly urgent in the areas of international funding decisions and the operation of the INCB. Second, an independent root and branch review of the approach to, and apparatus governing, international drug control needs to be conducted with a view to long-term structural reforms. Such a review must begin with a deep understanding of the historical forces that have shaped and continue to underpin the current policies and system. This report should serve as a starting point. Details: London: London School of Economics, 2012. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: LSE Ideas; Special Report SR014: : Accessed March 25, 2013 at: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/SR014.aspx Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/SR014.aspx Shelf Number: 128121 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Policy Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Regulation Drug War (International)

Author: Stevens, Alex Title: Applying Harm Reduction Principles to the Policing of Retail Drug Markets Summary: The policing of drug markets is usually conceptualised primarily as a matter of law enforcement – drug dealers and people who use drugs (PWUDs) are breaking the law, and the role of the police is to reduce such law breaking. However, the wider purpose of policing is to ensure the safety of the community by reducing harms to its members. This report examines the interaction between law enforcement and harm reduction in the policing of retail level drug markets. Key Points: • The level of harm is more important than the size of the market. • Visible, open air drug markets tend to be more harmful per unit of use than hidden, closed drug markets • Policing tactics that are not experienced by the community as being fair, lawful and effective will harm police legitimacy and community relations. • Some enforcement-led approaches, including short-term crackdowns and large scale stop and search, are unlikely to produce sustainable reductions in drug sales. They may increase levels of violence and health harms and reduce police legitimacy. • It is rarely possible to eliminate retail drug markets, but well designed and implemented policing tactics can force the drug market to take less harmful forms. • Applying harm reduction principles to drug policing may boost police legitimacy as well as community safety. • Focused deterrence and ‘pulling levers’ may reduce both harm and crime, but this depends on the context and on careful implementation and evaluation. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Modernising Drug Law Enforcement Report 3: Accessed April 6, 2013 at: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-report_3_applying-harm-reduction-to-policing-of-retail-markets.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-report_3_applying-harm-reduction-to-policing-of-retail-markets.pdf Shelf Number: 128303 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Taylor, Stuart, Jr. Title: Marijuana Policy and Presidential Leadership: How to Avoid a Federal-State Train Wreck Summary: This paper explores how the federal government and the eighteen states (plus the District of Columbia) that have partially1 legalized medical or recreational marijuana or both since 1996 can be true to their respective laws, and can agree on how to enforce them wisely, while avoiding federal-state clashes that would increase confusion and harm the community and consumers. The paper takes no position (and this writer has no firm conviction) on whether legalizing recreational marijuana use, production, and distribution—as Colorado and Washington have now become the first modern jurisdictions to do—is a good or a bad idea. Rather, the paper seeks to persuade even people who think legalization is a bad idea that the best way to serve the federal interest in protecting public health and safety is not for the federal government to seek to abort state legalization. To the contrary, a federal crackdown would backfire by producing an atomized, anarchic, state-legalized but unregulated marijuana market that federal drug enforcers could neither contain nor force the states to contain. Rather, the Justice Department should use its considerable leverage to ensure that state regulators protect the federal government’s interests in minimizing exports across state lines, sales outside the state-regulated system, sales of unduly large quantities, sales of adulterated products, sales to minors, organized crime involvement, and other abuses. Legalizing states, for their part, must provide adequate funding for their regulators as well as clear rules to show that they will be energetic in protecting federal as well as state interests. If that sort of balance is struck, a win-win can be achieved. And the Obama Administration and legalizing states should take advantage of a provision of the 1970 federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to hammer out clear, contractual cooperation agreements so that stateregulated marijuana businesses will know what they can and cannot safely do. The urgency of this subject is at a zenith because of the ballot initiatives that 55 and 56 percent majorities of the voters in Colorado and Washington, respectively, adopted in November, legalizing possession (and, in Colorado, home growing and gifting) of small quantities of recreational marijuana. Both states are also putting in place plans, effective later this year, to license, regulate, and tax commercial production and distribution of marijuana. Both states had previously legalized medical marijuana. With public opinion tipping toward legalization,2 more states seem poised to legalize medical or recreational marijuana or both in the next few years.3 But the criminal sanctions and other penalties in the CSA for marijuana possession, cultivation, and distribution seem etched in stone by congressional inertia. So the Obama Administration’s response to the Colorado and Washington initiatives, and state officials’ sensitivity to federal law and federal interests, will shape the evolution of state as well as federal drug policy for years to come. The time for presidential leadership on marijuana policy is now. And, happily, Congress long ago directed in the CSA that the Attorney General “shall cooperate” with the states on controlled substances and authorized him “to enter into contractual agreements . . . to provide for cooperative enforcement and regulatory activities.”4 The CSA also gives the Administration ample leverage to insist that the legalizing states take care to protect the federal interests noted above. Details: Washington, DC: Governance Studies, Brookings Institution, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2013 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/04/11%20marijuana%20legalization%20taylor/marijuana%20policy%20and%20presidential%20leadership_v24.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/04/11%20marijuana%20legalization%20taylor/marijuana%20policy%20and%20presidential%20leadership_v24.pdf Shelf Number: 128340 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana (U.S.) Medical Marijuana

Author: Sentencing Project Title: Ending Mass Incarceration: Charting a New Justice Reinvestment Summary: Justice Reinvestment was conceived as part of the solution to mass incarceration. The intent was to reduce corrections populations and budgets, thereby generating savings for reinvestment in high incarceration communities to make them safer, stronger, more prosperous, and equitable. While efforts to date have played a significant role in opening space for criminal justice reform, they have not produced significant reductions in the correctional populations. This report contains an analysis of why this has been the case, and how the original mission of Justice Reinvestment can be achieved moving forward by focusing on reducing incarceration and targeting investments in high incarceration communities. Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 17, 2013 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_Charting%20a%20New%20Justice%20Reinvestment.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_Charting%20a%20New%20Justice%20Reinvestment.pdf Shelf Number: 128396 Keywords: Drug Policy Incarceration Juvenile Justice Racial Disparity Sentencing Policy

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Office of National Drug Control Policy: Office Could Better Identify Opportunities to Increase Program Coordination Summary: ONDCP is responsible for coordinating implementation of drug control policy across the federal government to address illicit drug use. ONDCP developed the 2010 Strategy, which sets forth a 5-year plan to reduce illicit drug use through programs intended to prevent or treat drug abuse or reduce the availability of drugs. GAO was asked to review Strategy implementation and drug abuse prevention and treatment programs. This report assesses, among other things, the extent to which progress has been made toward achieving Strategy goals; ONDCP has mechanisms in place to monitor progress; fragmentation, overlap, and duplication exist across prevention and treatment programs; and ONDCP and federal agencies coordinate efforts to reduce the potential for unnecessary overlap or duplication. GAO analyzed the Strategy and its updates, available data on progress toward achieving Strategy goals, and documents about ONDCP’s monitoring mechanisms. GAO also analyzed data from questionnaires sent to the 15 federal agencies that administer prevention and treatment programs that collected information on services provided and coordination efforts. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that ONDCP assess the extent of overlap and the potential for duplication across federal programs engaged in drug abuse prevention and treatment activities and identify opportunities for increased coordination. ONDCP concurred and stated that it will work with agencies administering these programs to further enhance coordination. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2013. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-13-333: Accessed May 1, 2013 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653354.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/653354.pdf Shelf Number: 128504 Keywords: Agency Coordination Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Policy (U.S.) Drug Policy

Author: Flick, Peg Title: H.B.10-1352 Savings Analysis Report: First 12 Months of Implementation. Pursuant to 24-33.5-503(1)(u), C.R.S. Summary: In May 2010 the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 10-1352 which substantially altered Article 18, Title 18, concerning Uniform Controlled Substances. The intent of H.B.10-1352 as specified in its legislative declaration was to generate savings from reduced crime classifications and their resulting sentences, and direct those savings into substance abuse treatment. H.B.10-1352 created a distinction between drug use and possession, and the crimes of manufacturing and distribution. Specifically, the bill lowered the crime classification for use and possession crimes, and directed expected savings to the state’s Drug Offender Treatment Fund. H.B.10-1352 also increased the Drug Offender Surcharge for felony, misdemeanor, and petty offenses. H.B.10-1352 directs the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) to report annually on the savings generated by its modifications (24-33.5-503(u), C.R.S.). The statute went into effect on August 11, 2010. This report analyzes the savings realized in first 12 months after its enactment. This analysis attempts to measure the impact of H.B.10-1352 outlined in its fiscal note by comparing the cost of offenders sentenced in the initial 12 month period after the bill’s enactment date to the cost of offenders in the 12 months prior. To be included in this analysis, an offender had to be arrested on or after August 11, 2010 and be filed on, convicted and sentenced on or before August 10, 2011. Cases meeting these same criteria in 2009 were used as the comparison group. Court records for offenders were obtained from the Judicial Branch and from Denver County Court to build a model that tracked offenders meeting the criteria. Sentence start and end dates were obtained from the Office of Community Corrections in the Division of Criminal Justice, and from the Department of Corrections. Caseload data were obtained from the Office of the State Public Defender. Costs per day data were obtained for each sentence placement type. This information was combined into the model to identify and then compare offender costs for pre- and post-1352 groups as each progressed through the justice system. Details: Colorado Springs, CO: Office of Research and Statistics Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety, 2012. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2013 at: http://www.colorado.gov/ccjjdir/Resources/Resources/Report/2012-01_HB1352Rpt.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.colorado.gov/ccjjdir/Resources/Resources/Report/2012-01_HB1352Rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 128699 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders (Colorado) Drug Policy

Author: Chiu, Jessica Title: Punitive Drug Law and the Risk Environment for Injecting Drug Users: Understanding the Connections Summary: This paper, prepared for the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, reviews the evidence documenting the effects of punitive laws and law enforcement practices on the HIV risk environment for injecting drug users (IDUs). It then provides an overview of global drug policy, drawing on a mixture of regional reports and country case studies. Section lll summarises the adoption of harm reduction practices and policies. Finally, the paper looks at a selection of strategies that countries around the world have implemented to improve the HIV risk environment for IDUs. These include interventions to make law enforcement less harmful and more conducive to health; the integration of harm reduction and drug treatment programmes into the criminal justice system; and changes to national anti-drug laws for possession and individual use that move away from punitive anti-drug penalties. Details: Philadelphia: Temple University, School of Law, 2011. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Working paper prepared for the Third Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, 7-9 July 2011: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.hivlawcommission.org/index.php/working-papers?task=document.viewdoc&id=98 Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.hivlawcommission.org/index.php/working-papers?task=document.viewdoc&id=98 Shelf Number: 128860 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Law Enforcement Drug Policy HIV (Viruses)

Author: Seddon, Toby Title: Regulating Global Drug Problems Summary: The problems associated with the global drug trade are amongst the most challenging and intractable of all those facing policy-makers. The global drug prohibition system is widely acknowledged as a costly and counterproductive failure, not only presiding over a massive expansion of the problem but also causing a range of damaging side-effects, notably fuelling organised crime. The need for new thinking has never been more evident. It is argued that current arguments for drug policy reform, whilst highly effective at critiquing prohibition, are nevertheless based on a false understanding of the nature of markets and regulation. This paper sets out an alternative constitutive conception of drug control which not only provides a better basis for challenging prohibition but also a more fruitful framework for developing an alternative approach. It is suggested that the regulation perspective outlined in this paper represents a new paradigm for addressing the challenges presented by global psychoactive commerce in the early twenty-first century. Details: Canberra: Australian National University, Regulatory Institutions Network (RegNet), 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: RegNet Research Paper No. 2013/6 : Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2261026 Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2261026 Shelf Number: 128889 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Yepes, Rodrigo Uprimny Title: Addicted to Punishment: The disproportionality of drug laws in Latin America Summary: This document analyzes the proportionality of drug related crimes in seven Latin American countries through the study of the evolution of their criminal legislations from 1950 until 2012. The study suggests the existence of a regional tendency to maximize the use of criminal law for combating this type of conducts. This is reflected in: i) the gradual increase in the number of drug-related conducts described as criminal, ii) the exponential growth of the penalties with which those conducts are punished and iii) the incomprehensible tendency of punishing with more severity the drug-related crimes rather than those more evidently severe such as homicide, rape and aggravated robbery. Those upward trends indicate that the Latin American States have become addicted to punishment because of their frequent and empirically groundless increasing of the punitive dose, regardless of its constantly decreasing benefits. Addicted to punishment is part of a series of studies carried out by the Research Consortium on Drugs and the Law (CEDD) that critically analyze the application of the proportionality principle in relation with drug crimes. The studies find that the punishments imposed and the punitive treatment of the offenders are disproportional, often generating more damages than benefits. Details: Bogota, Columbia: Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad, Dejusticia, 2013. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Dejusticia Working Paper 1: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: www.dejusticia.org Year: 2013 Country: Central America URL: Shelf Number: 128904 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime (Latin America) Drug Policy Drug-Related Violence Violent Crime

Author: Galston, William A. Title: The New Politics of Marijuana Legalization Summary: Over less than a decade, public opinion has shifted dramatically toward support for the legalization of marijuana. For many years, opinion on the issue was quite stable, but the turn of the millennium unsettled this long-standing consensus: sentiment in favor of legalization has increased by 20 points in just over a decade. The proportion of Americans who view marijuana use as immoral has fallen from 50 percent to 32 percent in just seven years. A recent national survey showed a narrow national majority in favor of legalization, and its supporters translated this sentiment into ballot initiative victories in Colorado and Washington State in 2012. Some of the change is likely to be durable. The 4-to-1 edge that opponents of legalization enjoyed twenty years ago has almost certainly vanished permanently. Momentum is on the side of those favoring legalization. Support for legalization is especially strong among the young, while the only age group staunchly opposed consists of those 65 years old and over. Unless the younger generation substantially alters its views as it ages, generational change alone is likely to keep support well above the levels of the relatively recent past, even if enthusiasm for legalization wanes. One possible explanation for the shift is a sharp decline over the past generation in the proportion of Americans who see marijuana as a “gateway” to harder drugs. That decline has been steepest among those who have never tried marijuana. In addition, some surveys have found that a slim majority now believes that alcohol is more harmful than marijuana to both individuals and society. The implicit syllogism: if we long ago ceased regarding alcohol use as morally wrong, why should we continue to think this way about marijuana use? Details: Washington, DC:Governance Studies The Brookings Institution, 2013. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/05/29%20politics%20marijuana%20legalization%20galston%20dionne/dionne%20galston_newpoliticsofmjleg_final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2013/05/29%20politics%20marijuana%20legalization%20galston%20dionne/dionne%20galston_newpoliticsofmjleg_final.pdf Shelf Number: 128907 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana (U.S.)

Author: Schwartz, David S. Title: High Federalism: Marijuana Legalization and the Limits of Federal Power to Regulate States Summary: The conflict between state marijuana legalization and the blanket federal marijuana prohibition of the Controlled Substances Act ("CSA") has created a federalism crisis in which the duties of state officials to adhere to state or federal law is unclear. Current federalism doctrine cannot even tell us whether or not a local police officer who encounters a person in state-authorized possession of marijuana must arrest the person and seize the marijuana. The two most clearly applicable federalism doctrines -- the Tenth Amendment anti-commmandeering doctrine and the doctrine of federal preemption of state law under the Supremacy Clause" offer only unsatisfactory answers. Anti-commandeering doctrine is incapable of telling us whether a federally imposed duty to arrest and seize the marijuana possessor is impermissible commandeering, permissible "general applicability," or permissible preemption, let alone answer the more complex federalism questions posed by state marijuana legalization. Alternatively, a strong preemption approach, while capable of producing consistent results in theory, would entail the virtual abandonment of the anti-commandeering doctrine and of judicial enforcement of federalism more generally, while at the same time violating important premises of the "political safeguards of federalism" theory. The article argues that courts should pursue a middle path by applying a rigorous presumption against commandeering when considering the obligation of state officials to adhere to federal laws. This approach is faithful to consensus principles of federalism that should command the agreement of judges and academics on both sides of the judicial versus political safeguards of federalism debate. A presumption against commandeering, when applied to the CSA, requires that state officials be afforded broad latitude to enforce their states' legalization laws and have no compelled obligations to enforce federal law beyond a duty to refrain from active obstruction of federal officers. The extent of Congress's power to command state official compliance with the CSA can be considered if and when such an amendment to the CSA is under serious congressional consideration" something that may never occur given the current political trend. Details: Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Law School, 2013. Source: Internet Resource: Univ. of Wisconsin Legal Studies Research Paper No. 1222 : Accessed June 25, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2237618 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2237618 Shelf Number: 129156 Keywords: Drug Policy Marijuana Legalization (U.S.) Medical Marijuana

Author: Gallahue, Patrick Title: Partners in Crime: International Funding for Drug Control and Gross Violations of Human Rights Summary: “Partners in Crime: International Funding for Drug Control and Gross Violations of Human Rights” documents how millions of dollars in drug enforcement funding and technical assistance are spent in countries with grave human rights concerns. Donor states include the United States, Australia Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the European Union. Human rights abuses in the context of drug enforcement are well documented, but in the name of drug control, donor states are routinely supporting practices in other countries that they themselves regard as morally reprehensible and illegal, including executions, arbitrary detention, slave labour and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, sometimes amounting to torture. Using the examples of the death penalty and abusive drug detention centres, this report shows just how little regard is given to human rights in drug enforcement funding and co-operation, including when such funds are passed through the United Nations. Details: London: Harm Reduction International, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2013 at: http://www.ihra.net/files/2012/06/22/Partners_in_Crime_web1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.ihra.net/files/2012/06/22/Partners_in_Crime_web1.pdf Shelf Number: 129207 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Regulation Human Rights

Author: Global Commission on Drug Policy Title: The War on Drugs and HIV/AIDS: How the Criminalization of Drug Use Fuels the Global Pandemic Summary: The global war on drugs is driving the HIV/AIDS pandemic among people who use drugs and their sexual partners. Throughout the world, research has consistently shown that repressive drug law enforcement practices force drug users away from public health services and into hidden environments where HIV risk becomes markedly elevated. Mass incarceration of non-violent drug offenders also plays a major role in increasing HIV risk. This is a critical public health issue in many countries, including the United States, where as many as 25 percent of Americans infected with HIV may pass through correctional facilities annually, and where disproportionate incarceration rates are among the key reasons for markedly higher HIV rates among African Americans. Aggressive law enforcement practices targeting drug users have also been proven to create barriers to HIV treatment. Despite the evidence that treatment of HIV infection dramatically reduces the risk of HIV transmission by infected individuals, the public health implications of HIV treatment disruptions resulting from drug law enforcement tactics have not been appropriately recognized as a major impediment to efforts to control the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The war on drugs has also led to a policy distortion whereby evidence-based addiction treatment and public health measures have been downplayed or ignored. While this is a common problem internationally, a number of specific countries, including the US, Russia and Thailand, ignore scientific evidence and World Health Organization recommendations and resist the implementation of evidence-based HIV prevention programs – with devastating consequences. In Russia, for example, approximately one in one hundred adults is now infected with HIV. In contrast, countries that have adopted evidence-based addiction treatment and public health measures have seen their HIV epidemics among people who use drugs – as well as rates of injecting drug use – dramatically decline. Clear consensus guidelines exist for achieving this success, but HIV prevention tools have been under-utilized while harmful drug war policies have been slow to change. Details: Rio de Janeiro: Global Commission on Drug Policy, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://globalcommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/themes/gcdp_v1/pdf/GCDP_HIV-AIDS_2012_REFERENCE.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://globalcommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/themes/gcdp_v1/pdf/GCDP_HIV-AIDS_2012_REFERENCE.pdf Shelf Number: 129353 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy HIV (Viruses) War on Drugs (International)

Author: Murray, Chad Title: Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations and Marijuana: The Potential Effects of U.S. Legalization Summary: Mexico's drug war has claimed more than 30,000 lives since 2006. The intensity and duration of this violence has produced an environment in which “few Mexican citizens feel safer today than they did ten years ago, and most believe that their government is losing the fight.” However, the problem of drug violence in Mexico is not domestic, but transnational in nature. President Barack Obama recently noted that “we are very mindful that the battle President Calderón is fighting inside of Mexico is not just his battle; it's also ours. We have to take responsibility just as he is taking responsibility.” It is U.S. demand for illicit drugs that provides the primary incentive for Mexican narcotics trafficking. Therefore, there is a possibility that a change in U.S. drug policy could negatively affect the revenues of Mexican DTOs, and even their ability to wage violence. This paper will examine the validity of that argument, as well as several of the issues that would accompany such a fundamental policy shift. The purpose of this report is to evaluate current U.S. policy on marijuana, extract lessons learned from policy changes in other countries, analyze the effects that legalization of marijuana in the United States might have on Mexican DTOs, and provide recommendations for future U.S. policies. Current U.S. laws will serve as a starting point to determine if existing decriminalization or medicinal marijuana reforms have had any impact on Mexican DTOs. After examining what effects, if any, these policies have had, reforms in other countries will be examined. From the case studies of Portugal, the Netherlands, and Mexico, lessons will be drawn to give context to any possible ramifications or benefits of U.S. marijuana legalization. Finally, concrete recommendations will be made on whether recent marijuana policy reforms should be maintained, improved, or repealed. Details: Washington, DC: George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs, 2011. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Elliott School of International Affairs/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission: Capstone Report: Accessed July 13, 2013 at: http://elliott.gwu.edu/assets/docs/acad/lahs/mexico-marijuana-071111.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://elliott.gwu.edu/assets/docs/acad/lahs/mexico-marijuana-071111.pdf Shelf Number: 129388 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Marijuana

Author: Jacobi, Liana Title: Marijuana on Main Street: What if? Summary: Illicit drug use is prevalent. While the nature of the market makes it di¢ - cult to determine sales with certainty, estimates are around $150 billion a year in the US. Marijuana is the most common illicit drug used, where the US spends upwards of $7.7 bil- lion per year in law enforcement (Miron, 2005). For the past 30 years there has been a debate regarding marijuana legalization. There are two important avenues through which legalization could impact use: it would make marijuana easier to get, and it would remove the stigma (and cost) associated with illegal behavior. Studies to date have not considered either of these avenues explicitly. However, both are important for policy. We develop and estimate a model of marijuana use that disentangles the impact of limited accessibility from consumption decisions based solely on preferences (and distaste for illegal behavior). We nd that both play an important role and that individuals who have access to the illicit market are of speci c demographics. We nd that selection into who has access to cannabis is not random, and the results suggest estimates of the demand curve will be biased un- less selection is explicitly considered. Counterfactual results indicate that making marijuana legal and removing accessibility barriers would have a smaller relative impact on younger individuals but still a large impact in magnitude. Use among teenagers would (a little less than) double and use among individuals in their thirties and forties would almost triple. Details: Unpublished paper, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2013 at: https://economics.adelaide.edu.au/research/seminars/2013-cannabis.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: https://economics.adelaide.edu.au/research/seminars/2013-cannabis.pdf Shelf Number: 129419 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Markets Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Marijuana

Author: Kelly, Elaine Title: Policing Cannabis and Drug Related Hospital Admissions: Evidence from Administrative Records Summary: We evaluate the impact of a policing experiment that depenalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis in the London borough of Lambeth, on hospital admissions related to illicit drug use. To do so, we exploit administrative records on individual hospital admissions classied by ICD-10 diagnosis codes. These records allow the construction of a quarterly panel data set by London borough running from 1997 to 2009 to estimate the short and long run impacts of the depenalization policy unilaterally introduced in Lambeth between 2001 and 2002. We nd the depenalization of cannabis had signicant longer term impacts on hospital admissions related to the use of hard drugs, raising raising hospital admission rates for men by between 40 and 100% of their pre-policy baseline levels. Among Lambeth residents, the impacts are concentrated among men in younger age cohorts, and among those with no prior history of hospitalization related to illicit drug or alcohol use. The dynamic impacts across cohorts vary in prole with some cohorts experiencing hospitalization rates remaining above pre-intervention levels six years after the depenalization policy is introduced. We nd evidence of smaller but signicant positive spillover eects in hospitalization rates related to hard drug use among residents in boroughs neighboring Lambeth, and these are again concentrated among younger cohorts without prior histories of hospitalizations related to illicit drug or alcohol use. We combine these estimated impacts on hospitalization rates with estimates on how the policy impacted the severity of hospital admissions to provide a lower bound estimate of the public health cost of the depenalization policy. Details: Unpublished paper, 2012. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2013 at: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~uctpimr/research/health.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~uctpimr/research/health.pdf Shelf Number: 129420 Keywords: Decriminalization Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Hospital Admissions Illicit Drug Use Marijuana (U.K.)

Author: Grund, Jean-Paul Title: Coffee Shops and Compromise: Separated Illicit Drug Markets in the Netherlands Summary: Though famous for its coffee shops, where cannabis can be purchased and consumed, the Netherlands has accomplished many enviable public health outcomes through its drug policy. These include low prevalence of HIV among people who use drugs, negligible incidence of heroin use, lower cannabis use among young people than in many stricter countries, and a citizenry that has generally been spared the burden of criminal records for low level, nonviolent drug offenses. Coffee Shops and Compromise: Separated Illicit Drug Markets in the Netherlands tells the history of the Dutch approach and describes the ongoing success of the country’s drug policy. This includes the impact of the Dutch “separation of markets,” which potentially limits people’s exposure and access to harder drugs. Though coffee shops have traditionally commanded the most media attention, the Netherlands also pioneered needle exchange and safer consumption rooms, decriminalized possession of small quantities of drugs, and introduced easy-to-access treatment services. These policies, coupled with groundbreaking harm reduction interventions, have resulted in the near-disappearance of HIV among people who inject drugs and the lowest rate of problem drug use in Europe. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/coffee-shops-and-compromise-separated-illicit-drug-markets-netherlands Year: 2013 Country: Netherlands URL: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/coffee-shops-and-compromise-separated-illicit-drug-markets-netherlands Shelf Number: 129535 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Markets Drug Policy Illicit Drugs (Netherlands) Marijuana

Author: Finklea, Kristin Title: State Marijuana Legalization Initiatives: Implications for Federal Law Enforcement Summary: Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug across the world, including in the United States. In 2011, an estimated 18.1 million individuals in the United States aged 12 or older (7% of this population) had used marijuana in the past month. The rate of reported marijuana use in 2011 was significantly higher than those rates reported prior to 2009. Mirroring this increase in use, marijuana availability in the United States has also increased. This growth has been linked to factors such as rising marijuana production in Mexico, decreasing marijuana eradication in Mexico, and increasing marijuana cultivation in the United States led by criminal networks including Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Along with the uptick in the availability and use of marijuana in the United States, there has been a general shift in public attitudes toward the substance. In 1969, 12% of the surveyed population supported legalizing marijuana; today, more than half (52%) of surveyed adults have expressed opinions that marijuana should be legalized. And, 60% indicate that the federal government should not enforce its marijuana laws in states that allow the use of marijuana. The federal government—through the Controlled Substances Act (CSA; P.L. 91-513; 21 U.S.C. §801 et. seq.)—prohibits the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and possession of marijuana. Over the last few decades, some states have deviated from an across-the-board prohibition of marijuana. Evolving state-level positions on marijuana include decriminalization initiatives, legal exceptions for medical use, and legalization of certain quantities for recreational use. Notably, in the November 2012 elections, voters in Washington State and Colorado voted to legalize, regulate, and tax the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana. These latest moves have spurred a number of questions regarding their potential implications for related federal law enforcement activities and for the nation’s drug policies on the whole. Among these questions is whether or to what extent state initiatives to decriminalize, or even legalize, the use of marijuana conflict with federal law. In general, federal law enforcement has tailored its efforts to target criminal networks rather than individual criminals; its stance regarding marijuana offenders appears consistent with this position. While drug-related investigations and prosecutions remain a priority for federal law enforcement, the Obama Administration has suggested that efforts will be harnessed against large-scale trafficking organizations rather than on recreational users of marijuana. Some may question whether state-level laws and regulations regarding marijuana prohibition—in particular those that clash with federal laws—may adversely impact collaborative law enforcement efforts and relationships. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that the operation of these collaborative bodies will be impacted by current state-level marijuana decriminalization or legalization initiatives. Data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission seem to indicate a federal law enforcement focus on trafficking as opposed to possession offenses. Of the federal drug cases with marijuana listed as the primary drug type (28% of total drug cases sentenced), over 98% involved a sentence for drug trafficking in 2012. A number of criminal networks rely heavily on profits generated from the sale of illegal drugs— including marijuana—in the United States. As such, scholars and policymakers have questioned whether or how any changes in state or federal marijuana policy in the United States might impact organized crime proceeds and levels of drug trafficking-related violence, particularly in Mexico. In short, there are no definitive answers to these questions; without clear understanding of (1) actual proceeds generated by the sale of illicit drugs in the United States, (2) the proportion of total proceeds attributable to the sale of marijuana, and (3) the proportion of marijuana sales controlled by criminal organizations and affiliated gangs, any estimates of how marijuana legalization might impact the drug trafficking organizations are purely speculative. Given the differences between federal marijuana policies and those of states including Colorado and Washington, Congress may choose to address state legalization initiatives in a number of ways, or choose to take no action. Among the host of options, policymakers may choose to amend or affirm federal marijuana policy, exercise oversight over federal law enforcement activities, or incentivize state policies through the provision or denial of certain funds. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: R43164: Accessed August 8, 2013 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43164.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43164.pdf Shelf Number: 129595 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana (U.S.)

Author: Linnemann, Travis Title: Beyond the Ghetto: Methamphetamine and Punishment of Rural America Summary: Since the early 1970s, the United States has grown increasingly reliant on the criminal justice system to manage a wide array of social problems. Aggressive drug control policies and an over-reliance on imprisonment helped produce the world's largest prison and correctional population, often described as mass imprisonment. Within this context, the study provides an explanatory account of the political, cultural, and social conditions that encourage states like Kansas to pursue methamphetamine as a major public concern, and to a greater degree than other states with relatively higher meth problems. Ultimately, and most important, the study makes a theoretical contribution by demonstrating how meth control efforts, analogous to previous drug control campaigns, extends punitive drug control rationalities to new cultural contexts and social terrains beyond the so-called ghetto of the inner city, thereby reinforcing and extending the logics of mass imprisonment. Details: Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University, 2011. 248p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 23, 2013 at: http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/12021/TravisLinnemann2011.pdf?sequence=5 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/12021/TravisLinnemann2011.pdf?sequence=5 Shelf Number: 131676 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Methamphetamine (U.S.) Punishment Rural Areas

Author: Porter, Nicole D. Title: Drug-Free Zone Laws: An Overview of State Policies Summary: This briefing paper provides an overview of state sentencing policy in the application of drug free zones. All 50 states and the District of Columbia enhance drug penalties in drug free zones, but in many cases these penalties apply to offenses that take place far from a school zone or other protected area. In response to these problems a number of states have enacted legislative reforms in recent years. These have been designed to scale back the inappropriate extension of such policies. Details: Washington, D.C.: The Sentencing Project, 2013. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2014 at: Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_Drug-Free%20Zone%20Laws.pdf Shelf Number: 131756 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug-Free Zones --

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Title: Drug Supply Reduction and International Security Policies in the European Union: An Overview Summary: The production and trafficking of illicit drugs poses complex and interlinked problems, which have a negative impact on public health and the security and stability of society. In responding to the dynamics of a globalised drug market, the EU and its partners are involved in actions within and outside the EU. Focusing on actions directed at the EU's internal security situation, this paper elaborates who is involved in setting policy, what legal and funding basis for action has been established, and what the main priorities are. In doing so, the paper looks at the EU institutions (the Parliament, the European Council, the Council and the Commission) and agencies predominately involved in the management of drug supply reduction and internal security issues. The paper explores relevant EU treaties and legislations that provide a means to target the supply of illicit drugs, as well as the financial instruments and programmes supporting this action. Additionally, this paper also discusses how these policy areas are addressed in the EU's strategic planning documents. For example, the Stockholm Programme, the EU internal security strategy, the EU policy cycle for organised and serious international crime and the EU drugs strategy 2013-20 and action plan 2013-16. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: EMCDDA Papers: Accessed March 12, 2014 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_220676_EN_TDAU13006ENN.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_220676_EN_TDAU13006ENN.pdf Shelf Number: 131878 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Organized Crime

Author: Bewley-Taylor, Dave Title: The Rise and Decline of Cannabis Prohibition: The History of Cannabis in the UN Drug Control System and Options for Reform Summary: The cannabis plant has been used for spiritual, medicinal and recreational purposes since the early days of civilization. In this report the Transnational Institute and the Global Drug Policy Observatory describe in detail the history of international control and how cannabis was included in the current UN drug control system. Cannabis was condemned by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as a psychoactive drug with "particularly dangerous properties" and hardly any therapeutic value. Ever since, an increasing number of countries have shown discomfort with the treaty regime's strictures through soft defections, stretching its legal flexibility to sometimes questionable limits. Today's political reality of regulated cannabis markets in Uruguay, Washington and Colorado operating at odds with the UN conventions puts the discussion about options for reform of the global drug control regime on the table. Now that the cracks in the Vienna consensus have reached the point of treaty breach, this discussion is no longer a reformist fantasy. Easy options, however, do not exist; they all entail procedural complications and political obstacles. A coordinated initiative by a group of like-minded countries agreeing to assess possible routes and deciding on a road map for the future seems the most likely scenario for moving forward. There are good reasons to question the treaty-imposed prohibition model for cannabis control. Not only is the original inclusion of cannabis within the current framework the result of dubious procedures, but the understanding of the drug itself, the dynamics of illicit markets, and the unintended consequences of repressive drug control strategies has increased enormously. The prohibitive model has failed to have any sustained impact in reducing the market, while imposing heavy burdens upon criminal justice systems; producing profoundly negative social and public health impacts; and creating criminal markets supporting organised crime, violence and corruption. After long accommodating various forms of deviance from its prohibitive ethos, like turning a blind eye to illicit cannabis markets, decriminalisation of possession for personal use, coffeeshops, cannabis social clubs and generous medical marijuana schemes, the regime has now reached a moment of truth. The current policy trend towards legal regulation of the cannabis market as a more promising model for protecting people's health and safety has changed the drug policy landscape and the terms of the debate. The question facing the international community today is no longer whether or not there is a need to reassess and modernize the UN drug control system, but rather when and how to do it. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute; Swansea, UK: Research Institute for Arts and Humanities, Swansea University, 2014. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/rise_and_decline_web.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/rise_and_decline_web.pdf Shelf Number: 131900 Keywords: Cannabis Decriminalization Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Marijuana

Author: Baldwin, Simon Title: Drug Policy Advocacy in Asia: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects Summary: This report was commissioned by the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), with the support of Australian Aid, for the purpose of developing a better understanding of drug policy advocacy activity in 10 Asian countries: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. It aims to achieve three goals: - Identify organisations engaged in harm reduction and drug policy advocacy - Identify gaps and challenges in harm reduction and drug policy advocacy that remain to be addressed - Develop recommendations for prioritising new activities in harm reduction and drug policy advocacy. The report does not provide an exhaustive review of drug policy content, rather it focuses on the process of drug policy making and attempts to understand the relationships between key stakeholders, including both policy makers and policy advocates, engaged in policy processes at local and regional level. The report combines data collected from published reports with key informant interviews to draw its conclusions. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2014 at: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-report-drug-policy-in-South-East-Asia.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-report-drug-policy-in-South-East-Asia.pdf Shelf Number: 131995 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Khalifa, Najat Title: Harm Reduction: Evidence, Impacts and Challenges Summary: Harm reduction is now positioned as part of the mainstream policy response to drug use in Europe. However, this has not always been the case, and in reflecting on this fact we felt that the time was right to take stock of how we had arrived at this position, ask what it means for both policies and action, and begin to consider how harm reduction is likely to develop in the future. This monograph builds on other titles in the EMCDDA's Scientific monographs series, where we have taken an important and topical subject, assembled some of the best experts in the field, and allowed them to develop their ideas constrained only by the need to demonstrate scientific rigour and sound argument. Our Scientific monographs are intended to be both technically challenging and thought provoking. Unlike our other publications we take more of an editorial 'back seat' and we do not seek consensus or necessarily to produce a balanced view. Good science is best done when unconstrained, and best read with a critical eye. This volume includes a variety of perspectives on harm reduction approaches, together with an analysis of the concept's role within drug policies, both in Europe and beyond. Readers may not necessarily agree with all of the arguments made or the conclusion drawn, but we hope it is perceived as a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate on how to respond to contemporary drug problems in Europe. A number of contributors explore what harm reduction means and what policies it can encompass, as well as charting how the concept evolved. They reflect on the point we have now reached in terms of both harm reduction practice and the evidence base for its effectiveness. A major issue that many contributors touch on is the difficulty of assessing how complex interventions occurring in real world settings can be evaluated, and why conclusive evidence in such settings can be so elusive. With an eye to the future, we also asked our contributors to wrestle with the difficult issue of how harm reduction might be extended into new areas that are of particular relevance to the evolving European drug situation. Here the empirical base for grounding discussions is far less developed, and a more exploratory approach is necessary. Details: Lisbon: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2010. 469p. Source: Internet Resource: EMCDDA Monographs 10: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_101257_EN_EMCDDA-monograph10-harm%20reduction_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_101257_EN_EMCDDA-monograph10-harm%20reduction_final.pdf Shelf Number: 132020 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Policy Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Policy Illicit Drugs

Author: Justice Policy Institute Title: Billion Dollar Divide: Virginia's Sentencing, Corrections and Criminal Justice Challenge Summary: Billion Dollar Divide points to racial disparities, skewed fiscal priorities, and missed opportunities for improvements through proposed legislation, and calls for reforms to the commonwealth's sentencing, corrections and criminal justice system. While other states are successfully reforming their sentencing laws, parole policies and drug laws, Virginia is lagging behind and spending significant funds that could be used more effectively to benefit public safety in the commonwealth. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2014 at: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/billiondollardivide.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/billiondollardivide.pdf Shelf Number: 132068 Keywords: Correctional Institutions Criminal Justice Reform Drug Policy Parole Racial Disparities Sentencing Sentencing Reform

Author: LSE Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy Title: Ending the Drug Wars Summary: A major rethink of international drug policies is under way. The failure of the UN to achieve its goal of 'a drug free world' and the continuation of enormous collateral damage from excessively militarised and enforcement-led drug policies, has led to growing calls for an end to the 'war on drugs'. For decades the UN-centred drug control system has sought to enforce a uniform set of prohibitionist oriented policies often at the expense of other, arguably more effective policies that incorporate broad frameworks of public health and illicit market management. Now the consensus that underpinned this system is breaking apart and there is a new trajectory towards accepting global policy pluralism and that different policies will work for different countries and regions. The question, however, remains, how do states work together to improve global drug policies? This report highlights two approaches. First, drastically reallocating resources away from counterproductive and damaging policies towards proven public health policies. Second, pursuing rigorously monitored policy and regulatory experimentation. Details: London: LSE (London School of Economics) Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy, 2014. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/EndingDrugWarsFINAL.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/EndingDrugWarsFINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 132283 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Illicit Drugs War on Drugs

Author: Meyer, Maureen Title: At a Crossroads: Drug Trafficking, Violence and the Mexican State Summary: In this joint WOLA-BFDPP policy brief, the authors provide an overview of current and past drug policies implemented by the Mexican government, with a focus on its law enforcement efforts. It analyzes the trends in the increased reliance on the Mexican armed forces in counter-drug activities and the role that the United States government has played in shaping Mexico's counter-drug efforts. It is argued that government responses that are dominated by law enforcement and militarization do little to address the issue in the long term and draw attention away from the fundamental reforms to the police and justice systems that are needed to combat public security problems in the country. The brief also argues that the most effective way to address drug trafficking and its related problem is through increased efforts to curb the demand for illicit drugs in the United States and Mexico. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America/Beckley Foundation, 2007. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper 13: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/pdf/BriefingPaper13.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/pdf/BriefingPaper13.pdf Shelf Number: 147749 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug-Related Violence Illicit Drugs

Author: Subramanian, Ram Title: Drug War Detente? A Review of State-level Drug Law Reform, 2009-2013 Summary: From 2009 through 2013, more than 30 states passed nearly 50 bills changing how their criminal justice systems define and enforce drug offenses. In reviewing this legislative activity, the Vera Institute of Justice's Center on Sentencing and Corrections found that most efforts have focused on making change in one or a combination of the following five areas: mandatory penalties, drug sentencing schemes, early release mechanisms, community-based sanctions, and collateral consequences. By providing concise summaries of representative legislation in each area, this review aims to be a practical guide for policymakers in other states and the federal government looking to enact similar reforms. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2014 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/state-drug-law-reform-review-2009-2013.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/state-drug-law-reform-review-2009-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 132328 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform Illicit Drugs Sentencing War on Drugs

Author: Haugaard, Lisa Title: Blunt Instrument: The United States' Punitive Fumigation Program in Colombia Summary: The conditions attached to the FY2002 foreign operations law governing the US-funded aerial spraying program to eradicate coca production in Colombia require that procedures be available to evaluate claims by local citizens that their health was harmed or their legal crops were damaged by aerial fumigation, and that fair compensation be paid to valid claims. According to the State Department's report released in September 2002, entitled "Report on Issues Related to the Aerial Eradication of Illicit Coca in Colombia," while a procedure for verification exists, not a single farmer has received compensation, and only one case has so far been approved for compensation. The compensation system for legal crops exists on paper, but not in practice. The report details no such procedure for evaluating health claims. Citizens' only recourse is their right to take legal action against Colombian government agencies. The conditions also require that alternative development be developed in departments scheduled for fumigation and implemented in departments where fumigation has taken place. The State Department report interprets this provision to mean a single alternative development project in a given geographic department (i.e., province or state) of Colombia satisfies the requirement, permitting fumigation to take place anywhere in that department. Thus the report did not provide a serious treatment of this provision. The fact that in 2002, USAID claims to have supported only 4500 hectares of licit crops while in the same year, the US Embassy goal is to spray 150,000 hectares, is one of several rough comparisons that reveal that the aerial fumigation program far outpaces alternative development. Indeed, alternative development programs are only designed to cover a small subset of the farmers affected by fumigation Details: Washington, DC: Latin American Working Group, 2002. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2014 at: http://www.lawg.org/storage/documents/blunt%20instrument%20(pdf) Year: 2002 Country: Colombia URL: http://www.lawg.org/storage/documents/blunt%20instrument%20(pdf).pdf Shelf Number: 132335 Keywords: Drug Control (Colombia) Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Freeman, Laurie Title: Troubling Patterns: The Mexican Military and the War on Drugs Summary: The Mexican military has a dominant and expanding role in Mexico's war on drugs. As its role grows, so does its relationship with the US military, due to their common counter-drug mission. US organizations working to promote human rights and democracy in Mexico are concerned about human rights violations committed by the Mexican military in the drug war, as well as possible implications for US policy and the military-to-military relationship. By analyzing 27 cases of human rights violations committed by the Mexican military during anti-drug activities from 1996 to the present, this study has identified distinct patterns of military abuse in the context of anti-drug efforts. The cases in this study show that: The Mexican military's involvement in the drug war has led to human rights abuses; There is no adequate system to address these abuses when they occur; and The Leahy Law is not being adequately implemented by the US Embassy to ensure that US training and assistance are not provided to Mexican military units that have been implicated in human rights violations. Details: Washington, DC: Latin America Working Group, 2002. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2014 at: http://www.lawg.org/storage/documents/troubling%20patterns%20the%20war%20on%20drugs%202002.pdf Year: 2002 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.lawg.org/storage/documents/troubling%20patterns%20the%20war%20on%20drugs%202002.pdf Shelf Number: 132336 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Human Rights Abuses War on Drugs

Author: Baradaran, Shima Title: Drugs and Violence Summary: The war on drugs has increased the United States prison population by tenfold. The foundation for the war on drugs and unparalleled increase in prisoners rely on the premise that drugs and violence are linked. Politicians, media, and scholars continue to advocate this view either explicitly or implicitly. This Article identifies the pervasiveness of this premise, and debunks the link between drugs and violence. It demonstrates that a connection between drugs and violence is not supported by historical arrest data, current research, or independent empirical evidence. That there is little evidence to support the assumption that drugs cause violence is an important insight, because the assumed causal link between drugs and violence forms the foundation of a significant amount of case law, statutes, and commentary. In particular, the presumed connection between drugs and violence has reduced constitutional protections, misled government resources, and resulted in the unnecessary incarceration of a large proportion of non-violent Americans. In short, if drugs do not cause violence - and the empirical evidence discussed in this Article suggests they do not - then America needs to rethink its entire approach to drug policy. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2014. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: University of Utah College of Law Research Paper No. 75: Accessed May 12, 2014 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2414202 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2414202 Shelf Number: 132339 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Drug-Related Violence Violent Crime

Author: Feilding, Amanda Title: Illicit Drugs Markets and Dimensions of Violence in Guatemala Summary: At this civil society meeting, Amanda Feilding presented the Beckley Foundation's latest report on the impact of the illegal drug trade in Guatemala. Titled 'Illicit Drug Markets and Dimensions of Violence in Guatemala', the report looks at socio-economic indicators while exploring Guatemala's illicit drugs market. It makes evidence-informed policy recommendations based on the Beckley Foundation Latin American Chapter's original research. The Beckley Foundation Latin American Chapter outlined reform and public engagement tactics that we hope will lead to public-health minded alternative approaches to the War on Drugs. Details: Oxford, UK: Beckley Foundation, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/Illicit-Drug-Markets.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Guatemala URL: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/Illicit-Drug-Markets.pdf Shelf Number: 132343 Keywords: Drug Markets (Guatemala) Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug-Related Violence Illegal Trade Illicit Drugs War on Drugs

Author: Rosen, Liana Title: Afghanistan: Drug Trafficking and the 2014 Transition Summary: Afghanistan is the world's primary source of opium poppy cultivation and opium and heroin production, as well as a major global source of cannabis (marijuana) and cannabis resin (hashish). Drug trafficking, a long-standing feature of Afghanistan's post-Taliban political economy, is linked to corruption and insecurity, and provides a source of illicit finance for non-state armed groups. Based on recent production and trafficking trends, the drug problem in Afghanistan appears to be worsening-just as the U.S. government finalizes plans for its future relationship with the government of Afghanistan in 2015 and beyond and reduces its counternarcotics operational presence in the country to Kabul, the national capital. As coalition combat operations in Afghanistan draw to a close in 2014, and as the full transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces is achieved, some Members of the 113th Congress have expressed concern regarding the future direction and policy prioritization of U.S. counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan in light of diminishing resources and an uncertain political and security environment in 2015 and beyond. According to the U.S. Counternarcotics Strategy for Afghanistan, released in late 2012, the U.S. government envisions a counternarcotics policy future that results in "two simultaneous and parallel transfers of responsibility." Not only does it envision the transfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces, but also the transfer of counternarcotics programming responsibilities and law enforcement operational activities to the Afghan government. Assuming a reduced U.S. security presence and limited civilian mobility throughout the country, the U.S. government is also increasingly emphasizing a regional approach to combating Afghan drugs. Although some counternarcotics efforts, including eradication and alternative development programming, are already implemented by the government of Afghanistan or by local contractors, others may require a two- to five-year time horizon, or potentially longer, before a complete transition would be feasible, according to Administration officials. Some counternarcotics initiatives are only in their infancy, including the Defense Department's plans to establish a new Regional Narcotics Analysis and Illicit Trafficking Task Force (RNAIT-TF). Other activities, particularly those that required a significant presence at the local and provincial levels, are anticipated to be reduced or limited in scope. The 113th Congress continues to monitor drug trafficking trends in Afghanistan and evaluate U.S. policy responses. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives held hearings on the topic in early 2014 and included provisions in FY2014 appropriations (P.L. 113-76) that limit the scope of and resources devoted to future counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has also identified narcotics as a "critical issue" for policy makers. This report describes key U.S. counternarcotics programs in Afghanistan in the context of the 2014 transition and analyzes policy issues related to these programs for Congress to consider as policy makers examine the drug problem in Afghanistan. The report's Appendix contains historical figures and tables on trends in Afghan drug cultivation, production, and trafficking. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: R43540: Accessed May 19, 2014 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43540.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Afghanistan URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43540.pdf Shelf Number: 132395 Keywords: Drug Law Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illicit Drugs (Afghanistan) Narcotics Opium

Author: Pollard, Robin Title: Case Study Series: Drug, policy, harm reduction and young people - Romania Summary: Romania is a country located at the intersection of Central and South East Europe, bordering the Black Sea, finding itself along one of the main trafficking routes for heroin destined for Western Europe from Afghanistan. Consequently, heroin has been the illicit drug associated with the highest level of drug-related problems in Romania, with injection being the most common method of use. While cocaine (shipped from South America), ecstasy and amphetamines (from Western Europe) and cannabis are also commonly used, new psychoactive substances (NPS) have become increasingly popular in the country, with the proportion of those who inject NPS substantially increasing. Recent estimates suggest that these substances were being used by a third of all people dependent on drugs in 2010- 2011. However, following the enforcement of Law 194/2011, the availability on NPS was substantially reduced among occasional people who use drugs, as the costs of these substances dramatically increased. The information presented in this paper is drawn from the experiences of local service providers, young people who use drugs and a review of the available literature. This case study is designed to offer a snapshot of the drug policy and harm reduction landscape in Romania in relation to young people. Based on the findings of this case study, we offer a series of key recommendations for effective policy reform that can improve the health of, and reduce stigma towards, young people who use drugs in Romania. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2014 at http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-Youth-RISE-drug-policy-case-study_Romania.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Romania URL: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-Youth-RISE-drug-policy-case-study_Romania.pdf Shelf Number: 132406 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Use and Abuse, Juveniles (Romania) Harm Reduction

Author: Krug, Anita Title: Case Study Series: The impacts of drug policy on young people - Mauritius Summary: Since the 1980s, Mauritius has experienced increasing levels of injecting drug use and has now one of highest per capita rates of illicit opiate use. Whilst Mauritius does have an established harm reduction response to drug use, young people who use drugs are denied access to these life-saving services and receive little support, leading to poor health outcomes and lost opportunities. Instead of supporting and protecting the health and well-being of young people who use drugs in Mauritius, drug policy has had a marginalising effect, both in the immediate and longer term. This case study looks at these issues, presenting information drawn from surveillance data, policies and experiences of both local service providers and young people who use drugs themselves. In light of the challenges that young people face, this paper concludes with a series of recommendations for policy reform. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2014 at http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-Youth-RISE-drug-policy-case-study_Mauritius.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-Youth-RISE-drug-policy-case-study_Mauritius.pdf Shelf Number: 132407 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Use and Abuse, Juveniles (Mauritius)

Author: Kramer, Tom Title: Bouncing Back: Relapse in the Golden Triangle Summary: The illicit drug market in the Golden Triangle - Burma, Thailand and Laos - and in neighbouring India and China has undergone profound changes. This report documents those changes in great detail, based on information gathered on the ground in difficult circumstances by a group of dedicated local researchers. After a decade of decline, opium cultivation has doubled again and there has also been a rise in the production and consumption of ATS - especially methamphetamines. Drug control agencies are under constant pressure to apply policies based on the unachievable goal to make the region drug free by 2015. This report argues for drug policy changes towards a focus on health, development, peace building and human rights. Reforms to decriminalise the most vulnerable people involved could make the region's drug policies far more sustainable and cost-effective. Such measures should include abandoning disproportionate criminal sanctions, rescheduling mild substances, prioritising access to essential medicines, shifting resources from law enforcement to social services, alternative development and harm reduction, and providing evidence-based voluntary treatment services for those who need them. The aspiration of a drug free ASEAN in 2015 is not realistic and the policy goals and resources should be redirected towards a harm reduction strategy for managing - instead of eliminating - the illicit drug market in the least harmful way. In view of all the evidence this report presents about the bouncing back of the opium economy and the expanding ATS market, plus all the negative consequences of the repressive drug control approaches applied so far, making any other choice would be irresponsible. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2014. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 16, 2014: http://www.tni.org/briefing/bouncing-back Year: 2014 Country: Asia URL: http://www.tni.org/briefing/bouncing-back Shelf Number: 132462 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Opium

Author: Kramer, Tom Title: Withdrawal Symptoms in the Golden Triangle: A Drugs Market in Disarray Summary: Drug control agencies have called the significant decline in opium production in Southeast Asia over the past decade a 'success story'. The latest report of the Transnational Institute (TNI). based on in-depth research in the region, casts serious doubts on this claim noting that Southeast Asia suffers from a variety of 'withdrawal symptoms' that leave little reason for optimism. TNI's report shows that the rapid decline in production has caused major suffering among former poppy-growing communities in Burma and Laos, and poses serious questions about the sustainability of the opium bans in those countries. The report also notes that the decline in opium has been accompanied by a rise in the use of other drugs with an increase in health risks among consumers, including rising HIV/AIDS rates. "The Southeast Asian drug market is going through a process of profound transformation," says Tom Kramer, TNI's Southeast Asia expert. "The enforcement of opium bans in the Golden Triangle has driven hundreds of thousands of families deeper into poverty." Early warning signs show that opium cultivation in Burma and Laos is again on the increase and is spreading to previously unaffected areas in Burma. Meanwhile, production and consumption of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) - methamphetamine in particular - have increased even more rapidly than opium has gone down. "The traditional opium growing and consuming region has now evolved into a complex and dynamic market of opiates, ATS and pharmaceutical replacements," Kramer concludes. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2008. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 16, 2014 at: http://www.tni-books.org/books/25-withdrawal-symptoms-in-the-golden-triangle.html Year: 2008 Country: Asia URL: http://www.tni-books.org/books/25-withdrawal-symptoms-in-the-golden-triangle.html Shelf Number: 113224 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Opium

Author: Room, Robin Title: Roadmaps to Reforming the UN Drug Conventions Summary: The three UN Drug Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 currently impose a 'one-size-fits-all' prohibitionist approach to drug policy throughout the world. This report, released December 2012, explains in detail how the Conventions could be amended in order to give countries greater freedom to adopt drug policies better suited to their special needs. In particular, the report details the treaty amendments that would be necessary if a country (or, better, a group of countries working together) wished to experiment with either of the following options: i) clear and explicit decriminalisation of the possession of one or more currently controlled substances for personal use ii) the creation of a regulated, non-medical market in one or more controlled substances. Details: London: Beckley Foundation, 2012. 179p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/Roadmaps-to-Reform.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/Roadmaps-to-Reform.pdf Shelf Number: 132526 Keywords: Decriminalization Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Regulation

Author: Cox, Jerry J. Title: Collateral Damage: America's Failure to Forgive or Forget in the War on Crime -- A Roadmap to Restore Rights and Status After Arrest or Conviction. Summary: Collateral damage occurs in any war, including America's "War on Crime." Ironically, our zealous efforts to keep communities safe may have actually destabilized and divided them. The vast expansion of the nation's criminal justice system over the past 40 years has produced a corresponding increase in the number of people with a criminal record. One recent study estimated that 65 million people - one in four adults in the United States - have a criminal record. At the same time, the collateral consequences of conviction - specific legal restrictions, generalized discrimination and social stigma � have become more severe, more public and more permanent. These consequences affect virtually every aspect of human endeavor, including employment and licensing, housing, education, public benefits, credit and loans, immigration status, parental rights, interstate travel, and even volunteer opportunities. Collateral consequences can be a criminal defendant's most serious punishment, permanently relegating a person to second-class status. The obsession with background checking in recent years has made it all but impossible for a person with a criminal record to leave the past behind. An arrest alone can lead to permanent loss of opportunity. The primary legal mechanisms historically relied on to restore rights and status -- executive pardon and judicial expungement - have atrophied or become less effective. It is time to reverse this course. It is time to recognize that America's infatuation with collateral consequences has produced unprecedented and unnecessary collateral damage to society and to the justice system. It is time to celebrate the magnificent human potential for growth and redemption. It is time to move from the era of collateral consequences to the era of restoration of rights and status. NACDL recommends a broad national initiative to construct a legal infrastructure that will provide individuals with a criminal record with a clear path to equal opportunity. The principle that individuals have paid their debt to society when they have completed their court-imposed sentence should guide this initiative. At its core, this initiative must recognize that individuals who pay their debt are entitled to have their legal and social status fully restored. Details: Washington, DC: National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), 2014. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2014 at: http://www.nacdl.org/restoration/roadmapreport/ Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.nacdl.org/restoration/roadmapreport/ Shelf Number: 132660 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform War on Drugs (U.S.)

Author: Gomis, Benoit Title: Illicit Drugs and International Security: Towards UNGASS 2016 Summary: In spite of a decades-long 'war on drugs', the global drug trade persists as a significant problem for international security given its scale, the number of deaths related to trafficking and consumption it creates, and the organized crime and corruption it fuels. The international drug control system has been ineffective in reducing the size of the market and in preventing the emergence of new drugs and drug routes that cause and shift instability around the world. Current drug policies have been counter-productive, often causing more harm than the drugs themselves through capital punishment for offences, widespread incarceration, discrimination in law enforcement, violation of basic human rights in forced 'treatment' centres, and opportunity costs. In the last three years, the drug policy debate has evolved more than in the previous three decades. There remain a number of political obstacles to making recent developments sustainable ahead of the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in 2016, but these should not be used as excuses for continuing with a failed status quo. Details: London: Chatham House, 2014. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper: Accessed July 31, 2014 at: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/home/chatham/public_html/sites/default/files/0214Drugs_BP2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/home/chatham/public_html/sites/default/files/0214Drugs_BP2.pdf Shelf Number: 132853 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illicit Drugs Organized Crime War on Drugs

Author: Wigell, Mikael Title: Transatlantic Drug Trade: Europe, Latin America and the Need to Strengthen Anti-Narcotics Cooperation Summary: - The cocaine business has changed significantly in recent years. Once concentrated in Colombia, it has now expanded to the entire Latin American region with Brazil, Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela having become central corridors for the illegal traffic. - As the market for cocaine has been contracting in North America, Latin American drug networks have switched their attention to Europe, which is now the world's fastest growing market for cocaine. - The cocaine enters Europe mainly by exploiting the legitimate container trade. Most shipments continue to be directed to Western Europe, but recently the illicit trade has been expanding eastward with new entry points opening up in the Black Sea and Balkan area. There are also indications of a possible new entry point in the Eastern Baltic Sea area. - Not only are Latin American criminal organizations expanding their activities on the European drug market, but they are also exploiting the European financial crisis to launder their profits and move into other branches of the economy. - The growing transatlantic cocaine trade calls for improving inter-regional counter-narcotics cooperation. Concrete steps should be taken to promote stronger links between anti-drugs programmes, development cooperation and public security policies on both sides of the Atlantic. Details: Helsinki: Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 2012. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: FIIA Briefing Paper 132: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: http://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/343/transatlantic_drug_trade/ Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.fiia.fi/en/publication/343/transatlantic_drug_trade/ Shelf Number: 132969 Keywords: Cocaine Criminal Networks Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Organized Crime

Author: Rozo, Sandra Title: On the Unintended Consequences of Anti-Drug Eradication Programs in Producer Countries Summary: This paper studies the effects of the biggest anti-drug program ever applied in a drug-producer country. I use a unique and rich data set with 1-square-kilometer satellite information on the location of coca crops between 2000 and 2010 in Colombia to identify the effects of spraying herbicides on coca production and on the welfare conditions of coca-producing areas. I exploit the exogenous variation created by governmental restrictions to spraying in protected areas (i.e., natural parks and indigenous territories) to identify the effects of the program. My results suggest that there is only a quarter reduction in coca grown per hectare sprayed, whereas there are sizable unintended negative effects on the welfare conditions of the treated areas. Specifically, if the share of area sprayed in a given municipality increases by 1%, poverty rates increase 4 percentage points, school dropout increases 0.82 percentage points, infant mortality rates increase 1.26 percentage points, and homicide rates increase 4.23 percentage points. Although some of these effects revert 3 years after the treatment implementation, the effects on poverty rates and infant mortality seem permanent. Details: Los Angeles: California Center for Population Research, University of California -- Los Angeles, 2014. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: On-Line Working Paper Series: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2013-016/PWP-CCPR-2013-016. Year: 2014 Country: Latin America URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2013-016/PWP-CCPR-2013-016. Shelf Number: 132976 Keywords: Drug Control (Latin America) Drug Eradication Drug Policy Drug-Related Violence

Author: Segura, Renata Title: The Global Drug Policy Debate. Experiences from the Americas and Europe Summary: The cultivation, trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs have historically posed a multilayered series of challenges to the state: from how to minimize health risks and provide treatment and support to those who use drugs, to the security and governance threats posed by trafficking groups and networks. While global in nature, the challenges presented by the illicit drug trade are also contextual. Lack of progress in addressing the manifold challenges posed by the illicit drug trade has led to a growing acknowledgement of the need for a serious rethink of global drugs policy. The authors underscore the importance of, and encourage the creation of national and regional commissions that are tasked with reviewing current drug policies and recommending changes. It also examines current calls in Latin American for a review of the so-called 'war on drugs', highlighting the role that outspoken leaders are playing in shaping the debate on drug policy, as well as current shifts from a policing-focused approach to one that accounts for the safety and health of drug users. The paper looks in particular detail at the experiences of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, arguing that other transit regions such as West Africa should consider implementing multi-faceted strategies to respond to drug trafficking and the growing incidence of drug consumption. In this regard, it highlights examples of how exclusive reliance on repressive strategies known as mano dura can often backfire, resulting in the displacement of trafficking routes, an increase in violence, prison overcrowding and further marginalization of vulnerable populations. Finally, it highlights some actions the West Africa Commission on Drugs might adopt for its own advocacy strategy including strategic diplomacy, the development and dissemination of empirically-grounded papers on the impact of drug trafficking, drug consumption and treatment in the West Africa sub-region, and discussions and debates with relevant stakeholders on the findings of such reports; engagement of civil society; and raising of public awareness. The West Africa Commission on Drugs is faced with the difficult task of advocating for policies aimed at preventing or mitigating problems of drug use, criminality, violence, and threats to governability that have been experienced by other countries, without having complete certainty on how -or even if- the same challenges will arise in Africa. Carrier and Klantsching, in their book "Africa and the War on Drugs" argue that historical analysis would indicate that Africa might be spared from the destiny of the Andean countries, and that more harm can be done by implementing a prohibitionist regime that assumes an identical path will be followed. This warning should not fall on deaf ears. However, critics of their argument have underscored the dangers of understating the "growing power of drug money in African electoral politics, local and traditional governance, and security" (Gberie, 2012; Cockayne, 2012). They have also pointed out that having a critical perspective on the existing drug control regime must not mean turning a blind eye to the threats that come with drug trafficking and consumption, such as corruption and the emergence of criminalized states (Kavanagh et al, 2013). Similarly, while drug consumption rates currently remain relatively low in Africa, the situation can change rapidly, as happened in some Latin American countries. As noted by UNODC (2013), there are already strong indications that drug use is on the rise in West Africa. It is naturally easier to achieve the political support needed to implement policies that respond to serious problems, such as a health epidemic or extended violence, than to embrace innovative and data-based policies in order to prevent or mitigate these problems. Explaining to both elites and the population why it is indispensable that West Africa act assertively to pre-empt a situation that may emerge will be a central challenge for the WACD. This paper examines such efforts in the Americas and Europe, drawing lessons for West Africa. It argues that the current drug control regime does provide some leeway for implementing policy reforms that move away from the prohibitionist regime, and provides examples of alternative policies that have been introduced by national and local authorities in different countries. The paper provides examples from Europe to underscore the importance of using empirical research and sound data to design drug policies, highlighting successful examples of harm reduction programs, and examining ways in which governments have moved away from legal frameworks that rely on the criminalization of drug use. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Kofi Annan Foundation and the West Africa Commission on Drugs, 2013. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: WACD Background Paper No. 7: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.wacommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Global-Drug-Policy-Debate-Experiences-2013-11-28.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.wacommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Global-Drug-Policy-Debate-Experiences-2013-11-28.pdf Shelf Number: 133013 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs Illicit Trade War on Drugs

Author: Hughes, Gordon Title: Australian threshold quantities for 'drug trafficking': Are they placing drug users at risk of unjustified sanction? Summary: Legal threshold quantities for drug trafficking, over which possession of an illicit drug is deemed 'trafficking' as opposed to 'personal use' are used in most Australian states and territories. Yet, in spite of known risks from adopting such thresholds, most notably of unjustified conviction of users as traffickers, the capacity of Australian legal thresholds to deliver proportional sanctioning has been subject to limited research. In this study, the authors use data on patterns of drug user consumption and purchasing to evaluate Australian legal threshold quantities to see whether Australian drug users are at risk of exceeding the thresholds for personal use alone. The results indicate that some, but not all users are at risk, with those most likely to exceed current thresholds being consumers of MDMA and residents of New South Wales and South Australia. The implication is that even if the current legal threshold system helps to convict and sanction drug traffickers, it may be placing Australian drug users at risk of unjustified charge or sanction. The authors highlight a number of reforms that ought mitigate the risks and increase capacity to capture Australian drug traffickers. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 467: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/461-480/tandi467.html Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/461-480/tandi467.html Shelf Number: 132038 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Trafficking (Australia)

Author: Centre for Social Justice Title: No Quick Fix: Exposing the depth of Britain's drugs and alcohol problem Summary: This report lays bare the reality of substance abuse and addiction in Britain today. This ongoing challenge affects millions of people and has huge costs. Alcohol abuse costs taxpayers $21 billion a year and drugs $15 billion. While costs matter, it is the human consequences that present the real tragedy. The abuse of substances is a pathway to poverty and can lead to family breakdown and child neglect, homelessness, crime, debt, and long-term worklessness. From its impact on children to its consequences for those in later life, addiction destroys lives, wrecks families and blights communities. The scale of the problem is shocking. 1.6 million people are dependent on alcohol in England alone. One in seven children under the age of one live with a substance-abusing parent, and more than one in five (2.6 million) live with a parent who drinks hazardously. 335,000 (one in 37) children live with a parent who is addicted to drugs. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has been encouraged by some of the commitments contained within the Drug Strategy 2010 and by the efforts of some reformers within government. The move to a recovery-oriented system is an important step to ensuring that harm reduction is only the first step along a path to abstinence and full recovery. Challenges persist, however, as many vested interests remain entrenched within the treatment system. Supporters of substitute treatment remain unconvinced by the possibilities of full- and long-term recovery, and are resistant to reform. Alarmingly, some commissioners are withdrawing support for effective services. The CSJ has learned that 55 per cent of local authorities have cut funding to residential rehabilitation centres whilst harm reduction services that maintain people in their addiction have been preserved under the NHS ring-fence. These rehabilitation centres, which the Prime Minister has rightly backed in the past, have proved time and again to be an effective way of breaking the cycle of addiction and must be supported. In this report, we also highlight the system's lack of ambition to tackle alcohol abuse, despite its rising cost. While two-thirds of the 300,000 drug addicts in England get treatment, only a small minority (approximately seven per cent) alcohol dependants get similar help. Furthermore, by withdrawing its plans for a minimum unit price, the Government has missed an opportunity to tackle the increased availability of super cheap, strong alcohol. Parents and children, together with addicts and taxpayers, are calling for action. In this report we outline the challenges; in the coming year the CSJ will publish policy recommendations to help solve Britain's drug and alcohol crisis. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2013. 107p. Source: Internet Resource: Breakthrough Britain II: Accessed August 23, 2014 at: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/addict.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Pdf%20reports/addict.pdf Shelf Number: 129896 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder Alcoholism (U.K.) Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Substance Abuse

Author: Isacson, Adam Title: Time to Listen: Trends in U.S. Security Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: The list grows longer: sitting Latin American presidents, including the United States' principal allies; past presidents; the Organization of American States; the Summit of the Americas; civil society leaders from all nations. The clamor for drug policy reform, including for a reformed U.S. drug policy in Latin America, is growing rapidly. But Washington isn't hearing it. The Obama Administration's counternarcotics strategy has continued largely unchanged. In fact, over the past few years the United States has expanded its military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies' direct involvement in counternarcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere. This has been particularly true in Central America, where it has had disturbing human rights impacts. Aid numbers do not tell the whole story. In dollar terms, assistance to most Latin American and Caribbean nations' militaries and police forces has declined since 2010, as Colombia's and Mexico's large aid packages wind down. Today, only aid to Central America is increasing significantly. For its part, the Defense Department is facing cuts and turning most of its attention to other regions. While the Pentagon's current approach to Latin America does not include major base construction or new massive aid packages, however, the United States is still providing significant amounts of aid and training to Latin America's armed forces and police. In addition to large-scale counter-drug operations, the region is seeing an increase in training visits from U.S. Special Forces, a greater presence of intelligence personnel and drones (while countries are obtaining drones, mostly not from the United States), and rapidly growing use of military and police trainers from third countries, especially Colombia. Much of what takes place may not show up as large budget amounts, but it is shrouded by secrecy, poor reporting to Congress and the public, and a migration of programs' management from the State Department to the Defense Department. A lack of transparency leads to a lack of debate about consequences and alternatives, for human rights, for civil-military relations, and for the United States' standing in the region. On human rights, the Obama Administration has been occasionally willing to raise tough issues with allies. It has encouraged trials in civilian, not military, courts for soldiers accused of committing gross human rights abuses, especially in Mexico and Colombia. It has supported the Rios Montt genocide trial in Guatemala, and has sided with countries and human rights groups that seek to maintain, not weaken, the current Inter-American human rights system. Details: Washington, DC: Center for International Policy, Latin America Working Group Education Fund, and Washington Office on Latin America, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2014 at: http://lawg.org/storage/documents/Time_to_Listen-Trends_in_U.S._Security_Assistance_to_Latin_America_and_the_Caribbean.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Central America URL: http://lawg.org/storage/documents/Time_to_Listen-Trends_in_U.S._Security_Assistance_to_Latin_America_and_the_Caribbean.pdf Shelf Number: 131150 Keywords: Drug Control Policy Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug-Related Violence Human Rights Abuses War on Drugs (Central America)

Author: Kamminga, Jorrit Title: Opium poppy licensing in Turkey: A model to solve Afghanistan's illegal opium economy? Summary: The report analyses the Turkish opium licensing system as a way to illustrate the "normality" of such an industry. The latter function is important for the current debate on using similar systems in other countries. In Afghanistan, for example, the opium poppy is still solely associated with illegal drug consumption, drug trafficking, crime and insurgency. On the contrary, in Turkey, opium poppies are regarded as both traditional medicine and an essential part of a rich cooking tradition. As such, the poppy licensing industry in Turkey should be regarded less a direct example of how to implement a similar model in Afghanistan, but more as an illustration of an alternative, non-politicised way of looking at the opium poppy plant and its potential benefits for Afghanistan. Details: Kabul, Afghanistan: International Council on Security and Development, 2011. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/Opium_Licensing_Turkey_Jorrit_Kamminga.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Turkey URL: http://www.icosgroup.net/static/reports/Opium_Licensing_Turkey_Jorrit_Kamminga.pdf Shelf Number: 133549 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Heroin Illegal Drugs Opium Poppy Cultivation

Author: Police Executive Research Forum Title: New Challenges for Police: A Heroin Epidemic and Changing Attitudes Toward Marijuana Summary: Is the United States fundamentally shifting its approach to drugs? That's a question underlying this report. I think that in many ways, the nation still sees the harm that drugs cause to individual lives and to the fabric of our society. There is no question that drug abuse is a scourge and a tragedy. And the related issue of gang violence associated with drug trafficking is one of the biggest problems in many U.S. cities. Still, around the edges, changes are noticeable. This report details two of those changes. Surge in heroin abuse: First, we are experiencing a spreading epidemic of heroin abuse in many cities and towns across the nation. At the PERF Summit that is the center of this report, FBI Director James Comey told us he has been traveling the nation, and in every single FBI field office he has visited, people have been talking about heroin. Marijuana legalization: The other major topic of this report-the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington State this year-is another issue where there has been a shift in attitude. Public opinion about marijuana obviously has been changing for some time. Nearly half of the 50 states have legalized medical marijuana, going back as far as 1996. Details: Washington, DC: PERF, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Critical Issues in Policing Series: Accessed October 20, 2014 at: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series_2/a%20heroin%20epidemic%20and%20changing%20attitudes%20toward%20marijuana.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series_2/a%20heroin%20epidemic%20and%20changing%20attitudes%20toward%20marijuana.pdf Shelf Number: 133742 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Heroin Marijuana (U.S.) Marijuana Legalization

Author: Goodhand, Jonathan Title: Drugs, (dis)order and agrarian change: the political economy of drugs and its relevance to international drug policy Summary: In May 2014 the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) hosted a workshop, co-funded by NOREF and Christian Aid, designed to facilitate dialogue between scholars working on the political economy of drugs, conflict and development in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The workshop explored how political economy perspectives, derived from long-term empirical research on drugs-affected regions, can enhance understanding of, and policy responses to, drug production and trafficking. This approach, rather than seeing drugs as "exceptional" and "criminal", seeks to situate the role of illicit economies within broader processes of state formation and agrarian change. Contributions to the workshop revealed the highly differentiated and context-specific dynamics of drug economies, and how different configurations of institutions and security markets can lead to different kinds of relationships between drugs, state-building, agrarian change and development. This research does not lend itself to simple policy narratives or prescriptions, but it does suggest that there can be no universal and de-contextualised solutions to "the drug problem". Dogmatic and irreconcilable positions, adopted by both those advocating harsher prohibition and those arguing for blanket decriminalisation, fail to reflect sufficiently on the impacts such policies will have on drug-producing countries. A more grounded, comparative perspective is urgently needed in an arena where policies are often anything but evidence based and where data are patchy or politicised. Counter-narcotic (CN) strategies, based on a reification of the perceived linkages between drugs, instability and state fragility, often provide only a partial, and in some cases deeply misleading, insight into the economic and political orders that emerge around drug production. Political economy provides a corrective to these deeply entrenched biases and blind spots, by incorporating an analysis of aspects of drug economies and counter narcotics (CN) strategies that are frequently treated as residual or circumvented, including the varying levels and types of violence surrounding drug economies; the complex motives of those involved in drug production and trafficking; the linkages between licit and illicit commodities in processes of agrarian transformation; the potential developmental outcomes of drugs economies; the relationship between illicit economies and differing configurations of authority and rule; and a socially differentiated account of who gains and who loses from counter-narcotics policies. In doing so, political economy approaches provide a powerful analytical lens for developing a more contextually attuned public policy on drugs. Details: Oslo: Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF), 2014. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Publication: Accessed November 4, 2014 at: http://www.peacebuilding.no/var/ezflow_site/storage/original/application/6ae957894148ed319a377eee7c775065.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.peacebuilding.no/var/ezflow_site/storage/original/application/6ae957894148ed319a377eee7c775065.pdf Shelf Number: 133967 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug-Related Violence Illegal Drugs

Author: Sacco, Lisa N. Title: Drug Enforcement in the United States: History, Policy, and Trends Summary: The federal government prohibits the manufacturing, distribution, and possession of many intoxicating substances that are solely intended for recreational use (notable exceptions are alcohol and tobacco); however, the federal government also allows for and controls the medical use of many intoxicants. Federal authority to control these substances primarily resides with the Attorney General of the United States. Over the last decade, the United States has shifted its stated drug control policy toward a comprehensive approach; one that focuses on prevention, treatment, and enforcement. In order to restrict and reduce availability of illicit drugs in the United States, a practice referred to as "supply reduction," the federal government continues to place emphasis on domestic drug enforcement. According to the most recent drug control budget (FY2015) released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), approximately 60% of all federal drug control spending is dedicated to supply reduction, with approximately 37% of the total budget dedicated to domestic law enforcement. Federal agencies, primarily the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), enforce federal controlled substances laws in all states and territories, but the majority of drug crimes known to U.S. law enforcement are dealt with at the state level. In the United States in 2012, the DEA arrested 30,476 suspects for federal drug offenses while state and local law enforcement arrested 1,328,457 suspects for drug offenses. In many cases, federal agencies assist state and local agencies with drug arrests, and suspects are referred for state prosecution, and vice-versa. Most drug arrests are made by state and local law enforcement, and most of these arrests are for possession rather than sale or manufacture. In contrast, most federal drug arrests are for trafficking offenses rather than possession. Over the last 25 years the majority of DEA's arrests have been for cocaine-related offenses. Trends in federal drug enforcement may reflect the nation's changing drug problems and changes in the federal response to these problems. They also may reflect the federal government's priorities. Drug cases represent the second highest category of criminal cases filed by U.S. Attorneys; however, federal drug cases have steadily declined over the last decade. This report focuses on domestic drug enforcement. It outlines historic development and major changes in U.S. drug enforcement to help provide an understanding of how and why certain laws and policies were implemented and how these developments and changes shaped current drug enforcement policy. In the 19th century federal, state, and local governments were generally not involved in restricting or regulating drug distribution and use, but this changed substantially in the 20th century as domestic law enforcement became the primary means of controlling the nation's substance abuse problems. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Services, 2014. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS R43749: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43749.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43749.pdf Shelf Number: 134066 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement (U.S.) Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Regulations Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs

Author: Males, Mike Title: Reforming marijuana laws: Which approach best reduces the harms of criminalization? A Five-State Analysis Summary: The War on Marijuana is losing steam. Policymakers, researchers, and law enforcement are beginning to recognize that arresting and incarcerating people for marijuana possession wastes billions of dollars, does not reduce the abuse of marijuana or other drugs, and results in grossly disproportionate harms to communities of color (ACLU, 2013; Ingram, 2014). Marijuana reforms are now gaining traction across the nation, generating debates over which strategies best reduce the harms of prohibition. Should marijuana be decriminalized or legalized? Should it be restricted to people 21 and older? Advocates of the latter strategy often argue their efforts are intended to protect youth (Newsom, 2014; Holder, 2013; Californians for Marijuana Legalization and Control, 2014). However, if the consequences of arrest for marijuana possession - including fines, jail time, community service, a criminal record, loss of student loans, and court costs - are more harmful than use of the drug (Marijuana Arrest Research Project, 2012), it is difficult to see how continued criminalization of marijuana use by persons under 21 protects the young. Currently, people under 21 make up less than one-third of marijuana users, yet half of all marijuana possession arrests (ACLU, 2013; Males, 2009). This analysis compares five states that implemented major marijuana reforms over the last five years, evaluating their effectiveness in reducing marijuana arrests and their impact on various health and safety outcomes. Two types of reforms are evaluated: all-ages decriminalization (California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts), and 21-and-older legalization (Colorado and Washington). The chief conclusions are: - All five states experienced substantial declines in marijuana possession arrests. The four states with available data also showed unexpected drops in marijuana felony arrests. - All-ages decriminalization more effectively reduced marijuana arrests and associated harms for people of all ages, particularly for young people. - Marijuana decriminalization in California has not resulted in harmful consequences for teenagers, such as increased crime, drug overdose, driving under the influence, or school dropout. In fact, California teenagers showed improvements in all risk areas after reform. - Staggering racial disparities remain - and in some cases are exacerbated - following marijuana reforms. African Americans are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses after reform than all other races and ethnicities were before reform. - Further reforms are needed in all five states to move toward full legalization and to address racial disparities. Details: San Francisco: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, 2014. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2014 at: http://www.cjcj.org/uploads/cjcj/documents/cjcj_marijuana_reform_comparison.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cjcj.org/uploads/cjcj/documents/cjcj_marijuana_reform_comparison.pdf Shelf Number: 134092 Keywords: Drug Abuse Policy Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana (U.S.) War on Drugs

Author: Wan, Wai-Yin Title: Supply-Side Reduction Policy and Drug-Related Harm Summary: The three pillars of Australia's drug policy are: supply reduction; demand reduction; and harm reduction. Supply reduction policy focuses on reducing the supply, or increasing the cost of, illegal drugs through such actions as crop eradication, drug seizures, arresting drug importers and distributors etc. While there is much evidence to support the effectiveness of demand and harm reduction measures, there is less evidence supporting the effectiveness of supply reduction policy. The purpose of this study was to improve on, and further contribute to this area of knowledge and examine the impact of seizures and supplier arrest on the use and associated harms of three drugs: heroin, cocaine, and amphetamine type substances (ATS). The investigation had two parts. The first sought to determine whether there was an inverse relationship between the intensity of supply reduction efforts (as measured by seizure weights and frequencies and by supply arrests) and: 1.The number of emergency department (ED) admissions or drug use/possession (UP) arrests which were attributed to heroin, cocaine, or ATS use; or 2.The reported incidence of certain drug related offences known or thought to be committed by users of heroin, cocaine, or ATS (such as theft, robbery, and assault). The investigation was limited to the top 20 per cent of seizures by weight. The time lag between the supply reduction efforts and the outcomes examined in this part of the study was four months. This part of the study covered the 10 year period from July 2001 until June 2011. The second part involved an examination of the impact of three specific operations (Operation Balmoral Athens, Operation Tempest and Operation Collage) identified by the NSW Crime Commission as having the potential to have affected the market for cocaine. Because the three operations occurred is close succession they were treated as one single intervention. Details: Canberra: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Monograph 53: Accessed December 8, 2014 at: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph53.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph53.pdf Shelf Number: 134277 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Australia) Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Harm reduction

Author: Willis, Katie Title: Assessing the impact of police on cannabis markets Summary: - The enforcement of laws relating to the production and distribution of illicit drugs is a major investment for the Australian community, with one recent estimate indicating that the annual direct costs of drug law enforcement (DLE) are around $1.7 billion - Traditional measures of DLE performance are based on drug seizure and arrest data. While these are simple and well-understood measures of DLE effort, they are ambiguous and imperfect - Work undertaken in Australia and overseas to develop more rigorous measurement systems emphasises the use of multiple, cross-sectoral indicators in assessing law enforcement impacts, rather than relying on single indicators of performance - While the police and health sectors use very different strategies and interventions to deal with cannabis-related problems, there is important convergence in what both sectors seek to achieve. That is, a community that is less burdened by cannabis-related crime, illness and injury - The new measures outlined in this bulletin would not only assist to improve DLE's understanding of the cannabis market, but their impact on that market - Work would need to be undertaken to identify or establish suitable data sources for some of the suggested measures - Including new questions in existing population surveys or expanding current agency administrative data sets are two low cost ways to improve the types of data available. There may also be scope for development of new data capture methods that focus on populations that often have high levels of cannabis use, such as youths in juvenile justice settings Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre 2010. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: criminal justice bulletin series 7: Accessed December 10, 2014 at: https://ncpic.org.au/media/1937/assessing-the-impact-of-police-on-cannabis-markets.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: https://ncpic.org.au/media/1937/assessing-the-impact-of-police-on-cannabis-markets.pdf Shelf Number: 134312 Keywords: Cannabis (Australia) Drug Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: Muggah, Robert Title: Measurement Matters: Designing New Metrics for a Drug Policy that Works Summary: Supporters of progressive drug policy are committed to using scientific evidence as the basis for informed public debate and policy-making. This is more radical proposal than it first appears. It requires a fundamental shift in how governments and societies think about monitoring and measuring production, trafficking and consumption. To help advance this thinking, the following Strategic Paper proposes a new set of generic goals, targets and indicators to track the intended and unintended consequences of drug policy. Based on dozens of interviews with the world's top experts, it offers an innovative framework to align drug policy metrics with improvements in public health, safety and citizen security. The paper introduces 2 high level impacts, 6 goals, 16 targets and 86 indicators and subjects them to a preliminary reality check in Colombia. While there are challenges related to data availability and access, there are also tremendous opportunities to rethink old paradigms and design new approaches to designing, implementing and monitoring drug policy that works. Details: Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Igarape, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Strategic Paper 12: Accessed January 20, 2015 at: http://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/AE-12-Measurement-mattes-07h-jan_.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Colombia URL: http://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/AE-12-Measurement-mattes-07h-jan_.pdf Shelf Number: 134421 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: Parsons, Jim Title: End of An Era? The Impact of Drug Law Reform in New York City Summary: In 2009, the latest in a series of reforms essentially dismantled New York State's Rockefeller Drug Laws, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of a range of felony drug charges and increasing eligibility for diversion to treatment. To study the impact of these reforms, Vera partnered with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University to examine the implementation of drug law reform and its impact on recidivism, racial disparities, and cost in New York City. The National Institute of Justice-funded study found that drug law reform, as it functioned in the city soon after the laws were passed, led to a 35 percent rise in the rate of diversion of eligible defendants to treatment. Although the use of diversion varied significantly among the city's five boroughs, it was associated with reduced recidivism rates, and cut racial disparities in half. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2015 at: http://www.vera.org/pubs/drug-law-reform-new-york-city Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/pubs/drug-law-reform-new-york-city Shelf Number: 134476 Keywords: Drug Abuse Policy (New York) Drug Enforcement Drug Law Reform Drug Policy Rockefeller Drug Laws

Author: Connolly, Johnny. Title: Illicit Drug Markets in Ireland Summary: Understanding the organisation, scale, nature and dynamics of illicit drug markets is a critical requirement for effective policy-making and for interventions designed to disrupt their operation and to minimise the associated harms. Through in-depth research with people involved in the illicit drug market in Ireland, as drug users or sellers, as professionals responding to it or as residents affected by it, this research fills a significant knowledge gap in this important area of Irish drug policy. The study objectives were to: - Examine the various factors that can influence the development of local drug markets. - Examine the nature, organisation and structure of Irish drug markets. - Examine the impact of drug-dealing and drug markets on local communities. - Describe and assess interventions in drug markets with a view to identifying what further interventions are needed. Details: Dublin: National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol (NACDA), 2014. 328p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2015 at: http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NACDA-report-on-Illicit-drugs-markets-in-Ireland-Oct-14.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland URL: http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NACDA-report-on-Illicit-drugs-markets-in-Ireland-Oct-14.pdf Shelf Number: 134566 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Markets (Ireland) Drug Policy Organized Crime

Author: Youth Rise Title: We Are People: The unintended consequences of the Nigerian drug law on the health and human rights of young people who use drugs Summary: Nigeria the most populous African nation has witnessed a surge in availability and consumption of illicit drugs in recent times. This is partly due to drug trafficking from Latin America and Asian countries through the region to the lucrative European and North American markets. Beyond trafficking, drugs like methamphetamine is now being produced in the country based on the discovery of about six clandestine laboratories between 2012 and 2013. Hence, the goal of eradicating drug from the society seems far away. Also in recent times, the call for drug policy reform globally and in many African countries have continued to gain momentum with the African Union Commission also lending its voice to the process. This is based on the increasing evidence of the failure of current drug control system that relies heavily on supply control and punishment for drug users without any record of reduction in availability and consumption of drugs but many reports of human rights violations linked to enforcing drug laws and policies. Young people constitute about 60 per cent of Nigeria Population. It is important to assess the country's drug control efforts and how they has impacted on the human rights, health and development of those who use drugs, especially young people. Data for this report was generated through interviews and consultation with young people who use drugs, drug law enforcement agents, magistrates, civil society organisations and young people in prison asylum. The report clearly showed Nigeria drug policy has been a reactive one to both internal and external pressures instead of being a proactive tool based on evidence of what works and what does not. There are systemic human rights abuses of young people who use drugs by both law enforcement agents and the society at large. Many of these abuse are unreported and have been 'normalized'. This include arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, being beaten, getting locked up without food for days, sexual harassment, rape, forced rehabilitation and so on. It was found that there are series of abuses going on within some drug rehabilitation centres including those operated by non-governmental institutions where severe torture is being used ostensibly to make people drug free. Unfortunately, most of these centres are not guided by any standard of practice and are also rarely monitored. There are also increased reports of injection drug use and HIV risk practices among young people. Regrettably, the public health response is limited due to the criminalisation of drug use. Evidence based programs such as opioid substitution therapy and needle syringe programs are unavailable. Only few programs specifically target this group of people with programs focusing on information sharing. The unintended consequences resulting from the implementation of the Nigerian drug law call for an urgent review, especially for the protection and holistic development of the youth population who have already initiated drug use. Details: London: Youth Rise, 2014. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/We-are-people-nigeria.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Nigeria URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/We-are-people-nigeria.pdf Shelf Number: 134588 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction (Nigeria) Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: Hannah, Julie Title: Human rights, drug control and the UN special procedures: Preventing arbitrary detention through the promotion of human rights in drug control Summary: The UN drug control bodies rarely mention human rights, while the UN human rights mechanisms rarely mention drug control. In effect, the two speak different languages and hold different priorities. Research underway at the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy reveals that the historical treatment of drug control issues within the special procedures system is insufficient to have an impact on current drug control policy and practice. Reporting by mandate holders on drug control has been scattered and rarely collaborative, despite the numerous intersections drug control issues present across the mandates. As the special procedures develop their programme of work for the coming year, they have an important opportunity to consider ways in which coordination across the mandates can enhance the promotion and protection of human rights while countering the world drug problem - both to have an impact on policy-making and to close the normative gaps between the two legal regimes. Ways in which the special procedures can organise their work to such ends should include the following: - Contribute to the development of a joint special procedures statement for submission to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs in 2016. A UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs scheduled for mid-2016 is an important opportunity for the special procedures to have an impact on the drug policy debate, and ensure that human rights is rooted firmly at the centre of reforms moving forward. - Advance the normative development of human rights and drug control through collaborative and individual thematic reporting on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering the world drug problem. The normative gaps highlighted in this research present numerous opportunities for mandate holders to develop lines of inquiry within their individual work and through collaborative reporting. This can include: an analysis of normative gaps; suggestions for standard setting measures that target stakeholders responding to the world drug problem, and; promoting the issue as a thematic human rights concern within the broader UN human rights mechanisms. Details: Colchester, UK: International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy, University of Essex, 2015. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/wgad-final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/wgad-final.pdf Shelf Number: 134903 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: Transform Drug Policy Foundation Title: Ending the War on Drugs: How to win the global drug policy debate Summary: This is a guide to making the case for drug policy and law reform from a position of confidence and authority, with a particular focus on the issue of legal regulation of currently illegal drug markets - an issue that is now core to the drugs debate. It is for every policymaker, media commentator, and campaigner who not only recognises that the 'war on drugs' is a counterproductive failure that is creating catastrophic unintended consequences, but who also wants to convince others to back reform. It will equip you with the constructive arguments, different approaches and nuanced messaging needed to address the concerns and interests of diverse audiences. This will enable you to not just win the argument, but make the new allies needed to turn the current unparalleled momentum for reform into concrete policy change nationally and internationally. Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2015. 176p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2015 at: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/resources/publications/ending-war-drugs-how-win-global-drug-policy-debate Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/resources/publications/ending-war-drugs-how-win-global-drug-policy-debate Shelf Number: 134951 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs Illicit Trade War on Drugs

Author: Lessing, Benjamin Title: The Logic of Violence in Drug Wars: Cartel-State Conflict in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia Summary: Why have militarized interventions to curtail violence by drug cartels had wildly divergent results? In the past six years, state crackdowns drove a nine-fold increase in cartel-state violence in Mexico, versus a two-thirds decrease in Brazil. Prevailing analyses of drug wars as a criminal subtype of insurgency provide little traction, because they elide differences in rebels' and cartels' aims. Cartels, I argue, fight states not to conquer territory or political control, but to coerce state actors and influence policy outcomes. The empirically predominant channel is violent corruption-threatening enforcers while negotiating bribes. A formal model reveals that greater state repression raises bribe prices, leading cartels to fight back whenever (a) corruption is sufficiently rampant, and (b) repression is insufficiently conditional on cartels' use of violence. Variation in conditionality helps explain observed outcomes: switching to conditional repression pushed Brazilian cartels into nonviolent strategies, while Mexico's war "without distinctions" inadvertently made fighting advantageous. Details: Stanford, CA: Center on Democracy, Development, Stanford University, 2013. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: CDDRL Working Paper no. 145: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/145.Violent_Corruption_CDDRL_Working_Paper.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Latin America URL: http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/145.Violent_Corruption_CDDRL_Working_Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 135319 Keywords: Drug Cartels Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug Wars Drug-Related Violence

Author: Fleetwood, Jennifer Title: Sentencing reform for drug trafficking in England and Wales Summary: Internationally, laws and sentencing practices tend to treat drug supply offences very harshly, often with the stated aim of deterrence. International drug trafficking is subject to the longest penalties, from 8-30 years, and up to the death penalty. Long sentences are often applied under inflexible legislation with little or no attention to individual mitigating circumstances, or the offenders' role or gains, resulting in disproportionately heavy penalties for minor offenders, such as drug couriers. This paper discusses recent changes to sentencing in England and Wales, which aim to recognise drug couriers as a distinct category, and so attribute lesser, more proportionate punishment. This innovation did not involve substantive change to drug laws, and reform has been achieved through revising sentencing practice by issuing guidelines for sentencers. This minor reform impacts on one specific group of beneficiaries only: drug couriers. Sentencing in England and Wales operates according to a complex categorisation of activities and separates possession, different types of selling and production activities, and international trafficking. This sentencing innovation is broadly a step in the right direction in that it will reduce punishments for many, but not all, drug couriers. It suggests that taking role into account offers the possibility of more proportionate sentences for drug couriers. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2015. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing paper: accessed May 1, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Sentencing-reform-for-drug-trafficking-in-the-UK.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Sentencing-reform-for-drug-trafficking-in-the-UK.pdf Shelf Number: 135488 Keywords: Drug Couriers Drug Mules Drug Policy Drug Policy (U.K.) Sentencing

Author: Chicoine, Luke Title: Exporting the Second Amendment: U.S. Assault Weapons and the Homicide Rate in Mexico Summary: In the four years following the expiration of the U.S. Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB), the homicide rate in Mexico increased 45 percent. Over the same period, over 60,000 firearms recovered in Mexico have been traced back to the U.S. A difference-in-difference approach is used to estimate the effect of the expiration of the AWB on homicide rates in Mexico; states with a strong pre-2005 drug cartel presence are defined as the treatment group. The baseline estimates suggest the expiration of the AWB is responsible for at least 16.4 percent of the increase in the homicide rate in Mexico between 2004 and 2008. Details: Unpublished paper, 2011. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 26, 2015 at: http://www.econ-jobs.com/research/32941-Exporting-the-Second-Amendment-US-Assault-Weapons-and-the-Homicide-Rate-in-Mexico.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.econ-jobs.com/research/32941-Exporting-the-Second-Amendment-US-Assault-Weapons-and-the-Homicide-Rate-in-Mexico.pdf Shelf Number: 129728 Keywords: Assault Weapons Drug Cartel Drug Policy Gun-Related Violence Homicides

Author: Hart, Carl Title: Methamphetamine: Fact vs. Fiction and Lessons from the Crack Hysteria Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide a critical examination of the available evidence on illicit methamphetamine use and its consequences in the United States and internationally. It is the aim of this report to dispel some of the myths about the effects of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs using the best available scientific data. Further, it is our hope that this analysis will lead to more rational policies for dealing with both legal and illegal amphetamine. The report begins with an examination of the lessons learned from the �crack cocaine scare� in the 1980s. In this way, the reader can draw parallels between society�s response to crack cocaine then, and methamphetamine now. The report then describes distinctions and similarities between methamphetamine and other amphetamine-type stimulants. Also examined is the prevalence of methamphetamine use and public policies in response to the perceived increased use of the drug and perceived drug-related problems. Finally, the report critically reviews the scientific literature on the effects of methamphetamine on the brain, physiology, and behavior. The data show that many of the immediate and long-term harmful effects caused by methamphetamine use have been greatly exaggerated just as the dangers of crack cocaine were overstated nearly three decades ago. Recommendations are made in an effort to remedy this situation and to enhance public health and safety Details: New York: Columbia University, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/methamphetamine-dangers-exaggerated-20140218.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/methamphetamine-dangers-exaggerated-20140218.pdf Shelf Number: 135894 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Methamphetamine

Author: Kramer, Tom Title: The Current State of Counternarcotics Policy and Drug Reform Debates in Myanmar Summary: Key Findings - Myanmar is the world's second largest producer of opium after Aghanistan. Following a decade of decline, cultivation has more than doubled since 2006. The production and use of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is also rising. - Most of the opium is turned into heroin and exported via neighboring countries, especially to China. - Decades of civil war and military rule have stimulated drug production and consumption, and marginalized ethnic communities. - Myanmar has high levels of injecting drug users infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. - Drug policies in Myanmar are repressive and outdated, with an ineffective focus on arresting drug users and eradicating poppy fields. - The central government is unable to provide quality treatment for drug users. Past political repression and human rights violations by the military government caused an international boycott which prevented international donors from providing assistance. - The reform process by the new quasi-civilian government includes both a peace process to end the civil war and a review of the country's drug laws, raising hope for more effective and humane drug policies. Policy Recommendations - Myanmar's drug policies should shift focus and prioritize the provision of services for drug users and promote alternative livelihoods for opium growing communities. - Drug-related legislation should decriminalize drug use, reduce sentences for other drug-related offenses, and allow space for needle exchange programs. - The government should expand harm reduction projects and provide voluntary treatment programs for drug users. - The government should formulate a strategic plan to prioritize alternative development programs. Eradication of poppy farms should not take place unless people have sufficient access to alternative livelihoods. As such, China's opium substitution policy should not continue in its present form. - Affected communities, especially drug users and opium farmers, need to be involved in drug policy making. - More attention should be paid to ATS-related problems, which are largely overlooked by current policies. Details: Washington, DC: Brookings Institute, 2015. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Kramer--Burma-final.pdf?la=en Year: 2015 Country: Burma URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Kramer--Burma-final.pdf?la=en Shelf Number: 135926 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Opium

Author: Urgent Action Fund of Latin America Title: Drug trafficking: Shadow powers and their hidden impact on the women's life in Latin America Summary: The Urgent Action Fund of Latin America, concerned about the situation of women and the consequences for their lives and communities of the dynamics of drug trafficking, initiated the Collaborative Initiative, Women, Resistance and "Shadow Powers", in 2013. The goal was to promote collective action among activists, members of women's organizations, and academics, who influence public policy in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador and the United States. The objective of this initiative is to identify existing information related to the specific dynamics of this issue in the region and to bring out distinct points of view regarding the problem, the final goal being to identify ways to develop shared advocacy initiatives in the defense of women's rights. Details: Bogota, Colombia: Urgent Action Fund of Latin America, 2015. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/fondoaccionurgente-drug-trafficking-shadow-powers-and-their-hidden-impact-on-the-women%27s-life-in-latin-america.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Latin America URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/fondoaccionurgente-drug-trafficking-shadow-powers-and-their-hidden-impact-on-the-women%27s-life-in-latin-america.pdf Shelf Number: 135929 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Femicide War on Drugs

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Title: Drugs policy and the city in Europe Summary: Illicit drug problems and responses and the different forms they can take in the city environment are explored in this paper. It addresses four areas: urban spaces and drug use, responses to city-level drug problems, city-level drugs strategies, and the coordination and funding of city-level policies. This paper explores existing and emerging drug problems and responses in the city environment. It addresses four areas: urban spaces and drug use, businesses and recreational drug use, city-level drugs policies and the coordination and funding of city-level policies. The paper is based on three data sources: a review of scientific literature, grey literature, and national reports from the Reitox network of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Two main categories of city-level problems related to drug use are identified: one centres on problematic forms of drug use such as use of opioids and injection, the other on recreational use of licit and illicit substances. So-called open drug scenes, where drug users congregate and high-risk drug use takes place in public spaces, were found in several cities. The open drug scenes vary by visibility, size and the type of location in which they occur. Cities differ in the level of access they provide for problem drug users to opioid substitution treatment, needle and syringe exchange programmes and low-threshold services, and in the geographical coverage of such interventions. In cities, extensive nightlife zones can be found. Concentrations of bars and clubs, and in some cases cannabis coffee shops and head shops, provide a focus for recreational drug use. Different measures have been implemented in nightlife settings to respond to drug use, including drug prevention interventions and 'pill testing' services. This study identified 10 capital cities with an active drugs strategy document. Generally, city authorities are formally responsible for the coordination of drugs policy in the municipality. A number of Europe's capital cities allocate a dedicated budget to the implementation of their drugs strategies. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: EMCDDA Papers: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_240226_EN_TDAU15001ENN1.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_240226_EN_TDAU15001ENN1.pdf Shelf Number: 135958 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: Zhang, Sheldon X. Title: A People's War: China's Struggle to Contain its Illicit Drug Problem Summary: Key Findings - China faces a growing problem of illicit drug use. Drug addiction is considered personal failure and addicts are highly stigmatized. Drug addiction does not receive much public sympathy or priority in government funding. - The number of officially registered drug addicts totals about 2.5 million, having increased every year since the government's first annual drug enforcement report in 1998. - In recent years, synthetic drugs such as crystal methamphetamine and ketamine, have become more popular than heroin which was previously dominant. - Illegal opium cultivation no longer exist in China because of strong state control of land use and extensive domestic surveillance. - Myanmar is believed to be the single largest supplier of China's drug market. In 2013, 92.2 percent of the heroin and 95.2 percent of methamphetamine seized in China were traced to Myanmar. - Intravenous drug use significantly contributes to the spread of Hepatitis and HIV. - Drug treatment is mostly administered by the criminal justice system through enrollment in compulsory detoxification centers for first-timers and imprisonment in "education-through-labor" camps for repeat offenders. - More humane approaches are emerging. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) clinics have been increasing rapidly across the country and needle exchange programs are being used to prevent the spread of HIV. - The cost of delivering treatment is a key factor in developing effective substance abuse treatment. - Penalties for drug distribution and trafficking remain harsh, and include a frequent use of the death penalty. - Using an extensive network of informants, interdiction efforts focus on major drug trafficking organizations. Policy Recommendations - China should accelerate its experiment with the decriminalization of substance abuse and apply a public health approach to the treatment of addicts. - China needs to promote evidence-based treatment programs based on scientific research and rigorous evaluation. - China needs to establish a reliable drug market forecast system, which combines chemical composition analysis, reports and urine tests of arrested drug abusing offenders, and community informants on illicit drug use trends and pricing information. - China should increase the efficiency of its international collaboration and insulate its counter-narcotic programs from global politics Details: Washington, DC: Brookings Institute, 2015. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/A-Peoples-War-final.pdf?la=en Year: 2015 Country: China URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/A-Peoples-War-final.pdf?la=en Shelf Number: 135959 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Opium

Author: de Oliveira Carlos, Juliana Title: Drug policy and incarceration in Sao Paulo, Brazil Summary: This briefing paper analyses the impact of drug policy on incarceration in Sao Paulo (Brazil), based on information collected among 1,040 people caught for having committed a drug-related offence (i.e. arrested in "flagrante delicto") between 1st April and 30st June 2011. The objective of the research was to use empirical data on those caught in the criminal justice system for drug traffic to demonstrate the fragile distinctions between drug users and traffickers, provide information on how police officers deal with drug-related offences, and analyse how the judiciary effectively responds to these crimes (at least in the initial phases of the criminal justice process). Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2015. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Drug-policy-in-Brazil-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Brazil URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Drug-policy-in-Brazil-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 135960 Keywords: Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Prisoners

Author: Miraglia, Paula Title: Drugs and Drug Trafficking in Brazil: Trends and Policies Summary: Key Findings - Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world with a national homicide rate of 27.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. A large part of this violence and criminality can be linked to arms and drug trafficking operations by organized crime groups. - Brazil's increased domestic drug consumption in recent years has affected the domestic drug market and changed the structure, profile, and modes of operation of organized crime groups. - In 2006, Brazil adopted a new drug law intended to make a clear and definitive distinction between drug users and dealers. However, a discriminatory culture in the justice system, combined with great discretion given to the authorities to classify offenses as trafficking, resulted in increased imprisonment of addicts. - Today, Brazil has the world's fourth largest imprisoned population, which points to the need for alternatives in dealing with violence and crime, particularly when related to drug consumption. - Brazil boasts innovative programs, such as the Sao Paulo de Bracos Abertos program and the Unidades de Pol�cia Pacificadora in Rio de Janeiro, but each of these faces complex challenges to their success. Policy Recommendations - Brazil needs criminal justice system reform, together with improved drug legislation that classifies offenses more precisely, to minimize the discretionary imprisonment of addicts. - Brazil should develop improved mechanisms to prevent police brutality and lethality, and should also adopt reforms to improve police efficiency and effectiveness. - Brazil should mainstream the concept of prevention in its domestic drug policy programs. Details: Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 20, 2015 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Miraglia--Brazil-final.pdf?la=en Year: 2015 Country: Brazil URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Miraglia--Brazil-final.pdf?la=en Shelf Number: 136103 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Drug-Related Violence Homicides Organized Crime

Author: Farthing, Linda C. Title: Habeas Coca: Bolivia's Community Coca Control Summary: With significant pressure and earmarked funding from the United States and other demand-side countries, the Andean countries of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru have struggled for decades with the question of how to limit the growth of coca and the export of cocaine and comply with UN drug conventions. Tactics such as forced eradication, criminalization, and marginalization of coca farmers have not only failed to significantly reduce cocaine production, but have had disastrous consequences for the economies and communities in the region. In 2004 the Bolivian government, despite international pressure to maintain the status quo, gathered the political momentum to try something different. Bolivia established the cato accord that allowed farmers to legally grow a limited and regulated quantity of coca leaves, a mainstay of Andean life for 4,000 years. The Bolivian model's simple concept is supported at the local, national, regional, and international levels by a complex network of growers, unions, organizations, government agencies, and police and military forces. Habeas Coca: Bolivia's Community Coca Control explains how the community control system works and shows its effectiveness in decreasing violence, increasing citizen engagement, limiting corruption, stabilizing and diversifying local economies, and reducing coca cultivation. It also explores the areas where the program and its evaluation can be improved. Countries where legal and illegal drug markets coexist, or can be developed, can benefit greatly by exploring and adapting the community control model to their unique circumstances. And, by better understanding the possibilities and constraints placed on those on the supply-side, countries on the demand-side of the global drug market will learn from Habeas Coca how critical their own policies, domestic and foreign, are to the success of limiting cocaine supply. Details: Open Society Foundations, Global Drug Policy Program, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2015 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/Bolivia%20Report-Habeas%20Coca-US-07-06-2015-corr1.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Bolivia URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/Bolivia%20Report-Habeas%20Coca-US-07-06-2015-corr1.pdf Shelf Number: 136304 Keywords: Cocaine Drug Control Drug Policy

Author: Organization of American States Title: Trinidad and Tobago: Evaluation of Progress in Drug Control, 2007-2009 Summary: The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) is a diagnostic tool designed by all member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to periodically carry out comprehensive, multilateral evaluations of the progress of actions taken by member states and by the hemisphere as a whole, in dealing with the drug problem. The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), of the Secretariat of Multidimensional Security, an OAS specialized agency, implemented this Mechanism in 1998, pursuant to a mandate from the Second Summit of the Americas held in Santiago, Chile in 1998. The MEM is not only an evaluation instrument, but has also become a vehicle for disseminating information on the progress achieved by individual and collective efforts of OAS member state governments, catalyzing hemispheric cooperation, promoting dialogue among member state government authorities and precisely channeling assistance to areas requiring greater attention by optimizing resources. The MEM process itself is assessed by the Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG), comprised of delegations from all member states, which meets before the onset of each MEM evaluation round to review and strengthen all operational aspects of the mechanism, including the indicators of the evaluation questionnaire. National evaluation reports are drafted by experts from each member state, with experts not working on their own country's report, guaranteeing the transparent multilateral nature of the MEM. Each chapter is based on countries' responses to a questionnaire of indicators covering the main thematic areas of institution building, demand reduction, supply reduction and control measures as well as subsequent comments and updated information provided by the government-appointed coordinating entities. This report covers the full country evaluation for the MEM Fifth Round evaluation period 2007-2009. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), 2010. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2015 at: http://www.cicad.oas.org/mem/reports/5/Full_Eval/Trin&Tobago%20-%205th%20Rd%20-%20ENG.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Trinidad and Tobago URL: http://www.cicad.oas.org/mem/reports/5/Full_Eval/Trin&Tobago%20-%205th%20Rd%20-%20ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 136358 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy

Author: UK Drug Policy Commission Title: Charting New Waters: Delivering drug policy at a time of radical reform and financial austerity Summary: The funding, commissioning, management and delivery structures for addressing the problems associated with illicit drugs in England are experiencing an unprecedented level of change. The government's 2010 Drug Strategy places considerable focus on improving the recovery outcomes for people with drug problems, alongside efforts to reduce the supply of drugs. It identifies the need for support from a range of different services such as employment, education and housing, and family networks to enable people to reintegrate into their communities. In contrast to the strong central oversight of previous drug strategies, it calls for far greater local control over service delivery by local areas and people accessing services. At the same time, substantial reductions in public spending are being implemented alongside wide-ranging public service reform, including structural changes to the NHS, policing and criminal justice reform and a drive to deliver the Big Society. These changes raise key questions, which our study set out to explore, about the ability of areas to achieve the ambitions of the Drug Strategy and around the future security of investment in drug interventions. With considerable additional resources for drug interventions over the last decade much has been achieved but there is a real risk that the current level of change will lead to the dilution of these gains, with negative consequences for drug users, their families, for wider communities, and indeed for the wider economy. Our study reveals a broad picture of upheaval and uncertainty and this summary sets out our study's main findings. The results will be relevant for national policy makers; commissioners and providers of drug treatment and recovery services; Directors of Public Health; those engaged in drug-related enforcement; and locally elected officials. Details: London: UKDPC, 2012. 119p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2015 at: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/charting-new-waters-delivering-drug-policy-at-a-time-of-radical-reform-and-financial-austerity.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/charting-new-waters-delivering-drug-policy-at-a-time-of-radical-reform-and-financial-austerity.pdf Shelf Number: 136484 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Policy Drug Treatment Illegal Drugs

Author: Schujer, Maria Title: The impact of drug policy on human rights: The experience in the Americas Summary: This report highlights the different strategies used in countries across the Americas to tackle the drugs problem in the region. It discusses the prohibitionist approach which has led to militarisation, violence, criminalisation of drug use and users, mass incarceration and forced crop eradication campaigns. The so-called "War on Drugs" deployed in the last 50 years has had an enormous impact on the functioning of security, justice and prison systems in Latin America. Despite the high levels of violence that this battle has caused in some areas and its grave consequences, for many years it was not analyzed from a human rights perspective in local or international arenas. This scenario has begun to change. In March 2014, at the request of 17 organizations from 11 countries in the Americas, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a regional thematic hearing on this topic, the first in the history of its 150 sessions. This publication expands on the assessment presented by those organizations. The prohibitionist paradigm has increased exponentially the militarization and violence associated with drug trafficking. By creating an enormous illegal market controlled by complex and increasingly powerful criminal groups, violent conflicts have intensified throughout the region, especially in impoverished areas where there has been a further deterioration of inhabitants' living conditions and increased stigmatization. These repressive policies tend to violate the human rights of thousands of people, above all those who face judicial proceedings and are sent to prison, where overcrowding and inhumane detention conditions are often the norm. Numerous studies have shown that these policies tend to disproportionately affect particularly vulnerable groups, and in that way, they reinforce and replicate discrimination and social exclusion Details: Buenos Aires, Argentina: Center for Legal and Social studies (CELS), 2015. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/the-impact-of-drug-policy-on-human-rights-CELS.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South America URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/the-impact-of-drug-policy-on-human-rights-CELS.pdf Shelf Number: 136526 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Human Rights War on Drugs

Author: Youngers, Coletta A. Title: Building on progress: Bolivia consolidates achievements in reducing coca and looks to reform decades-old drug law Summary: Bolivia's program relies on close monitoring to ensure individual cultivators do not exceed their cato, or measured plot of land for permitted coca cultivation. Farmers participate in a biometric registry to facilitate identification and monitoring of production, transport, and sales, effectively ensuring crops are only used for licit products - not cocaine or its derivatives. At 20,400 hectares of coca under cultivation, Bolivia has nearly reached its goal of 20,000 hectares, the amount considered to be sufficient to supply the traditional and expanding legal markets. Yet while Bolivia's coca policy is worthy of recognition, this report by WOLA/AIN concludes that the country's outdated drug law remains unjust and continues to rely on disproportionate punishment for low-level, non-violent drug offenses. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/WOLA-bolivia-consolidates-achievements-in-reducing-coca-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Bolivia URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/WOLA-bolivia-consolidates-achievements-in-reducing-coca-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 136610 Keywords: Cocaine Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: International Centre for Science in Drug Policy Title: State of Evidence: Cannabis Use and Regulation Summary: Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) has sought to ensure that policy responses to the many problems posed by illicit drugs are informed by the best available scientific evidence. State of the Evidence: Cannabis Use and Regulation is the ICSDP's contribution to the growing global conversation on cannabis. This report should be read in tandem with Using Evidence to Talk About Cannabis, a complementary guide to having evidence-based discussions on cannabis use and regulation. The regulation of recreational cannabis markets has become an increasingly important policy issue in a number of jurisdictions. Colorado and Washington State made headlines in 2012 when they became the first jurisdictions in the world to legalize and regulate the adult use and sale of cannabis for non-medical purposes. In 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis markets. Momentum towards regulation continued in the United States in 2014 with successful ballot initiatives in Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Globally, the issue of cannabis regulation is front and center in a growing number of jurisdictions, including Canada, Jamaica, Italy, Spain, several Latin American countries, and a number of additional U.S. states, including California, set to vote on legalization initiatives in 2016. Unsurprisingly, given the robust global conversation around the regulation of recreational cannabis markets, claims about the impacts of cannabis use and regulation are increasingly part of the public discourse. Unfortunately, though, these claims are often unsupported by the available scientific evidence. Another reoccurring problem in the public discourse is the selective inclusion of research studies based on their support for a predetermined narrative. The intentional exclusion of studies with contradictory findings does not allow for an objective review and analysis of all the evidence. This "cherry picking" of the evidence is a routine practice that distorts public understanding. By outlining the current state of all the scientific evidence on common cannabis claims, State of the Evidence: Cannabis Use and Regulation strives to ensure that evidence, rather than rhetoric, plays a central role in policymaking around this important issue. The harms of misrepresenting the scientific evidence on cannabis should not be overlooked. Given that policy decisions are influenced by public opinion and media reports, public discourse needs to be well informed. By addressing knowledge gaps with scientific findings, the ICSDP hopes to dispel myths about cannabis use and regulation, and ensure that the scientific evidence on these topics is accurately represented. Only then can evidence- based policy decisions be made. Readers of this report will notice three repeating themes emerge through the discussion of the scientific evidence on common cannabis claims. First, many of the claims confuse correlation and causation. Although scientific evidence may find associations between two events, this does not indicate that one necessarily caused the other. Put simply, correlation does not equal causation. This is a commonly made mistake when interpreting scientific evidence in all fields, and is unsurprisingly a recurring source of confusion in the discourse on cannabis use and regulation. Second, for several of these claims, the inability to control for a range of variables ("confounders") means that in many cases, we cannot conclude that a particular outcome was caused by cannabis use or regulation. Unless scientists can remove all other possible explanations, the evidence cannot conclusively say that one specific explanation is true. Third, many of the claims cannot be made conclusively as there is insufficient evidence to support them. Findings from a single study or a small sample cannot be generalized to entire populations. This is especially pronounced for claims related to cannabis regulation, as not enough time has passed since the regulation of recreational cannabis in Colorado, Washington State, and Uruguay to examine many of the impacts of these policy changes. These three common pitfalls are important to take into account when reading media reports and advocacy materials that suggest scientists have conclusively made some finding related to cannabis use or regulation. In many cases, due to the reasons outlined above, this will actually result in a misrepresentation of the scientific evidence. State of the Evidence: Cannabis Use and Regulation is comprised of two sections: Common Claims on Cannabis Use and Common Claims on Cannabis Regulation. Common Claims on Cannabis Use presents evidence on frequently heard claims about cannabis use, including claims on the addictive potential of cannabis, cannabis as a "gateway" drug, the potency of cannabis, and the impact of cannabis use on the lungs, heart, and brain (in terms of IQ, cognitive functioning, and risk of schizophrenia). Common Claims on Cannabis Regulation presents evidence on frequently heard claims about the impacts of cannabis regulation, including the impact of regulation on cannabis availability, impaired driving, the use of cannabis, drug crime, drug tourism, and "Big Marijuana." For each claim, the relevant available scientific evidence is presented and the strength of the scientific evidence in support of the claim is determined. Readers will notice that none of the claims are strongly supported by the scientific evidence, reinforcing the significant misrepresentation of evidence on cannabis use and regulation. Details: Toronto, ON: The Centre, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/State_of_the_Evidence_Cannabis_Use_and_Regulation-international-centre-for-science-in-drug-policy.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/State_of_the_Evidence_Cannabis_Use_and_Regulation-international-centre-for-science-in-drug-policy.pdf Shelf Number: 136611 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana

Author: Schultze-Kraft, Markus Title: Getting high on impact: The challenge of evaluating drug policy Summary: Key points - Impact evaluations in contested policy fields are deeply challenging. They run the risk of adding to unproductive games of contestation between proponents and critics of contested public policies. A case in point are the strategies to control and, ultimately, eliminate the supply of, and demand for, plant-based and synthetic psychoactive substances, commonly referred to as 'illicit drugs', such as cocaine heroin, cannabis and methamphetamines. - The official drug control community � the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and � at a national state level � the US government � and a growing number of drug policy reform groups are at loggerheads over how drug policies should best be evaluated. In the run-up to the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Drugs in 2016 both should make efforts to face the big challenge of devising scientifically sound approaches to evaluating the impact of drug policies. - We highlight the importance of reflecting carefully on (a) whether and, if so, how the definitions of, and perceptions on, ultimate policy goals differ or (b) whether any common ground exists between the proponents and critics of the drug policies. If commonalities can be identified in this regard, the next step is to make explicit the competing theories of change that underpin the existing and proposed policy interventions to achieve the 'agreed' ultimate goals. - Our analysis suggests that both sides are interested in protecting the health and welfare of individuals and societies and � using the language of reform advocates � in preventing and reducing the harm that drugs cause or might cause; and they are both interested � with significant differences in emphasis � in safeguarding the political stability and security of states and citizens. However, the perspectives on what form drug control should take, who should be involved in the control effort, and how control could be achieved, that is to say which policies are most effective and least harmful in terms of protecting the health and welfare of citizens and societies and mitigating threats to stability and security, differ markedly. - It is important to make explicit the assumptions underlying the theories of change on both sides as this helps direct the efforts of evaluators to the relevant literatures that might contribute to solve disputes and adjudicate between different views on the basis of the best-warranted claim. This allows for testing both theories of change against the most robust scientific evidence available, providing a platform for the design of improved and � hopefully � less contentious policies. Details: Swansea, Wales, UK: Global Drug Policy Observatory, Swansea University, 2014. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief 3: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/GDPO%20Getting%20High%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/GDPO%20Getting%20High%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 136642 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: Bennett, Wells Title: Marijuana Legalization is an Opportunity to Modernize International Drug Treaties Summary: Two U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, and more may follow; the Obama administration has conditionally accepted these experiments. Such actions are in obvious tension with three international treaties that together commit the United States to punish and even criminalize activity related to recreational marijuana. In essence, the administration asserts that its policy complies with the treaties because they leave room for flexibility and prosecutorial discretion. That argument makes sense on a short-term, wait-and-see basis, but it will rapidly become implausible and unsustainable if legalization spreads and succeeds. To avoid a damaging collision between international law and changing domestic and international consensus on marijuana policy, the United States should seriously consider narrowly crafted treaty changes. It and other drug treaty partners should begin now to discuss options for substantive alterations that create space within international law for conditional legalization and for other policy experimentation that seeks to further the treaties� ultimate aims of promoting human health and welfare. Making narrowly crafted treaty reforms, although certainly challenging, is not only possible but also offers an opportunity to demonstrate flexibility that international law�in more areas than just drug policy�will need in a changing global landscape. By contrast, asserting compliance while letting treaties fall into desuetude could set a risky precedent, one that�if domestic legalization proceeds�could damage international law and come back to bite the United States. Details: Washington, DC: Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 5, 2015 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2014/10/15-marijuana-legalization-modernize-drug-treaties-bennett-walsh/cepmmjlegalizationv4.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2014/10/15-marijuana-legalization-modernize-drug-treaties-bennett-walsh/cepmmjlegalizationv4.pdf Shelf Number: 136687 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: Darnell, Adam Title: I-502 Evaluation Plan and Preliminary Report on Implementation Summary: In 2012, with the passage of Initiative 502, Washington voters legalized limited adult possession and private use of cannabis, as well as its licensed production and sale. The initiative also directed WSIPP to evaluate the effect of the law on Washington's population and economy. This first required report provides a research plan for the overall study. WSIPP's evaluation of I-502 will be divided into three components: 1)a descriptive study of how the law is being implemented; 2)an outcome study that will identify causal effects of the law; and 3)a benefit-cost study. This initial report describes the status of I-502 implementation through June 30, 2015. We present information on the number of licensed cannabis businesses, cannabis sales, and historical trends in adult and youth cannabis use. This report does not contain findings on whether I-502 has had any effects on outcomes. Effects of the law will not be detectable until several years after implementation. The next required report, due September 1, 2017, will include initial results of outcome analyses. Details: Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2015. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2015 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1616/Wsipp_I-502-Evaluation-Plan-and-Preliminary-Report-on-Implementation_Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1616/Wsipp_I-502-Evaluation-Plan-and-Preliminary-Report-on-Implementation_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 136746 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Policy Marijuana Legalization

Author: Zamudio Angles, Carlos Alberto Title: Drugs DF: Illegal Drugs Markets in Mexico City Summary: In this sixth edition titled Drugs DF, CuPIHD presents a statistical, qualitative, informative and quality analysis of the dynamics and characteristics of illegal drug markets and drug users, particularly within Mexico City. Drugs DF describes the size and characteristics of the drug market in Mexico City, as well as the perceptions and relationships of drug users with their legal, economic, institutional and social environments. Using this research, we highlight the most important market dynamics within Mexico City in order to effectively deal with the issue of drugs and drug policy, not only in Mexico City, but also in all of Mexican society. We are positive that Drugs DF will be a helpful, practical tool for researchers, policy-makers and civil society that are committed to designing and implementing public policies related to illegal drugs. We hope that it will also be informative for those who have interest in going deeper in their understanding of a complex phenomenon, filled with misinformation and prejudice. We hope this publication will con- tribute to a better understanding of illegal drug markets, its dynamics and actors, in such a way that we can begin constructing alternatives to our current drug policies. Details: Ciudad de Mexico, D.F., Mexico: Colectivo por una Politica Integral hacia las Drogas (CUPIDH), 2014. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2015 at: http://www.cupihd.org/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Descargue-DRUGS-DF-aqui..pdf Year: 2014 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.cupihd.org/portal/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Descargue-DRUGS-DF-aqu�..pdf Shelf Number: 136801 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Markets Drug Policy

Author: Neill, Katharine A. Title: Second Chances: The Economic and Social Benefits of Explanding Drug Diversion Programs in Harris County Summary: In recent years, the United States has experienced a sea change in drug policy. Along with the four states that have legalized recreational use of marijuana (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington), many others have relaxed criminal penalties for nonviolent drug possession offenses. The federal government has taken similar steps, with the U.S. Department of Justice moving away from the steep mandatory minimum sentences that arose during the peak of the drug war, and the president himself commuting the sentences of individuals convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. The wave of drug reform has touched even the most conservative states in the country, including Texas. Though none ultimately would become law, a number of bills introduced during the state's 2015 legislative session would have reduced or even eliminated the criminal penalties associated with some drug offenses. As reform efforts have continued across Texas, the Harris County District Attorney's Office implemented its First Chance Intervention Program, which allows a defendant arrested for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana to be diverted from the criminal justice system if the arrest is his or her first offense. This report reviews the broader issues with current approaches to drug enforcement that have facilitated calls for reform, then demonstrates the need for drug policy reform in Harris County (Houston's home) prior to implementation of the First Chance Intervention Program (FCIP). Next, the report evaluates the FCIP and suggests ways in which policy outcomes can be improved through the program's expansion. Finally, the report concludes with a number of recommendations for Harris County going forward. Details: Houston, TX: Rice University, Baker Institute for Public Policy and Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2015 at: http://bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/993306dd/DRUG-HarrisCountyDrugPolicy-092915.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/993306dd/DRUG-HarrisCountyDrugPolicy-092915.pdf Shelf Number: 136939 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Diversion Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform Drug Treatment Programs

Author: Garzon Vergara, Juan Carlos Title: Tough on the Weak, Weak on the Tough: Drug Laws and Policing Summary: This article aims to identify the main impacts of drug law enforcement on policing. It points to five interrelated effects: 1) Suppression focused on minor offenses and the weakest links in the chain; 2) Arrest patterns often based on stereotypes that affect the most vulnerable populations; 3) Perverse incentives that reward indiscriminate repression; 4) Corruption and penetration of organized crime; and 5) Excessive use of force and violations of human rights. Rather than discuss causes and effects, this study identifies drug policy as a factor that aggravates policing problems. Based on its findings, it pinpoints a series of interventions designed to keep low-level offenders out of the judicial system, explaining the advantages and challenges of each intervention. The article states that while this set of measures would have limited effects in terms of addressing structural problems in police institutions, it has the potential to focus limited state resources, curb levels of discretion, and implement differentiated interventions for the various links in the drug chain. As an immediate step, it recommends adopting alternatives to arrest and incarceration for those at the bottom of the chain, as a way to change incentives within the police force and redirect its objectives and metrics. Details: Washington, DC: Wilson Center, Latin American Program, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2015 at: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/tough_on_the_weak_-_garzon.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/tough_on_the_weak_-_garzon.pdf Shelf Number: 136948 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Coyne, John Title: Methamphetamine: Focusing Australia's National Ice Strategy on the problem, not the symptoms Summary: In this report, law enforcement isn't focused on arrests, prosecutions, custodial offences or seizures, as none of those will have a guaranteed impact on the problem. The focus is on means to reduce the availability of drugs, the disruption of user behaviour and the integration of education and health initiatives. The report argues that the National Ice Strategy should consider three key points: 1.Integration. Drug strategies have a better chance of being successful when each of its initiatives are integrated into a strategically focussed harm reduction strategy. 2.Innovation. Education, health and enforcement stakeholder should be free from the limitations of wholly quantitative performance measures 3. Disruption. Initiatives to tackle the ice problem should be focussed towards the disruption of problems rather than the treatment of symptoms of the problem. Details: Barton, ACT, Australia: Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: https://www.aspi.org.au/publications/methamphetamine-focusing-australias-national-ice-strategy-on-the-problem,-not-the-symptoms/SR82_ice.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.aspi.org.au/publications/methamphetamine-focusing-australias-national-ice-strategy-on-the-problem,-not-the-symptoms/SR82_ice.pdf Shelf Number: 136983 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Methamphetamine

Author: Global Commission on Drug Policy Title: The Negative Impact of Drug Control on Public Health: The Global Crisis of Avoidable Pain Summary: The international drug control system is stoking a global crisis of inequitable access to controlled medicines. Of the global population, an estimated 5.5 billion have poor to nonexistent access to opioid analgesics, in particular morphine, resulting in the avoidable pain and suffering of people around the world. At the last estimate, 92 percent of the world's supply of morphine was consumed by just 17 percent of the global population, that consumption primarily concentrated in the global north. Terminal cancer patients, end-stage AIDS patients, and women in labor suffering from uncontrolled pain are among the key impacted groups, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that tens of millions suffer from unrelieved pain annually due to a lack of access to controlled medicines. In addition, only a fraction of people globally who inject drugs are able to access controlled medicines for treating opioid dependence. Under international drug control law and international human rights law, States have an obligation to ensure controlled medicines are made available to their populations; any restriction of access constitutes a violation of the right to health. Though a number of factors impose barriers to access, including weak healthcare systems and the lack of training of clinicians working on the ground, the international drug control system has been responsible for perpetuating the continual undersupply of controlled medicines. This scarcity is due to the prioritization, by governments and UN bodies alike, of preventing the diversion of controlled substances for illicit purposes over ensuring access for medical and scientific needs. For example, both the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have a dual obligation to maintain a balance between preventing diversion and ensuring access, yet have historically favored the former. This has translated to the national level where some governments continually emphasize a criminal justice approach to drug control, rather than a public health one, all to the detriment of providing access to controlled medicines. In some countries, overly burdensome regulations for prescribing controlled medicines, something that can be linked to the UN drug conventions, create a situation where physicians must operate in a climate of fear and legal uncertainty, real or perceived. As a result, many are afraid of prescribing controlled medicines due to the risk of prosecution, or of being charged with professional misconduct for failing to adhere to stringent regimes. What's more, this environment contributes heavily to broader societal attitudes and the stigmatization of people who use controlled substances, licit or otherwise. The INCB and UNODC have begun to take steps to rectify this gross inequity of access around the world, and WHO's increasing involvement in the issue over the past decade is a key step in the right direction. However, there is considerable work to do to amend the damage caused by decades of placing a primacy on anti-diversion measures in drug control. With an increasing number of States and UN bodies drawing attention to the lack of access to controlled medicines, we are reaching a critical juncture, particularly with the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on drugs approaching in 2016. The time for concrete action on the issue is now. A new global initiative must be explored and greater power and funds must be handed to WHO, to lead on tackling inequitable access to controlled medicines. Without action, millions of people will continue to suffer unnecessarily. Details: Rio de Janeiro � RJ � Brasil: The Commission, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2015 at: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/reports/ Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/reports/ Shelf Number: 137190 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Boiteux, Luciana Title: The Incarceration of Women for Drug Offenses Summary: This brief demonstrates the impact of public policies on the incarceration of women in the Americas - the majority of whom are in prison for the crimes of small - scale dealing or transporting drugs. The consequences of the use of prisons can be seen not only in terms of how these women's lives are affected, but also in the impact on their families, children and dependents, who are left without social or economic protections. Details: Washington,DC: Research Consortium on Drugs and the Law (CEDD), 2015. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 6, 2015 at: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/publicaciones/pub-priv/luciana_i.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Latin America URL: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/publicaciones/pub-priv/luciana_i.pdf Shelf Number: 137213 Keywords: Drug Offenders Drug Policy Female Inmates Female Prisoners

Author: Perez Correa, Catalina Title: Drug consumption and consumers in Latin America Summary: Although there is a regional consensus that drug consumption is not a criminal issue, but a health one, the responses from Latin American governments regarding the use of illegal substances remain predominantly punitive and repressive. This text explores the legal mechanisms that facilitate and explain the criminalization of drug users. It also shows that the prohibition of drug possession is fundamental for understanding the present situation of users and also for how to remove them from the criminal justice system. Details: Washington, DC: Research Consortium on Drugs and the Law (CEDD), 2015. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/publicaciones/pub-priv/catalina_i.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Latin America URL: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/publicaciones/pub-priv/catalina_i.pdf Shelf Number: 137214 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Cockayne, James Title: What Comes After the War on Drugs - Flexibility, Fragmentation or Principled Pluralism? Summary: In April 2016, diplomats, experts and civil society actors from around the world will gather for three days at a rare Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, called to address the world drug problem (UNGASS 2016). In some quarters, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, UNGASS 2016 is seen as a moment to rethink global drug control strategies. In other regions, UNGASS 2016 is viewed somewhat differently, as a time to build upon and strengthen the current approach to drug policy, as set out in a current Plan of Action adopted in 2009. Throughout 2015, United Nations University (UNU) - a global think tank established by the UN General Assembly, and charged with contributing, through collaborative research, to collective efforts to resolve pressing global challenges - has been gathering stakeholders in a series of meetings at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, aimed at "Identifying Common Ground" ahead of UNGASS 2016. These meetings have addressed the relationship between contemporary global drug policy and public health, human rights, development and criminal justice. These meetings have been attended by delegates from more than 50 UN Member States, as well as representatives of 16 UN entities and 55 civil society and academic organizations. Drawing on these consultations, this Policy Report outlines how the global drug control system works, including recent trends; describes three major perspectives going into UNGASS 2016: Orthodoxy, Scepticism and Swing Voting; explores the likely outcome of UNGASS 2016; and makes recommendations for strengthening that outcome. Details: Tokyo: United Nations University, 2015. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: A Policy Report: Accessed December 1, 2015 at: http://i.unu.edu/media/unu.edu/news/72569/UNU_Drug_Policy_Online_Final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://i.unu.edu/media/unu.edu/news/72569/UNU_Drug_Policy_Online_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 137373 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Reform War on Drugs

Author: Parsons, Jim Title: A Natural Experiment in Reform: Analyzing Drug Policy Change In New York City, Final Report Summary: The Substance Use and Mental Health Program (SUMH) studied the impact of 2009 reforms to New York State's Rockefeller Drug Laws that eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of a range of felony drug charges and expanded eligibility for diversion to treatment. Researchers compared cases pre and post reform to assess changes in the use of jail and prison, rates of diversion to treatment, racial disparities in sentencing, recidivism, and cost. This work, conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Justice, included researchers from Vera's Substance Use and Mental Health Program and Cost-Benefit Analysis Unit, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Rutgers University. The research team: - described sentencing outcomes by analyzing administrative data on felony drug cases indicted before and after the reforms, and conducted case file reviews and interviewed judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to explore the factors influencing charging and sentencing decisions; - compared recidivism outcomes for individuals charged with felony drug crimes before and after the reforms; and - conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the reforms. Details: Final Report to the National Institute of Justice, 2015. 274p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 14, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248524.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248524.pdf Shelf Number: 137576 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Abuse Policy (New York) Drug Enforcement Drug Law Reform Drug Policy Rockefeller Drug Laws

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "All This for a Joint": Tunisia's Repressive Drug Law and a Roadmap for Its Reform Summary: Tunisia's drug laws impose a mandatory sentence of at least one year in prison on anyone convicted of possession or consumption of any illegal drug, including cannabis. In 2015, there were 7,451 drug offenders in Tunisia prisons, around 5,200 of them convicted for marijuana-related offenses. Drug offenders made up 28% of the total prison population. Based on 47 interviews with people arrested or convicted for using cannabis, including artists, bloggers, students, and also young men in poor neighborhoods, the report documents the array of abuses that accompany enforcement of the drug law, including mistreatment during arrest and interrogation, humiliation during urine tests, searches of homes without judicial warrants, and the confinement of cannabis users in overcrowded, insalubrious prison cells with hardened criminals. The government has proposed to ease but not eliminate prison terms as punishment for drug use. While its draft law could reduce the human rights abuses that accompany enforcement of the current law, it does not go far enough. The report calls on the Tunisian government to revise the current draft by relying on non-criminal approaches for drug consumption. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/tunisia0216_web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Tunisia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/tunisia0216_web.pdf Shelf Number: 137779 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform

Author: Mikos, Robert A. Title: On the Limits of Federal Supremacy: When States Relax (or Abandon) Marijuana Bans Summary: he American Constitution divides governmental power between the federal government and several state governments. In the event of a conflict between federal law and state law, the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution (Article VI, Clause 2P makes it clear that state policies are subordinate to federal policies. There are, however, important limitations to the doctrine of federal supremacy. First, there must be a valid constitutional basis for the federal policy in question. The powers of the federal government are limited and enumerated, and the president and Congress must always respect the boundary lines that the Constitution created. Second, even in the areas where federal authorities may enact law, they may not use the states as instruments of federal governance. This anti-commandeering limitation upon federal power is often overlooked, but the Supreme Court will enforce that principle in appropriate cases. Using medical marijuana as a case study, I examine how the anti-commandeering principle protects the states' prerogative to legalize activity that Congress bans. The federal government has banned marijuana outright, and for years federal officials have lobbied against local efforts to legalize medical use of the drug. However, an ever-growing number of states have adopted legalization measures. I explain why these state laws, and most related regulations, have not been-and cannot be-preempted by Congress. I also develop a new framework for analyzing the boundary between the proper exercise of federal supremacy and prohibited commandeering. Although I focus on medical marijuana, the legal analysis applies to any issue pitting permissive state laws against restrictive federal regulations. Recent referenda in Colorado and Washington that legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults will likely prompt federal officials to respond by touting the supremacy of the federal ban and challenging the constitutionality of state efforts at legalization. Such state reforms should carry the day in the event of such a legal challenge. Details: Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2016 at: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/PA714.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/PA714.pdf Shelf Number: 137840 Keywords: Drug Control Policy Drug Policy Marijuana Medical Marijuana

Author: London School of Economics and Political Science. LSE Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy Title: After the Drug Wars: report of the LSE Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy Summary: The post-'war on drug' era has begun. Prohibitionist policies must now take a back seat to the new, comprehensive, people-centred set of universal goals and targets that we know as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nation states and the global drug regulatory system must shift to principles of sustainable development that include: public health, harm reduction of consumption and supply, access to essential medicines, and scientific experimentation with strict legal regulation. To enable this transformation, nation states should drastically de-prioritise the prohibitionist goals of the past. They must implement new comprehensive development policies dealing with the root causes of problems associated with illicit drugs. The 'war on drugs' caused the international community to prioritise prohibitionist policies over sustainable development at a terrible socioeconomic cost. As the United Nations Development Programme highlights in the discussion paper excerpted in this report, 'evidence indicates that drug control policies often leave an indelible footprint on sustainable human development processes and outcomes... [and] have fuelled the marginalisation of people linked with illicit drug use or markets.' This report recognises that key reforms within the global regulatory system will come from changes at the national and local levels. It highlights that the UN drug control treaties recommend an approach grounded in the 'health and welfare' of mankind. Further, it emphasises that human rights obligations have absolute supremacy over drug control goals and as such there is sufficient interpretive scope within the treaties to experiment with social scientific policies that can further global health and welfare. The world can shift away from counterproductive and ineffective drug policies. The UN General Assembly Special Session in 2016 is a key platform for driving debate. However, the ultimate impetus lies with countries to reform their policies based on evidence and local realities. This report provides a framework for achieving this shift. Details: London: LSE, 2016. 140p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 26, 2016 at: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/LSE-IDEAS-After-the-Drug-Wars.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/LSE-IDEAS-After-the-Drug-Wars.pdf Shelf Number: 137981 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy War on Drugs

Author: International Narcotics Control Board Title: Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2015 Summary: The International Narcotics Control Board is uniquely placed to contribute to current discussions on international trends and emerging threats in drug control. It will contribute the insight and experience it has accumulated over decades of monitoring the implementation of the drug control conventions and identifying achievements, challenges and weaknesses in drug control. INCB will engage in the special session and its preparation by highlighting and clarifying the approaches and principles underlying the international system of drug control and making recommendations based upon the conventions. In its annual reports, published pursuant to the treaties, INCB has been addressing, particularly in the thematic chapters, most of the relevant aspects of the global drug problem and most of the critical points in the ongoing debate on the "right way in drug policy". Equally, the release of the present annual report of the Board for 2015, the annual report on precursors and the supplementary report on the availability of internationally controlled drugs is part of our contribution to the special session and the forthcoming policy discussions. The present report of the Board for 2015 contains a thematic chapter on the health and welfare of mankind and the international drug control system. It shows that concern for health and welfare is at the core of the international drug control system. INCB emphasizes that the system in place, when fully implemented, contributes to protecting the health and welfare of people worldwide and ensures balanced national approaches that take into account local socioeconomic and sociocultural conditions. Even with the reality of the constantly shifting contours of the drug problem, the 1961, 1971 and 1988 conventions have proved their value as the cornerstone of international cooperation in drug policy. The fact that the conventions have been almost universally ratified by States underscores that the desire to counter the world's drug problem is shared globally. States have regularly reaffirmed their commitment to working within the framework of the three international drug control conventions and the political declarations. Assessing the achievements and challenges of the current drug control system, INCB believes that the control of the international licit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors has been an undeniable success, as today no noteworthy diversion of those substances from licit to illicit channels is taking place. On the other hand, the availability and accessibility of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical purposes is not at all satisfactory at the global level. Equally, the goal of a noticeable reduction in the illicit demand for and supply of drugs has not been reached. Finally, there are numerous new challenges emerging, such as new psychoactive substances. Details: Vienna: International Narcotics Control Board, 2016. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 8, 2016 at: https://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/AnnualReports/AR2015/English/AR_2015_E.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/AnnualReports/AR2015/English/AR_2015_E.pdf Shelf Number: 138127 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Narcotics

Author: Kushlick, Danny Title: The War on Drugs: Undermining Peace and Security Summary: The global war on drugs has been fought for 50 years, without preventing the long-term trend of increasing drug production, supply and use. But beyond this failure to achieve its own stated aims, the drug war has also produced a range of serious, negative costs. Many of these costs have been identified by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - the very UN agency that oversees the system responsible for them - and are described as the 'unintended consequences' of the war on drugs. They may have been unintended, but after more than 50 years, they can no longer be seen as unanticipated. These costs are also distinct from those relating to drug use, stemming as they do from the choice of a punitive enforcement-led approach. This briefing explores how the UN seeks to promote the security of its member states through implementing a drug control system that treats the use of certain drugs as an 'existential threat' to society. The briefing will demonstrate, however, that this approach is fatally undermining international peace and security. There is naturally overlap with other areas of the Count the Costs project, including: development, human rights, health, crime and economics. Details: London: Count the Costs, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2016 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Security-briefing.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Security-briefing.pdf Shelf Number: 138249 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Trafficking War on Drugs

Author: Mejia, Daniel Title: The Economics of the Drug War: Unaccounted Costs, Lost Lives, Missed Opportunities Summary: Fiscally minded policymakers should invest in drug policy reform. Many national drug control policies are centered on aggressive policing and military efforts to reduce drug supplies and punish drug consumers. But these policies come with a very high price tag, rarely resulting in sustained control of drug supply or demand. The economic wastefulness of the drug war is one of the most important motivations for reform. A new report from the Open Society Foundations, The Economics of the Drug War: Unaccounted Costs, Lost Lives, Missed Opportunities, documents both the wastefulness of ill-conceived investment in ineffective policies and the missed opportunity of failing to invest in effective policies and programs that embody good public health practice and human rights norms. The case of Colombia, for example, illustrates the futility-and the harms to individuals and society-of extremely expensive coca eradication efforts. For all the money spent, the efforts merely resulted in a geographical shift of coca production to new and sometimes more environmentally fragile locations. The environmental and health damage caused by aerial spraying of coca crops also negatively impacted the productivity of rural families. Many countries fail to invest in and scale up programs that yield significant economic returns in reduced crime, reduced death from overdose, reduced illness and injury from unsafe injection, and improved productivity of patients who are able to get on with their lives. Programs that provide clean injection equipment are among the most cost-effective interventions in all of public health because they prevent HIV, but too many governments still believe erroneously that they encourage drug use. And overincarceration for nonviolent drug offenses is a drain on public resources that fails to make a dent in drug markets. Health-centered drug policy conceived with human rights norms in mind is effective and cost-effective compared to many status quo approaches. This report explains why less punitive drug policy is good fiscal decision making. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2016. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/economics-drug-war-unaccounted-costs-lost-lives-missed-opportunities-20160229.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/economics-drug-war-unaccounted-costs-lost-lives-missed-opportunities-20160229.pdf Shelf Number: 138512 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy War on Drugs

Author: McSweeney, Kendra Title: The Impact of Drug Policy on the Environment Summary: Across the world, cultivators and traffickers of illicit drugs are wreaking ecological havoc-clearing fields from primary rainforest, piggy-backing drug smuggling with traffic in illegal hardwoods and endangered species, and laundering money in land deals that devastate protected forests. The international drug control system must share the blame for this devastation. Forty years of dogged adherence to drug crop eradication and drug interdiction policies have been instrumental in hounding drug farmers and traffickers into increasingly fragile landscapes. Although these policies have arguably done little to stem the cultivation and traffic of illicit drugs, it has done much to amplify the environmental devastation and degradation that accompanies them. Moreover, prohibitionist drug control policies keep the price of drugs high, ensuring that those involved in their traffic make good profits-profits that are speculatively laundered in the transformation of bio-and agro-diverse landscapes into cattle ranches and oil palm plantations. New research-much of it using newly available real-time satellite imagery of forest loss-is bringing into sharp focus the devastating ecological costs of conventional drug policies, and how these can profoundly undermine international policies designed to protect forests, mitigate climate change, and promote rural development. The Impact of Drug Policy on the Environment explores the environmental costs of conventional drug policies using the latest science, and provides recommendations for governments to recognize this problem, review current strategies, and explore new approaches to lessen this collateral environmental damage. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2015. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/impact-drug-policy-environment Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/impact-drug-policy-environment Shelf Number: 20 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Offenses Against the Environment War on Drugs

Author: Csete, Joanne Title: Detention and Punishment in the Name of Drug Treatment Summary: In some countries, people who use, or are alleged to use, illicit drugs may be detained involuntarily after little or no legal process, ostensibly for the purpose of receiving drug "treatment" or "rehabilitation." These detentions are variously described as compulsory treatment centers, drug rehabilitation centers, detoxification centers, or centers for social education and labor. It is far from clear that all persons detained in this manner are drug-dependent or in need of treatment. If they are, there are international standards to guide treatment of drug-dependence, but drug detention centers often subject detainees to treatment methods that are scientifically unsound, punitive, cruel, inhuman, and degrading. In March 2012, 12 UN bodies-including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), WHO, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Labour Organization, and the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights-jointly issued a call for the closure of compulsory drug detention centers and an expansion of voluntary, scientifically and medically appropriate forms of treating drug dependence in the health system. The 2012 joint UN statement on compulsory drug rehabilitation centers was a very important step, but a declaration from UN member states condemning these institutions and calling for their closure would advance the cause of ending the abuses they represent. Detention and Punishment in the Name of Drug Treatment highlights considerations that should be brought to bear in the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem, toward the goal of ending arbitrary detention and grave human rights abuses in the name of drug treatment. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/detention-and-punishment-name-drug-treatment-20160315.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/detention-and-punishment-name-drug-treatment-20160315.pdf Shelf Number: 138514 Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy War on Drugs

Author: International Drug Policy Consortium Title: A Public Health Approach to Drug Use in Asia: Principles and Practices for Decriminalisation Summary: In this report, the International Drug Policy Consortium offers recommendations based on evidence and examples of good practice to inform a shift in policy responses to drug use in Asia away from criminalisation and punishment, and towards public health and harm reduction. It describes effective approaches to the decriminalisation of drug use. It also discusses approaches implemented in Asia that have proven ineffective, such as the detention of people who use drugs in compulsory centres as a form of 'rehabilitation'. The report is intended as a resource for policy makers, legislators, communities of people who use drugs and civil society organisations in Asia. The overall goal of the report is to offer guidance on steps that countries can undertake to develop drug policies that achieve better public health outcomes, by shifting away from the criminalisation and punishment of people who use drugs. It also describes legal and policy responses to drugs that are not effective, such as the detention of people who use drugs in compulsory centres for drug users, forced urine testing, compulsory registration and other punitive measures. Details: London: IDPC, 2016. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2016 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/Drug-decriminalisation-in-Asia_ENGLISH-FINAL.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/Drug-decriminalisation-in-Asia_ENGLISH-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 138559 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drug Policy Reform

Author: Rolles, Steve Title: The Alternative World Drug Report. 2nd edition Summary: In April, the world will come together at the UN to discuss the future of international drug policy. It will be the first time that far-reaching drug policy reforms are meaningfully discussed at such a high level. The current enforcement-based, UN-led drug control system is coming under unparalleled scrutiny over its failure to deliver a promised "drug-free world", and for what the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) describes as its negative "unintended consequences". It is unacceptable that despite acknowledging these negative impacts, the UNODC does not include them in its annual World Drug Report, and neither the UN nor its member states have meaningfully assessed whether these unintended consequences outweigh the intended consequences. The second edition of the Alternative World Drug Report fills this gap by detailing the full range of negative impacts caused by the drug war. It demonstrates that the current approach is creating crime, harming health, and fatally undermining all "three pillars" of the UN's work - peace and security, development, and human rights. The stark failure of the current system has meant that alternative drug policy approaches are a growing reality. This report therefore explores a range of options for reform, including decriminalisation and legal regulation, that could deliver better outcomes,. The global prohibitionist consensus has broken, and cannot be fixed. This Alternative World Drug Report is intended to help policymakers shape what succeeds it Details: London: Transform Drug Policy Foundation, 2016. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2016 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/AWDR-2nd-edition.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/AWDR-2nd-edition.pdf Shelf Number: 138575 Keywords: Costs of Crime Costs of Criminal Justice Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Illegal Drugs Organized Crime

Author: Gyngell, Kathy Title: Breaking the habit: Why the state should stop dealing drugs and start doing rehab Summary: - The Coalition has inherited a failing and costly drug policy. The priority was to prescribe methadone to drug addicts in the hope that that this would replace their use of street drugs, reduce street crime and cut criminal justice costs. - This policy impeded and delayed addicts recovery from addiction. There are as many addicts today as there were in 2004/05. Fewer than 4% of addicts emerge from treatment free from dependency. Drug deaths have continued to rise. In the last three years, the number of referrals to rehabilitation units has fallen to an all-time low of 3,914. - It has been extremely expensive. The cost to the state of maintaining addicts on methadone has doubled since 2002/03 to $730 million a year. Drug users are estimated to receive L1.7 billion in benefits a year, while the welfare costs of looking after the children of drug addicts are estimated at a further L1.2 billion a year (the longer term inter-generational costs are unquantifiable but will probably be far higher). - This brings the total social and economic burden for this population to over L3.6 billion. - The Coalition has wisely recognised the scale of the problem it inherited. However, its proposed solution is flawed. - In particular its 'Drugs Recovery Payment by Results (PbR)' approach will only reinforce the status quo. - The PbR pilots will reward operators who can show that addicts have improved health and employment, who have not offended recently and who are not in treatment for drugs. - This is seriously misguided. Solving the drug problem means recognising the problem for what it is: one of addiction. The solution lies in freeing people from it, not by measuring proxy outcomes (which are easy to manipulate). - In addition, the tendering process is being managed by the National Treatment Agency - the organisation responsible for the previous policy. It clearly favours the current set-up. Independent small-scale rehabilitation operators have in effect been excluded from the PbR trials. Details: London: Centre for Policy Studies, 2011. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 7, 2016 at: https://www.cps.org.uk/files/reports/original/111026175000-breakingthehabit.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.cps.org.uk/files/reports/original/111026175000-breakingthehabit.pdf Shelf Number: 138601 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Drug Policy Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Reed, Jack K. Title: Marijuana Legalization in Colorado: Early Findings. A Report Pursuant to Senate Bill 13-283 Summary: In 2013, following the passage of Amendment 64 which allows for the retail sale and possession of marijuana, the Colorado General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 13-283. This bill mandated the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study of the impacts of Amendment 64, particularly as these relate to law enforcement activities. This report seeks to establish and present the baseline measures for the metrics specified in S.B. 13-283, codified as C.R.S. 24-33.4-516. The majority of the information presented here should be considered pre-commercialization, baseline data because much of the information is available only through 2014, and data sources vary considerably in terms of what exists historically. Consequently, it is too early to draw any conclusions about the potential effects of marijuana legalization or commercialization on public safety, public health, or youth outcomes, and this may always be difficult due to the lack of historical data. Furthermore, the information presented here should be interpreted with caution. The decreasing social stigma regarding marijuana use could lead individuals to be more likely to report use on surveys and to health workers in emergency departments and poison control centers, making marijuana use appear to increase when perhaps it has not. Finally, law enforcement officials and prosecuting attorneys continue to struggle with enforcement of the complex and sometimes conflicting marijuana laws that remain. Thus, the lack of pre-commercialization data, the decreasing social stigma, and challenges to law enforcement combine to make it difficult to translate these early findings into definitive statements of outcomes. Details: Denver, CO: Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Public Safety, 2016. 147p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 23, 2016 at: http://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2016-SB13-283-Rpt.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2016-SB13-283-Rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 138798 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Law Enforcement Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Organized Crime

Author: Hawken, Angela Title: Economies of Scale in the Production of Cannabis Summary: This paper examines the cost curves of cannabis production for indoor and greenhouse cultivation. Out particular focus is on assessing the size of economies of scale: does the average cost of production drop significantly as the producer becomes larger? Details: Cambridge, MA: BOTEC Analysis Corporation, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 23, 2016 at: http://liq.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/5c_Economies_Scale_Production_Cannabis_Oct-22-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://liq.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/5c_Economies_Scale_Production_Cannabis_Oct-22-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 138799 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: Eventon, Ross Title: Through a Broken Glass, Darkly: Drug Policy and the War in Afghanistan Summary: Towards the end of 2014, as NATO was preparing to cease formal combat operations in Afghanistan, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced Afghan farmers had cultivated a record 209,000 hectares of opium poppy over the course of the previous year. This level of production had occurred, a Reuters report commented, 'despite years of counter-narcotics efforts that have cost the United States $7.6 billion'. The US Department of Defense put the blame squarely on their local allies who, officials said, had not properly implemented the chosen policies. The drug policy community generally considers technical problems to have undermined 'counternarcotics' efforts, which are, it is commonly argued, poorly chosen, under-funded, and lacking in appreciation of local context. This conception of an occupying army committed to counter-narcotics but failing in its well-intentioned efforts has little basis in fact. It is sustained by a general tendency within the drug policy community to accept the boundaries of debate handed-down by policy-makers. Not just in Afghanistan but around the globe, investigating vitally important context such as 2 the strategic and economic objectives of the occupying powers has been considered strictly off-limits. Taking these factors into account, and locating 'counter-narcotics' operations within the wider war effort, suggests the picture most commonly presented has little relation to what has actually been taking place in Afghanistan over the past 14 years. Details: Swansea University, Global Drug policy Observatory, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Report 5: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/Afghanistan%20Poliy%20Report%20FINALv2.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Afghanistan URL: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/Afghanistan%20Poliy%20Report%20FINALv2.pdf Shelf Number: 138910 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug-Related Violence Illegal Drugs Illicit Drugs Opium

Author: Open Society Foundations Title: No Health, No Help: Abuse as Drug Rehabilitation in Latin American and the Caribbean Summary: Chaining, public humiliation, abduction, and prayer. If these were treatments offered for diabetes or heart disease, we would see them as cruel and abusive. Yet these are tactics used widely in centers for the "treatment and rehabilitation" of people who use drugs in Latin America and the Caribbean. These abusive centers often operate unlawfully and without medical or governmental supervision. People are often brought to these centers against their will, by family members, by police, or by gangs of center residents. Families are not aware of the conditions in the center, or don't know where else to turn. These practices run counter to evidence-based drug treatments recommended by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and reveal how often drug dependency is treated as a moral failing rather than a medical condition. As regional governments prepare for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in April, defining what truly constitutes a "public health approach" to drug policy is increasingly important. No Health, No Help: Abuse as Drug Rehabilitation in Latin America & the Caribbean is a compilation of reports by researchers and civil society in six countries - Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The report details the extreme human rights abuses occurring in the name of "rehabilitation," and offers recommendations for how governments can work to improve drug treatment in these countries. Details: New York: Open Society Foundations, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/no-health-no-help-en-21060403.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Latin America URL: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/sites/default/files/no-health-no-help-en-21060403.pdf Shelf Number: 138911 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Treatment Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Title: Cannabis Regulation: Lessons Learned in Colorado and Washington State Summary: In November 2012, Colorado and Washington state became the first two US states to legalize the personal possession and retail sale of cannabis. The two states developed regulatory frameworks with many common features (e.g., minimum purchase age of 21, ban on public use), and some key differences. For example, Washington bans personal production, while Colorado permits up to five plants per household. The two states began with different contexts: Colorado had a well-established, regulated medical distribution system to build on, and Washington had no existing regulated supply. Retail sales began on January 1, 2014, in Colorado and on July 8, 2014, in Washington. To learn from evidence and experience about the legalization of cannabis for non-therapeutic use and its health, social, economic and public safety impacts, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) led delegations to Colorado (February 2015) and Washington state (August 2015). The delegations consisted of partners from public health, treatment and enforcement sectors. The goal was to inform the ongoing dialogue about policy options for the regulation of cannabis in Canada and internationally by observing the effects of the various models and approaches in the two states. The aim was not to take a position on the question of legalization, but to collect the best available information to support evidence-informed policy advice. To this end, the delegation met with stakeholders from a range of perspectives, including public health, regulation, government, enforcement, prevention and the cannabis industry. The overarching lesson that emerged during discussions with stakeholders was that any jurisdiction considering policy change should identify a clear purpose to drive the overall approach. In other words, begin by defining the problem to be solved and the goals to be achieved. Colorado and Washington had to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework taking a substance from criminal prohibition to retail sales. Any new regulatory system for cannabis needs to address considerations across health, public health, enforcement, criminal justice, social and economic sectors. It must account for the administration, monitoring and enforcement of all processes, including production, processing, sales, advertising and taxation. The framework also has to coordinate federal, state, district and municipal orders of government, and their respective roles in such areas as enforcement, taxation and health care. The CCSA delegation learned the following key lessons about developing a regulatory framework from stakeholders: - Reconcile medical and retail markets to promote consistency in such areas as purchase quantities and administration, and to reduce the scope of the grey market, which is the market for products produced or distributed in ways that are unauthorized or unregulated, but not strictly illegal; - Be prepared to respond to the unexpected, such as the overconsumption of edibles in Colorado and an unmanageable volume of licensing applications within a limited time frame in Washington state; - Control product formats and concentrations to ensure there are no unanticipated consequences from unregulated formats and concentrations; - Prevent commercialization through taxation, rigorous state regulation and monitoring, and controls on advertising and promotion; and - Prevent use by youth by controlling access and investing in effective health promotion, prevention, awareness and education for both youth and parents. The need to invest in effective implementation was a common message of stakeholders in both Colorado and Washington. They highlighted the value of allocating a portion of funds generated through retail sales to education, prevention, treatment and research. They also emphasized the need to ensure proactive investment to build capacity before the new regulations are implemented and retail sales begin. These investments fall into several common themes: - Take the time required to develop an effective framework for implementation and to prepare for a successful launch; (Colorado stakeholders recommended taking longer than the one-year period provided in that state. There is also a need to give retailers time to develop capacity to meet consumer demand. Washington stakeholders encountered price escalation as retailers struggled to obtain or produce product within two months of receiving licenses.) - Develop the capacity to administer the regulatory framework, recognizing that a significant investment in staff and administration is required to process licenses, conductcomprehensive inspections and address violations; - Provide strong central leadership and promote collaboration to bring diverse partners to the table from the beginning and to promote open, consistent communication and collaborative problem-solving; - Invest proactively in a public health approach that builds capacity in prevention, education and treatment before implementation to minimize negative health and social impacts associated with cannabis use; - Develop a clear, comprehensive communication strategy to convey details of the regulations prior to implementation, so that the public and other stakeholders understand what is permitted, as well as the risks and harms associated with use, so that individuals can make informed choices; - Ensure consistent enforcement of regulations by investing in training and tools for those responsible for enforcement, particularly to prevent and address impaired driving and diversion to youth, and to control the black market; - Invest in research to establish the evidence base underlying the regulations, and to address gaps in knowledge, such as new and emerging trends and patterns of use; and - Conduct rigorous, ongoing data collection, including gathering baseline data, to monitor the impact of the regulatory framework and inform gradual change to best meet policy objectives and reduce negative impacts. In summary, the consistent message CCSA heard was that any jurisdiction considering regulatory changes to cannabis policy should take the time to set up the infrastructure and allocate the resources needed to get it right, assess impacts along the way and make incremental changes, as needed. Details: Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 2015. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Cannabis-Regulation-Lessons-Learned-Report-2015-en.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.ccsa.ca/Resource%20Library/CCSA-Cannabis-Regulation-Lessons-Learned-Report-2015-en.pdf Shelf Number: 138920 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Policy Drug Use Marijuana Marijuana Legalization

Author: Walsh, John Title: Uruguay's Drug Policy: Major Innovations, Major Challenges Summary: Key Findings - Uruguay, the first country to legalize and regulate every level of the market for cannabis, will be an important example globally for political leaders contemplating whether and how to liberalize drug policies. - Even before its return to democracy in 1985, Uruguay had traditionally adopted relatively liberal drug policies. - A combination of political leadership by President Jose "Pepe" Mujica and public unease over rising criminality led Uruguay to pursue drug reform. - Compared to similar cannabis laws in Washington and Colorado, the Uruguayan measure is more state-centered, with less emphasis on commercialization and greater restrictions on use. - Uruguayan public opinion has remained opposed to�or at least skeptical of - the law. - Uruguay will have to contend with international criticism and domestic political forces as it moves to implement enabling legislation in 2015. Policy Recommendations - We recommend that the government of Uruguay: Maintain flexibility regarding the cannabis law's key variables, such as market price and potency varieties available to consumers; Adjust the law based on thorough monitoring and evaluation, taking into account academic and civil society analysts; Articulate an enforcement and inspection strategy for the relevant officials; Implement a drug use prevention strategy aimed at youth that does not dissuade users and home-growers from registering with the government; and Better educate the public on the behind the law and what it aims to accomplish. Details: Washington, DC: Foreign Policy at Brookings, 2016. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2016 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Walsh--Uruguay-final.pdf?la=en Year: 2016 Country: Uruguay URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2015/04/global-drug-policy/Walsh--Uruguay-final.pdf?la=en Shelf Number: 139156 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana Legalization

Author: Murano, Andrew J. Title: Decolonizing the Drug War: Bolivia's Movement to Transform Coca Control Summary: Coca has been a controversial concept entangled in a complex web of conflicting political rhetoric; existing simultaneously as a sacred icon to unite the Andean nations, and as a serious scourge on humanity, fraught with social and economic danger to be exterminated for the good of mankind. Labeled by the United Nations as a narcotic, it has been a principal target of the hegemonic ideology of the War on Drugs, which has in turn legitimized a brutal eradication program upon the Andean people. At the start of the millennium, protests against neoliberal imperialism coalesced into a movement united behind coca, that resulted in government resignation and the election of coca farmer Evo Morales to the presidency in 2006. Since then Bolivia has enacted the community driven cato program, which has allowed a set amount of coca to be grown for each registered farmer in return for their collaboration in the fight against cocaine production. Using an expanded version of Galtung's conception of violence, this project examines the results of the program. The project finds the cato program to be a success as it has nearly eradicated illicit coca and improved the livelihoods of the farmers and their communities. However the strict prohibitionist ideology still held by the Bolivian government threatens instability further down the commodity chain. I instead recommend that the ideology and principles that built the cato program be exported to other regions. Details: Tromso: Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education Centre for Peace Studies, Arctic University of Norway, 2015. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed July 20, 2016 at: http://munin.uit.no/bitstream/handle/10037/9240/thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2015 Country: Bolivia URL: Shelf Number: 139748 Keywords: Cocaine Drug Policy Drug War War on Drugs

Author: Royal Society for Public Health Title: Taking a New Line on Drugs Summary: 'Taking a New Line on Drugs' assesses the situation in the UK as regards rising health harm from illegal drugs, with reference to their context within the wider 'drugscape' of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, and sets out a new vision for a holistic public health-led approach to drugs policy at a UK-wide level. From a public health perspective, the purpose of a good drugs strategy should be to improve and protect the public's health and well-being by preventing and reducing the harm linked to substance use, whilst also balancing any potential medicinal benefits. RSPH is calling for the UK to consider exploring, trialling and testing such an approach, rather than one reliant on the criminal justice system. Key recommendations: Transferring lead responsibility for UK illegal drugs strategy to the Department of Health, and more closely aligning this with alcohol and tobacco strategies. Preventing drug harm through universal Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education in UK schools, with evidence-based drugs education as a mandatory, key component. Creating evidence-based drug harm profiles to supplant the existing classification system in informing drug strategy, enforcement priorities, and public health messaging. Decriminalising personal use and possession of all illegal drugs, and diverting those whose use is problematic into appropriate support and treatment services instead, recognising that criminalising users most often only opens up the risk of further harm to health and well-being. Dealers, suppliers and importers of illegal substances would still be actively pursued and prosecuted, while evidence relating to any potential benefits or harm from legal, regulated supply should be kept under review. Tapping into the potential of the wider public health workforce to support individuals to reduce and recover from drug harm. Details: London: Royal Society for Public Health, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2016 at: https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/protecting-the-public-s-health/taking-a-new-line-on-drugs.html Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/protecting-the-public-s-health/taking-a-new-line-on-drugs.html Shelf Number: 140055 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Policy Reform Illegal Drugs

Author: Kane-Willis, Kathleen Title: New Directions for Illinois Drug Policy: An Update on Incarceration for Drug Offenses In Illinois Summary: Drug Use among Arrestees in Cook County Jail Of the ten Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring II sites, Chicago (Cook County) had the greatest number of arrestees testing positive for drugs at 87 percent of the sample. - Cook County also had the highest percentage of poly-substance use confirmed through the urine screen at 40 percent, an increase over the number of arrestees testing positive for poly-substance use in 2007. Cocaine - Cook County had the largest percentage of arrestees testing positive for cocaine at 43.8 percent. - There was very little racial difference among arrestees testing positive for cocaine. Blacks and whites tested positive for cocaine in nearly similar percentages (46.2% and 45.7% respectively), though fewer Latinos tested positive for cocaine (33.4%) than whites or blacks. Heroin - Of the ten sites, Chicago had the highest percentage of arrestees testing positive for heroin at 29 percent. In comparison, Washington DC, which ranked second after Chicago, only had 12 percent of arrestees testing positive for heroin. Chicago's test results also represent a statistically significant increase over the percentage of arrestees testing positive for heroin in 2007. - Racial differences were particularly pronounced for heroin use. The percentage of whites testing positive for heroin (41%) was nearly twice that of black and Latino arrestees (25% and 24% respectively). - Individuals that tested positive for heroin were much more likely to have been arrested for a property crime. Forty-six percent of the arrestees charged with a property crime tested positive for heroin, followed by 27.4 percent of arrestees with a drug possession charge testing positive for heroin. Drug Offenders Entering Prison in Illinois In Illinois, the number of individuals entering Illinois' prisons for drug offenses increased 12 percent from 10,436 individuals in 2000 to 11,680 in 2008. The peak year for drug offenders entering prison was 2005, when the number of drug offenders entering prison reached nearly 15,000 individuals. Individuals entering prison for drug offenses have steadily declined from 2006 to 2008. - One reason for the large number of individuals entering Illinois prisons in 2005 is the large increase in technical violators admitted to prison. The number of these offenders increased more than 290 percent over fiscal year 2000 numbers, from 955 individuals to 3,727 individuals in 2005 - Court commitments also increased, from about 7,800 in 2000 to about 9,600 in 2005, a 23 percent increase. - The combination of increases in court commitments along with the very large increases in technical violations from parolees may partially explain the peak year numbers. Sales and Possession Offenders Individuals who entered prison for drug sales offenses declined during this period from 5,074 individuals in 2000 to 4,202 in 2008. The number of individuals entering Illinois' prisons for drug possession of a controlled substance - that is possession of any drug besides marijuana - increased by more than 42 percent from 4,675 individuals in 2000, to 6,618 offenders in 2008. Since 2002, nearly every year, the percentage of those going to prison for possession offenses has increased. For example: - In 2000, 52 percent of those admitted to prison for drug offenses were convicted of sales offenses, and 48 percent were convicted of possession offenses. - By 2008, possessions offenders made up nearly 62 percent of drug offenders incarcerated for drug offenses, while sales offenders made up just 38 percent of individuals entering prison for drugs. - In 2008, 53 percent of those entering prison for drug offenses were convicted of a Class 4 felony, the lowest-level possession offense. The number of prisons entrances for individuals convicted of the lowest level of drug offenses, Class 4 possession offenses, increased by 34 percent, from 4,634 individuals in 2000 to 6,188 individuals in 2008. - In 2000, these offenders represented 44 percent of admissions to prison for all drug offenses, but by 2008, Class 4 possession offenders comprised 53 percent of admissions for drug offenses that resulted in prison terms. - Imprisonment for individuals convicted of cannabis possession, although small in number, increased by 35 percent from 189 individuals in 2000 to 256 individuals in 2008. - Technical violations among Class 4 drug possession offenders that resulted in a new prison admission increased from 279 individuals in 2000 to nearly 900 individuals in 2008. This was an increase of more than 220 percent. Reducing Recidivism - Drug treatment in jail reduces recidivism by about 4.5 percent. - Drug treatment in prison provides a nearly 6 percent reduction in recidivism. - Drug treatment in the community reduces recidivism by about 9.5 percent. - The largest impact on recidivism rates occurs when individuals are given intensive supervision (parole or probation) with treatment, which reduces recidivism by more than 16 percent. Cost of Incarcerating Lowest Level Drug Offenders in 2008 In Illinois, it costs about $61.36 per day to house an offender in prison. The majority of low-level drug possession offenders will most likely spend a short period of time in prison (e.g. 120 days or less). - The cost for an offender to spend 120 days in prison is approximately $7,363. - The cost of imprisoning the 4,379 Class 4 possession offenders (the lowest level drug offense) in 2008 (assuming an average stay of 120 days) was $34,243,453.00. Details: Chicago: Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, 2009. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2016 at: https://www.roosevelt.edu/CAS/CentersAndInstitutes/IMA/ICDP.aspx Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: https://www.roosevelt.edu/CAS/CentersAndInstitutes/IMA/ICDP.aspx Shelf Number: 147871 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform Intensive Supervision

Author: U.S. National Heroin Task Force Title: National Heroin Task Force Final Report and Recommendations Summary: "The United States is in the grip of a national crisis - an unprecedented surge in the illicit use of prescription opioid medications and heroin. In 2014, 1.9 million people had a prescription opioid use disorder and nearly 600,000 had a heroin use disorder. The national data on overdose deaths are startling: in 2014, there were more than 27,000 overdose deaths involving prescription opioid medications and /or heroin. That is equivalent to an average of one death every 20 minutes. The opioid epidemic affects a broad cross-section of the United States population without regard to age, gender, race, ethnicity, or economic status. Living in a rural, suburban, or urban jurisdiction does not insulate an individual from the ravages of the opioid epidemic. Traditional law enforcement methods are a critical component of any counter-illicit drug strategy, but they will not resolve this crisis alone. The opioid crisis is also fundamentally a public health problem. The recommendations contained in this report are premised up on three principles: 1) public safety and public health authorities must integrate and harmonize their response to the misuse of prescription opioid medications and use of heroin; 2) policies regarding heroin use and misuse of prescription opioid medications must be grounded in a scientific understanding that substance use disorder is a chronic brain disease that can be prevented and treated; and 3) treatment and recovery services and support must be accessible and affordable. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice: U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: https://www.justice.gov/file/822231/download Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.justice.gov/file/822231/download Shelf Number: 140330 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Heroin Prescription drug Abuse

Author: Dempsey, Orla Title: Developing and Implementing Models for the Prevalence, Incidence and Geographic Spread of Opiate Use in Ireland Summary: The objective of this study is to further develop and implement established mathematical models for the first time to the problem of estimating the true size of the opiate epidemic and to develop and apply existing mathematical models to the problem of modelling the geographic spread of opiate use in Ireland. Estimates of the true size and spread of the opiate epidemic are difficult to obtain due to the hidden nature of opiate use however these estimates are vital for policy makers and service providers when planning for the provision of effective treatment services. In a bid to estimate the true size of the epidemic this research focuses on deriving suitable models to estimate the prevalence and incidence of opiate use in Ireland. The back calculation model from AIDS epidemiology is applied to the problem of estimating the hidden, untreated incidence of opiate use. An estimate of the hidden incidence is produced by back calculating from the known treated incidence through an estimated latency period of opiate use. The back calculation model is analytically solved and the solutions obtained are used to produce estimates of the hidden, untreated incidence of opiate use when the exact rate of progression to treatment is unknown. In a bid to produce more accurate incidence estimates data on times from first opiate use to first treatment are obtained. A model for the exact rate of progression to first treatment is determined through fitting Gamma and Weibull probability distributions to data on 5,022 times to treatment for previously untreated opiate users. The exact rate of progression to first treatment along with a range of forms of treated incidence is applied to the back calculation model which is then solved analytically for the first time. The solutions obtained are applied to the problem of estimating the true size of the hidden, untreated population of opiate users who will present for their first treatment in the future. A vast array of techniques to estimate the prevalence of drug and opiate use exist however a new approach which is not heavily data dependent would be beneficial to researchers, policy makers and service providers. An integral equation model to estimate the prevalence of opiate use is derived. The prevalence model derived is based on the models developed for the hidden incidence of opiate use. Estimates of the prevalence of opiate use are produced when the exact rate of progression to treatment is unknown and known. Whilst estimates of the true size of the epidemic are necessary, it is essential to determine where the epidemic will spread in order to determine measures to prevent further spread. A partial differential equation which uses the prevalence estimates produced, is derived to describe the geographic spread of opiate use in Ireland. Techniques to estimate model parameters for the partial differential equation are developed and the hypothetical geographic spread of opiate use from Dublin to Wexford is simulated. Models for the prevalence, incidence and geographic spread of opiate use have been developed. The models derived are not heavily data dependent and could be utilised to produce estimates of any problematic drug use in any specified location providing the necessary data is available. Details: Dublin: Trinity College, 2011. 180p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 21, 2016 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249326915_Developing_and_Implementing_Models_for_the_Prevalence_Incidence_and_Geographic_Spread_of_Opiate_Use_in_Ireland Year: 2011 Country: Ireland URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249326915_Developing_and_Implementing_Models_for_the_Prevalence_Incidence_and_Geographic_Spread_of_Opiate_Use_in_Ireland Shelf Number: 145575 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Heroin Illegal Drugs Opiates

Author: Maslov, Anton Title: Cannabis Performance Metrics for Policy Consideration: What Do We Need to Measure? Summary: Cannabis and its byproducts are the most widely used illegal narcotic substances in the world. Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of cannabis use in the world; over forty per cent of Canadians have used cannabis as a drug during their lifetimes, and between 10.2% (Health Canada, 2012) and 12.2% (Rotermann and Langlois, 2015) per cent used it in 2010. Its production and consumption is illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada as of February 2016, with the exception of some medical use. However, the federal government has indicated its intent to legalize the use of cannabis for non-medical purposes. When there is discussion regarding whether or not cannabis policy regimes are having their intended effect, or changes in cannabis regimes are being considered, it is important to empirically measure such changes and effects through performance metrics. Performance metrics are instances where the impact of cannabis on various aspects of society is measured using empirical data. This paper highlights the importance of collecting empirical evidence on 45 such metrics when it comes to evaluating possible changes to cannabis policy regimes in Canada. Of the 45 types of metrics identified in this paper, Canada currently collects data to calculate about seven, some partial information on a further 17, and little to no data on the remaining 21 metrics. The meaning, objective, and, where possible, operationalization of each metric is discussed in detail. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2016. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report: 2016-R009: Accessed September 30, 2016 at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2016-r009/2016-r009-en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Canada URL: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2016-r009/2016-r009-en.pdf Shelf Number: 140522 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Control Policy Drug Policy Illegal Drugs Marijuana

Author: Dills, Angela K. Title: Does of Reality: The Effect of State Marijuana Legalizations Summary: In November 2012 voters in the states of Colorado and Washington approved ballot initiatives that legalized marijuana for recreational use. Two years later, Alaska and Oregon followed suit. As many as 11 other states may consider similar measures in November 2016, through either ballot initiative or legislative action. Supporters and opponents of such initiatives make numerous claims about state-level marijuana legalization. Advocates think legalization reduces crime, raises tax revenue, lowers criminal justice expenditures, improves public health, bolsters traffic safety, and stimulates the economy. Critics argue that legalization spurs marijuana and other drug or alcohol use, increases crime, diminishes traffic safety, harms public health, and lowers teen educational achievement. Systematic evaluation of these claims, however, has been largely absent. This paper assesses recent marijuana legalizations and related policies in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Our conclusion is that state marijuana legalizations have had minimal effect on marijuana use and related outcomes. We cannot rule out small effects of legalization, and insufficient time has elapsed since the four initial legalizations to allow strong inference. On the basis of available data, however, we find little support for the stronger claims made by either opponents or advocates of legalization. The absence of significant adverse consequences is especially striking given the sometimes dire predictions made by legalization opponents. Details: Washington, DC: CATO Institute, 2016. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2016 at: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa799.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa799.pdf Shelf Number: 140531 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Marijuana Legalization

Author: Mungan, Murat C. Title: Stigma Dilution and Over-Criminalization Summary: Criminalizing an act that provides weak signals about a person's productivity and character can dilute the stigma attached to having a criminal record. This reduces the deterrence of serious crimes that do provide strong signals regarding the offender's character. Over-criminalization occurs when the costs associated with reduced deterrence due to stigma dilution off-set potential benefits associated with criminalizing the less harmful act. Identifying conditions under which stigma dilution is likely and comparatively costly allows the determination of factors that affect the desirability of (de)criminalizing various acts. These factors are discussed in the context of marijuana possession offenses to illustrate how over-criminalization may reduce social welfare. The normative desirability of various practices in criminal law are also discussed vis-a-vis their impacts on stigma dilution. Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University College of Law, 2015. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: FSU College of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 717; FSU College of Law, Law, Business & Economics Paper No. 14-16 : Accessed October 8, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2534828 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2534828 Shelf Number: 145078 Keywords: Criminal Records Decriminalization Drug Policy Expungements Marijuana

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Every 25 Seconds: The Human Toll of Criminalizing Drug Use in the United States Summary: Every 25 seconds someone in the United States is arrested for possessing drugs for personal use. This amounts to more than 1.25 million arrests per year and makes drug possession the single most arrested crime in the country. Black and white adults use drugs at similar rates, but a Black adult is 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug possession. As a result of these arrests, on any given day at least 137,000 people are behind bars. Tens of thousands more are convicted, cycle through jails and prisons, and spend extended periods on probation and parole, often burdened with crippling debt from court-imposed fines and fees. Every 25 Seconds: The Human Toll of Criminalizing Drug Use in the United States documents the devastating harms caused by enforcement of drug possession laws. This joint report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union is based on extensive new analysis of federal and state-level data, and over 365 interviews conducted primarily in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and New York. Members of the public understandably want government to take actions to prevent the potential harms of drug use. Yet criminalization is not the answer. Four decades after the declaration of the "war on drugs," rates of drug use have not significantly decreased and treatment for drug dependence is often unavailable. Instead, criminalizing drug possession has caused tremendous harm - separating families; excluding people from job opportunities, public benefits, and voting; and exposing them to discrimination. Human Rights Watch and the ACLU urge federal and state authorities to end these harms by decriminalizing personal use and possession of all drugs. The report also provides detailed recommendations authorities should follow to minimize the harmful consequences of current laws and policies, until decriminalization is achieved. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 205p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/usdrug1016_web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/usdrug1016_web.pdf Shelf Number: 144931 Keywords: Decriminalization Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Policy Reform

Author: Macdonald, Virginia Title: Drug Control and Harm Reduction in Thailand Summary: In South East Asia, Thailand is lauded for its success in reversing an HIV epidemic in the 1990s, particularly amongst sex workers. Thailand is also known for its success in significantly reducing opium cultivation, and implementing effective alternative development programmes for opium farmers. However, other aspects of the government's response to illicit drug markets in Thailand undermine these successes and have been characterised by the exclusion and marginalisation of people who use drugs, which has fuelled on-going epidemics of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among this population. The Thai government's response to drug use continues to be one of 'zero-tolerance', focused on eradicating drug consumption and production with the imposition of harsh punishment for drug-related crimes, ranging from compulsory detention to the death penalty. This response reflects the regional commitment to achieving a 'drug-free ASEAN by 2015'. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: IDPC Briefing Paper: Accessed October 17, 2016 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/566349360/library/IDPC-briefing-paper-Thailand-drug-policy-English.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Thailand URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/566349360/library/IDPC-briefing-paper-Thailand-drug-policy-English.pdf Shelf Number: 144866 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Opium

Author: Phillips, Mary T. Title: Misdemeanor Marijuana Arrests New York City 2012-2014 Summary: Changes in the handling of arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana have taken place at a rapid pace in New York City during the past several years. This report examines some of those changes and their impact on volume and outcomes in misdemeanor marijuana possession arrests. The research also addresses the impact of these changes on ethnic disparities in marijuana arrests and outcomes. The study focuses on arrests for criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, which is a class B misdemeanor under Penal Law §221.10. Persons found in possession of any amount of marijuana, either "open to public view"� or "burning" (i.e., being smoked), can be charged under subsection 1 of this law. Possession of more than 25 grams of marijuana is a crime under subsection 2 of the law, which does not require the marijuana to be in public view or burning. In 2014, over 98% of misdemeanor arrests for marijuana possession in New York City were made under PL 221.10. For years this has been the single most frequent criminal offense in the City, with steadily rising arrest volume during much of the past decade. In 2010 and 2011, well over 40,000 cases with a top arrest charge of PL 221.10 were prosecuted each year (Phillips 2014, Table 1). A series of policy shifts beginning in late 2011 reversed this trend, reducing the volume of arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession and according more lenient treatment to the arrests that were made. In September 2011, in the wake of public criticism of the NYPD's "stop" �and "frisk" practices, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly issued a directive instructing officers not to make arrests for small amounts of marijuana unless it is in public view - by the suspects' own volition� (Harris 2011). This was aimed at allegations that police officers were ordering suspects to empty their pockets during "stop" �and "�frisk" operations, and then arresting them if any marijuana was displayed as a result. Although it was framed as a reminder of existing policy rather than a new policy, the directive was followed by a steep decline in the volume of marijuana possession arrests in every borough (Phillips 2014, Tables 1 & 2). In May 2013, the final year of the Bloomberg administration, a new policy directed the police to issue a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) in all arrests with a top charge of PL 221.10, as long as the defendant produced adequate identification and had no outstanding warrants. The marijuana DAT policy initiative was aimed at reducing the proportion of low-level marijuana arrests in which the defendant was taken into custody, rather than reducing arrest volume. Since the 1960s the NYPD has routinely issued DATs for a limited number of misdemeanor offenses, historically including large numbers of suspects charged with PL 221.10. A suspect who qualifies for a DAT on the basis of the charge and other criteria is taken to the precinct house for an eligibility check and, if additional eligibility criteria are met, the person is released with a ticket instructing him or her to appear in court for arraignment on a future date, several weeks to several months later. (See Phillips 2014 for a detailed description of charge and other eligibility criteria for DATs.) The proportion of 221.10 prosecuted arrests in which a DAT was issued had been rising prior to 2013 - from 13% in 2003 to 50% in 2012 (ibid., Figure 7) - and the prospect of further extending DATs to virtually all arrests for this offense led to predictions of skyrocketing DAT volume. Those predictions turned out to be inaccurate, for reasons that will be explored in this report. A year and a half after implementation of the DAT policy, a new administration announced yet another policy change. In November 2014 the new mayor, Bill de Blasio, and his new police commissioner, William J. Bratton, announced that suspects found in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana "in a public place and open to public view" would no longer be arrested, as long as the person was not charged with additional fingerprintable offenses. Instead, these suspects would be issued a Criminal Court summons (�summons, - also known as a "pink slip"�) and charged with a non-criminal violation, PL 221.05. Burning is still subject to arrest for 221.10 under the new policy, as is the possession of a small amount "in a manner that is inconsistent with personal use" (NYPD 2014). Persons found with more than 25 grams (and less than 2 ounces) of marijuana are also still subject to arrest under subsection 2 of PL 221.10. The marijuana summons policy was hailed by The New York Times as "the most significant criminal justice policy initiative by Mr. de Blasio since he was sworn in as mayor" (Baker 2014). Many people hoped that it would alleviate widely acknowledged ethnic disparities in low-�level marijuana arrests, which disproportionately fall on black and Latino men. One columnist called the new policy a "sledgehammer"� that the administration is now swinging at entrenched racism in the system (Dwyer 2014). The summons policy was not greeted with universal acclaim, however, even by some advocates of more lenient treatment for marijuana offenders. Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson, whose office had been refusing to prosecute many marijuana possession arrests for months (Clifford & Goldstein 2014), objected that by issuing a summons instead of making an arrest, the police were undercutting his prosecutorial discretion (Baker 2014; Goldstein 2014; Mora 2014). This argument pointed to an unintended consequence of the initiative: cases that would have been dismissed by prosecutors under the old policy now go directly to summons court with no prosecutorial review. Other concerns included a lack of due process in summons court and the inability to monitor ethnic disparity because ethnicity is not collected on the summons form. These and other reservations about the summons policy were summarized in a press release from the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy organization for drug law reform, which nonetheless remained "�cautiously optimistic"� (Drug Policy Alliance 2015). A New York Times editorial declared that getting a summons is "better than being arrested"� but expressed skepticism about the overall merits of the reform because it "does not reach the fundamental problem of discriminatory policing."� The editorial also expressed concern about exposing people to arrest for missing court dates, and lack of transparency in the summons court system (New York Times, 2014). How has the court system been affected by these policy changes? Although many aspects of the policies' impact lie beyond the scope of this study, we can provide a preliminary assessment of two major parameters: arrest volume and DAT issuance for 221.10 offenses. In the months following November 2014, we anticipated a downturn in marijuana arrest volume but - because the marijuana summons policy does not extend to burning or to arrests under subsection 2 - it was difficult to guess how low the volume would go. (Neither the subsection nor the factual allegations for an arrest are collected in the CJA database, making it impossible to distinguish open view from burning, or from possession of over 25 grams.) We also anticipated a slump in the DAT issuance rate after November 2014 because summonses would go primarily to those who previously would have received a DAT. Some factors that would disqualify a person from receiving a summons - an active warrant or lack of adequate identification, for example - are also disqualifying factors for a DAT. This suggests that if a summons is not issued in a marijuana possession arrest, a DAT will not be issued, either, unless the summons was denied because burning was involved, the amount was over 25 grams, or the suspect was charged with another finger-printable offense. Any of these three factors would disqualify a person from a summons, but a DAT could be issued. Finally, any analysis of recent marijuana arrest volume needs to take into account an anomalous period of about three weeks from late December 2014 to mid-�January 2015. The killing of two police officers on December 20, 2014 - and the Mayor's perceived lack of support for the NYPD in the aftermath of those killings - triggered a work slowdown by the police that decreased the number of all arrests to a fraction of normal volume in the weeks that followed. The slowdown did not target marijuana offenses specifically, but our analysis shows that 221.10 arrests dropped by over 80% during this period). Details: New York: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, 2015. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2016 at: www.nycja.org Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: www.nycja.org Shelf Number: 146015 Keywords: Arrests Drug Offenders Drug Policy Marijuana Misdemeanors

Author: Garat, Guillermo Title: Paraguay: The cannabis breadbasket of the Southern Cone: A focus on the largest cannabis producer in South America Summary: Key Points - Paraguay is the principal producer of cannabis in South America. Despite its importance as a supplier of cannabis in South America, there has been a surprising absence of serious studies of its impact on its own society, and on the play of offer and demand in neighbouring countries. - After 40 years of an intense "war on drugs", there are now eight departments involved in the business, with spiralling homicide rates, an absence of state policy intervention, drug traffickers infiltrated into local political structures, and millions of dollars which are shared out by terrorist organizations, a new chain of services connected to the illicit trade, and - to a much lesser extent - small farmers suffocated by repeated crises. - Contradictions in productive structures, the lack of agrarian policies, poverty and the absence of perspectives for the rural population led to a gradual, and progressively more blatant, adoption of cannabis cultivation by young. Over time, growing cannabis became one of the few viable economic prospects for large sectors of the population. - Intermediaries who manage contacts with the buyers on the border with Brazil, employ young people to grow, protect, harvest, dry, press, package and even transport the cannabis - not just within Paraguay, but even into nearby countries, using the limited means at their disposal, such as their shoulders, bicycles and motorbikes. - The use of cannabis is looked down on by the general population, particularly in rural areas, and even in the communities where it is grown, it is commonly referred to as the "demon weed" (hierba maldita). Lifetime use of cannabis in Paraguay is the second lowest in all Latin America, only 0.4% admitting to having tried it. - Some politicians, government officials, civil society organisations and farmers' organisations see the benefit of the regulation of the cannabis market in Paraguay, but the debate is still incipient. Details: Bonn, Germany: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2016. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing, no. 46: Accessed November 2, 2016 at: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/drug_policy_briefing_46.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Paraguay URL: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/drug_policy_briefing_46.pdf Shelf Number: 145004 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Markets Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illicit Trade Marijuana War on Drugs

Author: Kruithof, Kristy Title: Study Alternatives to Coercive Sanctions as Response to Drug Law Offences and Drug-Related Crimes Final Report Summary: This study aims to map alternatives to coercive sanctions (ACS) for drug law offences and drug-related crimes that are available under the law in each EU member state and describe the use of these sanctions in practice. This was complemented by a review of international research on the effectiveness of ACS in reducing reoffending and drug use. Building upon the EU Action Plan on Drugs 2013-2016, ACS were defined as measures that had some rehabilitative element or that constituted a non-intervention (for example, deciding not to charge or prosecute), as well as those used instead of prison or other punishment (for example, a suspended sentence with drug treatment). Further details of the measures included within the definition of ACS can be found in Section 1.2. This study builds upon a report produced by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in 2015 on alternatives to punishment for drug-using offenders, widening the scope of that study by including a broader range of sanctions and by looking at practice in each member state in more detail. Details: Luxembourg: Publications office of the European Union, 2016. 144p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2016 at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66607.html Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66607.html Shelf Number: 144995 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drugs and Crime Illegal Drug Trade

Author: Drug Policy Alliance Title: So Far, So Good: What We Know About Marijuana Legalization in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C Summary: In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two U.S. states – and the first two jurisdictions in the world – to approve ending marijuana prohibition and legally regulating marijuana production, distribution and sales. In the 2014 election, Alaska and Oregon followed suit, while Washington D.C. passed a more limited measure that legalized possession and home cultivation of marijuana (but did not address its taxation and sale due to D.C. law). The report's key findings include: Marijuana arrests have plummeted in the states that legalized marijuana, although disproportionate enforcement of marijuana crimes against black people continues. Statewide surveys of youth in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon found that there were no significant increases in youth marijuana use post-legalization. Tax revenues in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon have all exceeded initial revenue estimates, totaling $552 million. Legalization has not led to more dangerous road conditions, as traffic fatality rates have remained stable in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. Details: Oakland, CA: Drug Policy Alliance, 2016. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2016 at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Marijuana_Legalization_Status_Report_101316.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Marijuana_Legalization_Status_Report_101316.pdf Shelf Number: 141105 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Highlights of a Forum: Preventing Illicit Drug Use Summary: Illicit drug use is a burgeoning problem that adversely affects individuals as well as their families, their communities, and the nation. According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 47,055 people died of drug overdoses in the United States in 2014—more than any previous year on record. The use of opioids—in particular, heroin and prescription pain relievers—has driven a significant increase in drug overdose deaths. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the most effective way to mitigate the costs associated with illicit drug use is through prevention. GAO convened and moderated a panel of education, health care, and law enforcement officials on June 22, 2016 to discuss: 1) common factors related to illicit drug use; 2) strategies in the education, health care, and law enforcement sectors to prevent illicit drug use; and 3) high priority areas for future action to prevent illicit drug use. With assistance from the National Academy of Sciences, GAO selected the participants, including federal officials, public health and drug policy experts, physicians, law enforcement representatives, and educators. The viewpoints summarized in the report do not necessarily represent the views of all participants, their organizations, or GAO. GAO provided participants the opportunity to review a summary of key points from the forum and incorporated their comments as appropriate prior to publishing this report. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-17-146SP: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://gao.gov/assets/690/680989.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://gao.gov/assets/690/680989.pdf Shelf Number: 141172 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Illicit Drug Use Substance Abuse

Author: Ramsey, Geoff Title: Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative Summary: After close to three years, the final element of Uruguay's historic cannabis law is set to be implemented in early 2017, when commercial sales are expected to begin. While advancements have been slow and deliberate, Uruguay is not alone in taking such a cautious approach. The U.S. state of Maryland, for instance, approved a medical cannabis program in 2013, but a series of careful adjustments has also postponed sales until 2017. Now that the commercial sales element of the law is about be phased in, the government of President Tabaré Vázquez is facing a key moment of opportunity. With the basic structures created by the law soon to be up and running, the government should ensure a robust system of monitoring and evaluation is also in place, to assess whether the cannabis law is in fact achieving its goals, identify problems that may arise, and indicate where and how the new regime may need to be revised. This report, "Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay’s Historic Cannabis Initiative," lays out the progress that Uruguayan authorities have made in rolling out the law to date. It also examines current monitoring and evaluation efforts underway, as well as opportunities for Uruguay to respond to potential obstacles thus far. Uruguay's government makes no pretense that its law should be a model for others. But Uruguay's leaders also know that, as the first nation to legalize and regulate every level of the cannabis market, their new system will be coming under close scrutiny, at home and abroad. As citizens and leaders elsewhere ponder whether and how to legalize and regulate cannabis in their own countries, the lessons to be learned in Uruguay can help inform cannabis policy well beyond the country's own borders. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2016. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 20, 2016 at: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Uruguay URL: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf Shelf Number: 147301 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Legalization Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana Legalization

Author: Canada. Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Title: A Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in Canada Summary: On June 30, 2016, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Minister of Health announced the creation of a nine-member Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation (“the Task Force”). Our mandate was to consult and provide advice on the design of a new legislative and regulatory framework for legal access to cannabis, consistent with the Government’s commitment to “legalize, regulate, and restrict access.” To fulfill our mandate, we engaged with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, experts, patients, advocates, Indigenous governments and representative organizations, employers and industry. We heard from many other Canadians as well, including many young people, who participated in an online public consultation that generated nearly 30,000 submissions from individuals and organizations. The Task Force looked internationally (e.g., Colorado, Washington State, Uruguay) to learn from jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis for non-medical purposes, and we drew lessons from the way governments in Canada have regulated tobacco and alcohol, and cannabis for medical purposes. A Discussion Paper prepared by the Government, entitled “Toward the Legalization, Regulation and Restriction of Access to Marijuana,” informed the Task Force’s work and helped to focus the input of many of the people from whom we heard. The Discussion Paper identified nine public policy objectives. Chief among these are keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and youth and keeping profits out of the hands of organized crime. The Task Force set out guiding principles as the foundation of our advice to Ministers: protection of public health and safety, compassion, fairness, collaboration, a commitment to evidenceinformed policy and flexibility. In considering the experience of other jurisdictions and the views of experts, stakeholders and the public, we sought to strike a balance between implementing appropriate restrictions, in order to minimize the harms associated with cannabis use, and providing adult access to a regulated supply of cannabis while reducing the scope and scale of the illicit market and its social harms. Our recommendations reflect a public health approach to reduce harm and promote health. We also took a precautionary approach to minimize unintended consequences, given that the relevant evidence is often incomplete or inconclusive. Minimizing Harms of Use In taking a public health approach to the regulation of cannabis, the Task Force proposes measures that will maintain and improve the health of Canadians by minimizing the harms associated with cannabis use. This approach considers the risks associated with cannabis use, including the risks of developmental harms to youth; the risks associated with patterns of consumption, including frequent use and co-use of cannabis with alcohol and tobacco; the risks to vulnerable populations; and the risks related to interactions with the illicit market. In addition to considering scientific evidence and input from stakeholders, the Task Force examined how other jurisdictions have attempted to minimize harms of use. We examined a range of protective measures, including a minimum age of use, promotion and advertising restrictions, and packaging and labelling requirements for cannabis products. In order to minimize harms, the Task Force recommends that the federal government: f Set a national minimum age of purchase of 18, acknowledging the right of provinces and territories to harmonize it with their minimum age of purchase of alcohol f Apply comprehensive restrictions to the advertising and promotion of cannabis and related merchandise by any means, including sponsorship, endorsements and branding, similar to the restrictions on promotion of tobacco products f Allow limited promotion in areas accessible by adults, similar to those restrictions under the Tobacco Act f Require plain packaging for cannabis products that allows the following information on packages: company name, strain name, price, amounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and warnings and other labelling requirements f Impose strict sanctions on false or misleading promotion as well as promotion that encourages excessive consumption, where promotion is allowed f Require that any therapeutic claims made in advertising conform to applicable legislation f Resource and enable the detection and enforcement of advertising and marketing violations, including via traditional and social media f Prohibit any product deemed to be “appealing to children,” including products that resemble or mimic familiar food items, are packaged to look like candy, or packaged in bright colours or with cartoon characters or other pictures or images that would appeal to children f Require opaque, re-sealable packaging that is childproof or child-resistant to limit children’s access to any cannabis product f Additionally, for edibles: Z Implement packaging with standardized, single servings, with a universal THC symbol Z Set a maximum amount of THC per serving and per product f Prohibit mixed products, for example cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages or cannabis products with tobacco, nicotine or caffeine f Require appropriate labelling on cannabis products, including: Z Text warning labels (e.g., “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”) Z Levels of THC and CBD Z For edibles, labelling requirements that apply to food and beverage products f Create a flexible legislative framework that could adapt to new evidence on specific product types, on the use of additives or sweeteners, or on specifying limits of THC or other components f Provide regulatory oversight for cannabis concentrates to minimize the risks associated with illicit production f Develop strategies to encourage consumption of less potent cannabis, including a price and tax scheme based on potency to discourage purchase of high-potency products f Require all cannabis products to include labels identifying levels of THC and CBD f Enable a flexible legislative framework that could adapt to new evidence to set rules for limits on THC or other components f Develop and implement factual public education strategies to inform Canadians as to risks of problematic use and lower-risk use guidance f Conduct the necessary economic analysis to establish an approach to tax and price that balances health protection with the goal of reducing the illicit market f Work with provincial and territorial governments to determine a tax regime that includes equitable distribution of revenues f Create a flexible system that can adapt tax and price approaches to changes within the marketplace f Commit to using revenue from cannabis as a source of funding for administration, education, research and enforcement f Design a tax scheme based on THC potency to discourage purchase of high-potency products f Implement as soon as possible an evidenceinformed public education campaign, targeted at the general population but with an emphasis on youth, parents and vulnerable populations f Co-ordinate messaging with provincial and territorial partners f Adapt educational messages as evidence and understanding of health risks evolve, working with provincial and territorial partners f Facilitate and monitor ongoing research on cannabis and impairment, considering implications for occupational health and safety policies f Work with existing federal, provincial and territorial bodies to better understand potential occupational health and safety issues related to cannabis impairment f Work with provinces, territories, employers and labour representatives to facilitate the development of workplace impairment policies The Task Force further recommends that: f In the period leading up to legalization, and thereafter on an ongoing basis, governments invest effort and resources in developing, implementing and evaluating broad, holistic prevention strategies to address the underlying risk factors and determinants of problematic cannabis use, such as mental illness and social marginalization f Governments commit to using revenue from cannabis regulation as a source of funding for prevention, education and treatment Details: Ottawa: Health Canada, 2016. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2016 at: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/alt/framework-cadre-eng.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Canada URL: http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/task-force-marijuana-groupe-etude/framework-cadre/alt/framework-cadre-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 147805 Keywords: Cannabis Cannabis Legalization Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Title: Drug supply reduction: an overview of EU policies and measures Summary: The operation of illicit drug markets is dependent on a chain of events with a global span. At each stage of the process, from the production to the trafficking through to the consumption and the derived profits, the health and security of different countries is compromised by organised crime groups. This paper looks at EU policies and responses to the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, set within the global context. It considers the different strategic areas where these challenges are addressed, the EU structures involved, and some of the key measures currently being implemented by the EU and its international partners. Drug supply reduction issues arise in many policy areas, including illicit drug policy, security, organised crime, and maritime and regional cooperation policy. Issues related to drug production and trafficking arise in the work of several institutions, bodies and EU agencies. The operation of smuggling routes challenges the security of the EU in different ways and measures have been adopted to counteract these problems. These include developing intelligence-led policing and improved border management and surveillance as well as legislative tools to target criminal profits. The EU is involved in a range of projects and initiatives around the world designed to reduce the supply of illicit drugs, including capacity-building initiatives targeting smuggling routes and measures to support economic, legislative and monitoring infrastructural development. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: EMCDDA Papers: Accessed February 1, 2017: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/3633/TDAU16002ENN_web_file.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/3633/TDAU16002ENN_web_file.pdf Shelf Number: 145072 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Supply Reduction Drug Trafficking Illicit Drug Markets Illicit Drugs Organized Crime

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Title: Drug trafficking penalties across the European Union: a survey of expert opinion. Technical report Summary: The results of a study on national drug trafficking laws and their application in the Member States of the European Union are presented in this report. It is based on an analysis of the national laws and on the opinions of legal practitioners — judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers — from 26 countries. The penalties set out in national laws for trafficking cannabis, amphetamine, cocaine and heroin are compared with the sentencing outcomes expected by the legal practitioners, including penalties imposed and the estimated time likely to be spent in prison. Details: Lisbon, Portugal: Praca Europa, 2017. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 1, 2017 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/3573/Trafficking-penalties.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/3573/Trafficking-penalties.pdf Shelf Number: 140778 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Traffickers Drug Trafficking Punishment Sentencing

Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department C Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Title: A Review and Assessment of EU Drug Policy Summary: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The challenges facing Europe in the field of drugs are still significant and have increased in complexity in recent years. In addition to the key issue of mortality and morbidity as a result of opioid use, new and emerging problems are being experienced across the EU. These include the creation of new psychoactive substances and the increasing dynamism of illicit drug markets. This study aims to provide evidence on international and EU approaches to drug policy, including these challenges and focusing on several case study countries. This evidence has been used to identify and develop policy proposals. Drug policy at the UN and EU levels The main tenets of the UN's approach to drugs are the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Convention against illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. A key UN policy document is the 2009 'Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem'. This document details a set of goals to be achieved by 2019, including significant and measurable progress in eliminating the illicit cultivation of opium poppy, coca bush and cannabis plant, as well as actions to be implemented by countries across three main pillars. In April 2016, the UNGASS on the World Drug Problem was convened; a UN General Assembly special session seen as an important milestone in achieving the goals set out in the 2009 policy document. The UNGASS resulted in the adoption of the outcome document 'Our joint commitment to effectively addressing and countering the world drug problem. This document provided a range of operational recommendations and broadened the original pillar structure to 7 pillars (see chapter 2). Several new themes were added including drugs and health, drugs and human rights, new drug related challenges such as NPS and use of the internet, and international and development related cooperation. At the EU level, although the primary onus for developing drug policy and legislation remains with the Member States, there are a several legal bases for EU action, as stipulated in the Treaty of Lisbon. These cover the context of adopting minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions on serious organised crime (Article 83 TFEU), public health (Article 168 TFEU), the internal market (Article 114 TFEU) and judicial cooperation in criminal matters (Articles 82-86 TFEU). In terms of EU policy, the most prominent current instrument is the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020. The Strategy provides the overarching political framework and priorities for EU drug policy. The EU Drugs Strategy has 5 main objectives, namely to reduce demand and harm, disrupt the drugs market, discourse and analysis, cooperation, and research and monitoring. The implementation of the Strategy's long-term objectives have been operationalised in 4- year Action Plans. In November 2015, the Commission adopted a report on the progress of the implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan. The mid-term evaluation of the first Action Plan (2013-2016) is due to be completed by the end of 2016 or, at the latest, early 2017. The findings from the mid-term evaluation and the Public Consultation, which was launched by the European Commission in March 2016, will inform the Commission's decision to propose a new Action Plan for 2017-2020. Recent EU legislative developments relate to a package of two proposals regarding new psychoactive substances. These proposals were put forward by the European Commission is 2013. As Member States expressed doubts in the Council concerning the choice of Article 114 TFEU as the legal basis for the proposed Regulation, inter-institutional negotiations of this legislative package were ongoing for more than two years. As a result, the Commission withdrew its proposal on 29 August 2016 and tabled a proposal amending the founding Regulation of the EMCDDA (Regulation (EC) No 1920/2006 on the EMCDDA). Under this proposal, deadlines for decision-making on NPS will be significantly reduced and Europol will take on a more active role in the risk assessment procedure and the Early Warning System (EWS), with a view to quicker identification and assessment of the involvement of criminal groups. The new proposal was welcomed by all Member States and was backed by the European Parliament's LIBE Committee on 17 November 2016. Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2016. 224p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571400/IPOL_STU(2016)571400_EN.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571400/IPOL_STU(2016)571400_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 144946 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Control Policy Drug Enforcement Drug markets Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Organized Crime

Author: Corda, Alejandro Title: Cannabis in Latin America and the Caribbean: From punishment to regulation Summary: Cannabis (or marihuana) is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world. According to the United Nations World Drug Report, 183 million people, or 3.8% of the world's population, used cannabis in 2014. Its cultivation was also reported by 129 countries. Cannabis is subject to the United Nations System for International Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (hereafter "drugs") and is the most widely consumed of all the drugs. According to that control system, cannabis is among the substances with the strictest legal status; they are the most prohibited, supposedly because of the harm they cause and their lack of medical usefulness. Nevertheless, its medicinal, spiritual and social use has been recorded in different places and times in human history, without serious associated consequences. Its prohibition began in the early 20th century, even though there were - and are - no records of overdose deaths, and public health risks are relatively low, even compared to other psychoactive substances with less strict legal status, such as alcohol and tobacco. Unlike other substances subject to control, which are produced in only certain regions of the world, cannabis is cultivated, produced and consumed worldwide. Some countries, however, have historically been regional producers or have a longer history or closer ties with the plant. On the American continent, this is true of Mexico in North America, Jamaica in the Caribbean, and Paraguay and Colombia in South America. Proposals for regulation of the cannabis market have been on the table for a number of years. The movement of users and growers has placed the issue on the social, political and media agenda, and there have been some reforms. One example is Uruguay, where the decision was made to regulate the market for cannabis for any kind of use. In other countries, however, reforms have been limited to regulating systems of access to cannabis for medicinal or therapeutic use. Although the international drug control system considers the possibility of "medical and scientific" use of cannabis, prejudices about the substance have hampered the development of regulations and acceptance by Western medicine. In fact, many "reforms" related to medicinal cannabis required only modification of low-level regulations. This means that a proposal being presented as novel is actually something that should always have existed. Key points The prohibitionist approach imposed on cannabis by the international drug control system still persists in nearly all of the Latin American and Caribbean countries examined. In almost all of them, possession falls under criminal law. Some countries' legislation establishes thresholds below which cannabis possession should not be considered a crime. Only in Uruguay does the law include regulation of the entire chain. Although cannabis organizations and other groups have managed to place the issue on the agenda, in most countries reforms are still pending or have been inadequate. The inclusion of relatives and users of cannabis for medicinal and therapeutic purposes has helped give impetus to the movement and to raise awareness among both political stakeholders and the public. Many of the reforms under way do not recognize the need to regulate the recreational and cultural use of cannabis and run the risk of perpetuating the current consequences, with the persistent impact on health, security, institutionality and human rights that the prohibition of cannabis and the lack of state regulation allow and encourage. The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean should prepare for future reform scenarios, instead of considering temporary measures that will perpetuate the same harmful consequences. Limiting reform solely to medicinal cannabis is only a partial, inadequate and temporary solution. If change is truly sought, it is necessary to move toward models of state regulation of cannabis for all purposes. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug policy Briefing no. 48: Accessed April 6, 2017 at: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_48_eng_web_def.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Latin America URL: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_48_eng_web_def.pdf Shelf Number: 144729 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Prohibition Drug Reform Marijuana

Author: Blickman, Tom Title: Morocco and Cannabis: Reduction, containment or acceptance Summary: This policy briefing discusses whether or not the aim of reducing cannabis cultivation is realistic or beneficial for Morocco, what it would actually mean for the major production area the Rif - one of the poorest, most densely populated and environmentally fragile regions in the country - and what that could imply for meaningful sustainable development. The briefing will give some historical background, discuss developments in the cannabis market, and highlight environmental and social consequences as well as the recent debate about regulation in Morocco and about European policies. KEY POINTS - Morocco continues to be the world's largest producer of cannabis resin (hashish). Over the past 50 years, the Moroccan cannabis growers shown a remarkable resilience to government attempts to eradicate or reduce cannabis cultivation as well as a noteworthy ability to adapt to changing international market conditions. - Since Morocco's independence the government has practiced a policy of containment regarding cannabis cultivation, allowing no new areas but tacitly allowing those already in production to be maintained. - The rapid increase in illicit cannabis cultivation in the Rif during the last decades, as well as poor soil conservation practices, have taken a heavy toll on the Rif's already threatened forests and fragile ecosystems. - The unregulated cannabis market in Morocco has negative social consequences. Some 48,000 growers have arrest warrants hanging over their heads, which is a source of corruption and repression. An amnesty and decriminalization could be effective measures to diminish negative social consequences and open the debate about regulation. - Cannabis farmers in Morocco should have access to emerging legally regulated cannabis markets that are gaining ground worldwide. The challenge is to find a sustainable development model that includes cannabis cultivation in Morocco, instead of excluding cannabis and ignoring the realities of more than 50 years of failed attempts to eradicate the only viable economic option in the region. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2017. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing, no. 49: Accessed April 6, 2017 at: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_49_eng_web.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Morocco URL: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_49_eng_web.pdf Shelf Number: 144730 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Markets Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana

Author: Putri, Dania Title: Cannabis in Indonesia: Patterns in consumption, production, and policies Summary: Key Points - Traditional use of cannabis in Indonesia has mainly been found in the northern part of Sumatra, particularly in the Aceh region. Restrictions in production, use and distribution of cannabis were initiated by the Dutch colonial government in the 1920s following international actions on cannabis control. - Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Indonesia, with approximately two million users in 2014. Under the current narcotics law cannabis is included in the mostrestrictive Schedule I list, along with substances such as heroin, and crystal meth or shabu. Penalties for cannabis-related offences are comparable to shabu- or heroin-related offences, in spite of the common perception that cannabis is less harmful. - The ambiguous nature of the narcotics law often triggers the victimisation of cannabis users who are either falsely accused as dealers, or have limited or no access to legal support during legal proceedings. Entrapment and extortion by law enforcement and security officers are widespread. - Government attempts to alleviate prison overcrowding by sending users to rehabilitation centres have triggered many criticisms, mainly due to their problematic methods (such as forced urine tests and breaches of patient confidentiality) and the questionable effectiveness of mandatory rehabilitation programmes, especially as the majority of cannabis users do not develop problematic use. - Decriminalizing use, possession for personal use and small-scale cannabis cultivation for personal use may help resolve various issues ranging from prison overcrowding to extortion of users by law enforcement officers, and may also free up human and financial resources to tackle problematic use. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing no. 44: Accessed April 12, 2017 at: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_44_13012016_map_web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Indonesia URL: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/dpb_44_13012016_map_web.pdf Shelf Number: 144819 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Marijuana

Author: Cengiz, Mahmut Title: Amped in Ankara: Drug trade and drug policy in Turkey from the 1950s through today Summary: KEY FINDINGS Drug trafficking in Turkey is extensive and has persisted for decades. A variety of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, synthetic cannabis (bonsai), methamphetamine, and captagon (a type of amphetamine), are seized in considerable amounts there each year. Turkey is mostly a trans-shipment and destination country. Domestic drug production is limited to cannabis, which is produced mainly for domestic consumption, and small amounts of captagon. An effective poppy cultivation licensing scheme in the 1970s ended illegal poppy cultivation and the diversion of opiates into the illegal trade. Since the 1970s, Turkish drug trafficking groups have grown in terms of their power, global reach, and market control. They are also among Europe's most powerful organized crime groups when it comes to heroin trafficking. Moreover, other international drug trafficking groups also operate in Turkey. The civil wars in Iraq and Syria have reshaped drug smuggling routes in the Middle East. Syrian drug traffickers now play a significant role in Turkey's illegal drug trade. The illegal drug trade in Turkey is a complex and multidimensional issue that poses public safety, national security, and public health threats and risks. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is strongly involved in drug trafficking and closely connected to terrorism in the region. Meanwhile, Turkish drug trafficking groups have also become involved in human smuggling, cigarette smuggling, and antiquities trafficking. Turkey's drug policy under-emphasizes treatment, prevention, and harm reduction approaches, while overemphasizing drug seizures. Tens of thousands of people have been charged with drug trafficking for possession and sale of cannabis. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS To improve its drug policies, Turkey should take a more balanced, evidence-based, comprehensive, and integrated approach. It should focus on and expand resources for reducing both demand and harm. Turkey should strengthen the capacity and independence of law enforcement and the judiciary through better laws, investigative procedures, and bolstered capacities. The government should improve anti-money laundering and anti-corruption capacities, regional counter-narcotics cooperation, border security, and the vetting of migrants and refugees in Turkey for connections to terrorism and organized crime. Details: Washington, DC: Drug Policy at Brookings, 2017. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 17, 2017 at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/fp_201704_turkey_drug_policy.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Turkey URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/fp_201704_turkey_drug_policy.pdf Shelf Number: 144986 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Trafficking Illegal Drug Trade Money Laundering Organized Crime

Author: Apfel, Rachael Title: Implementing Proposition 64: Marijuana Policy in California Summary: The Law and Policy Lab practicum is an important innovation in the curriculum at Stanford Law School. Policy Lab students address important public policy questions for a real-world client, under the supervision of a SLS faculty member. In some ways, the Policy Lab is similar to a traditional legal clinic, but the focus is on the general public interest rather than advocacy on behalf of a particular individual or organization. This report is the work of a Policy Lab on marijuana regulation, a subject of extraordinary current importance in California. After 20 years of unregulated medical marijuana, the legislature passed a comprehensive set of rules governing how the industry should operate. Shortly thereafter, the voters approved Proposition 64 (The Adult Use of Marijuana Act), which legalized recreational marijuana. This new environment creates challenges and opportunities for policymakers, including Assemblyman Jim Wood, whose district includes most of the states' marijuana production. Our Stanford policy lab was very fortunate to have Dr. Wood as our client for this semester. Dr. Wood posed three questions that our students, with our guidance, tried to answer: (1) What are the conflicts between the recently passed medical marijuana regulations and Proposition 64, and how can they be reconciled within the constraints of the State Constitution? (2) How serious a problem is cannabis-impaired driving, and what technologies and policies could combat it? (3) How can policymakers protect the environment from destructive marijuana grows, and how can environment protection officials hold destructive growers responsible when they are shielded under multiple limited license corporations (LLCs). Details: Palo Alto, CA: Stanford Law School, Law and Policy Lab, 2017. 71p. Source: Accessed April 21, 2017 at: https://www-cdn.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Implementing_Prop_64_Stanford_Law_School.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www-cdn.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Implementing_Prop_64_Stanford_Law_School.pdf Shelf Number: 145136 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Proposition 64

Author: Mansfield, David Title: Development in a Drugs Environment: A Strategic Approach to 'Alternative Development' Summary: Whichever way we look at it Alternative Development is at a crossroads: there is confusion over language and terms, concerns over the technical capacity of implementing bodies, and the growing view that the attribution of both drug control and development outcomes to alternative development projects remains opaque. The result is funding for alternative development projects continues to fall. There are certainly many in the wider development community who question how alternative development differs from conventional rural development and whether the inclusion of key cross cutting issues such as poverty, gender, the environment and conflict have actually manifested in improvements in the lives and livelihoods of primary stakeholders. Without more robust evidence of the impact of these programmes on both human development indicators and illicit drug crop cultivation, as well as improved confidence in the effectiveness of those bodies that have traditionally designed and implemented alternative development programmes, it is unlikely that levels of funding for the kind of discrete area based alternative development projects of the past will actually recover. More recently in Afghanistan, and increasingly in other source countries in Asia, the term 'alternative development' has been substituted with 'Alternative Livelihoods' with little recognition of the conceptual and operational differences. Elsewhere terms such as 'Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods' and indeed 'Sustainable Livelihoods' itself are sneaking into the rubric of drug control agencies as they search for a common language and legitimacy with the development community. Even the term 'Alternative Development' still means 'many things to many people'. For those whose performance is measured simply in terms of reductions in the amount of opium poppy and coca grown, alternative development is seen as simply as the 'carrot' to the eradication 'stick', and the provision of development assistance is contingent on reductions in illicit drug crop cultivation. For others, reductions in illicit drug crop cultivation are an externality of a development process (that includes extending good governance and the rule of law) aimed at achieving sustainable improvements in lives and livelihoods. In terms of both process and the primary goal there is still much disagreement with regard to alternative development. However, there is a danger of 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. Alternative development projects have achieved both development and drug control outcomes in specific geographical areas where more conventional development agencies are often not even present, despite the prevailing levels of poverty and conflict. For those who have experienced the low levels of literacy, high incidence of food insecurity, infant mortality and malnutrition that typically exist in illicit drug crop producing areas, as well as the lack of governance and prevailing levels of violence and intimidation from both state and non-state actors, arguments about the relatively high income of opium poppy and coca growing households seems rather inappropriate and ill informed. To this group the subsequent improvements in the income and quality of life of communities that often accompany alternative development projects at the same time as levels of opium poppy or coca cultivation fall are obvious, even if they might have been documented better or achieved more cost effectively. Details: Eschborn, Germany: Deutsche Gesellschaft f�r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, Development-oriented Drug Control Programme (DDC), 2006. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper: Accessed April 21, 2017 at: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Development%20in%20a%20Drugs%20Environment.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Asia URL: http://www.countthecosts.org/sites/default/files/Development%20in%20a%20Drugs%20Environment.pdf Shelf Number: 145140 Keywords: Drug Control Drug Policy Drug Production

Author: Jensema, Ernestien Title: 'Found in the Dark': The Impact of Drug Law Enforcement Practices in Myanmar Summary: Key Points - Myanmar has serious drug use problems, largely related to unsafe practices such as needle sharing by injecting heroin users. The country's current approach to addressing drug-related problems focuses on repression, mainly by arresting and incarcerating drug users. This paper analyses the impact of drug law enforcement practices on drug users in Myanmar. It shows the failure of the current drug law enforcement system, with drug users and their families as the principal victims. - The criminalisation of drug use and possession for personal use is heavily impacting the lives of drug users and their families. It is cause for stigmatisation by the community they live in; it increases risky drug use behaviour, and is the basis for police harassment and corruption. - The vast majority of arrests made as a result of drug laws concern drug users and small dealer/users. Prisons are overcrowded with drug users sentenced to excessively long jail terms. Prisons and labour camps lack appropriate health care and do not provide for the basic needs of inmates. Very few large-scale traffickers are targeted for arrest or have been put in prison. - Female drug users, in particular, have received very little support to face their problems. Often abandoned by their families and communities, female drug users are in need of services targeting their specific needs. - Instead of a repressive approach, voluntary and evidence-based treatment and public health services, including harm reduction, should be made available to people who use drugs. Harassment by enforcement officials and corruption in the justice system should be addressed. A harm reduction approach needs to become generally accepted by enforcement officials and by the community at large. Myanmar's drug laws should be reformed to address these issues, and support drug users and other marginalised communities affected by drugs instead of punishing them. Details: Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug Policy Briefing, no. 47: Accessed April 21, 2017 at: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/drug_policy_briefing_47_found_in_the_dark.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Burma URL: https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/drug_policy_briefing_47_found_in_the_dark.pdf Shelf Number: 145145 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Law Enforcement Drug Offenders Drug Policy

Author: Camacho, Adriana Title: Drug Consumption in Colombia Summary: This paper examines the evolution of drug use in Colombia over the past years. Our analysis, based on surveys from the Direccion Nacional de Estupefacientes, shows that drug consumption grew substantially between 1996 and 2013. The growth occurred for both genders, all ages, socioeconomic strata and types of occupation. The results also suggest that men of high socioeconomic strata who regularly consume alcohol and cigarettes and who are between 18 and 24 years of age are more likely to use drugs. Finally, the paper presents some indirect evidence that contradicts the alleged effects of the judgment of the Constitutional Court (Sentencia C-221 of May 1994) that decriminalized the personal dose on the consumption of drugs in Colombia. Details: Bogota: Universidad de los Andes, Colombia - Department of Economics, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Documento CEDE No. 2016-36: Accessed May 9,. 2017 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2877199 Year: 2016 Country: Colombia URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2877199 Shelf Number: 145363 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Legalization Drug Policy

Author: Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Urban Affairs Title: Racial Disparities in Arrests in the District of Columbia, 2009-2011: Implications for Civil Rights and Criminal Justice in the Nation's Capital Summary: At its founding in 1968, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs sought to address issues of racial discrimination and their associated causes. Our work started with efforts to address issues of discrimination and poverty identified by the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (known as the Kerner Commission) as the root causes of the riots that had erupted in cities across the country throughout the 1960s. Forty-five years later, the Washington Lawyers' Committee has developed a wide range of litigation and advocacy programs and projects addressing a broad range of civil rights and poverty concerns, including criminal justice reform and prisoners' rights. In 2006 the Committee joined forces with the DC Prisoners Project to make prisoners' rights a formal and major part of its work. The Washington Lawyers' Committee has long been concerned by the impact of the drug laws and drug policies on the population it serves, and the Committee's view has been that drug abuse and addiction are most appropriately treated primarily as public health concerns rather than criminal matters. While litigation efforts to win judicial recognition of this principle were unsuccessful in the 1970s, the Committee's pilot program at that time demonstrated the importance of legal support and expanded treatment for addicted individuals. This report grows out of increasing concern that broader aspects of our local and national criminal justice systems - even beyond questions relating to drug policies - reflect significant racial disparities that raise important questions of public policy and civil rights concerns. In order to further explore these issues, the Committee convened a panel of senior and retired judges, and enlisted the support of a team of attorneys at the firm of Covington & Burling LLP, to obtain and analyze a comprehensive set of arrest data for the District of Columbia covering the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. Together, the Washington Lawyers' Committee, Covington & Burling LLP, and the judicial review committee have analyzed and reviewed the data. While we leave it to readers to draw their own conclusions, it is the view of this report's authors and advisors that the statistics contained here should serve as a wake-up call to Washington, D.C. residents and policymakers. These findings speak to the need for residents and policymakers to take a deeper look at some of the civil rights implications of our drug, public health and public safety policies. Details: Washington, DC: The Committee, 2013. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2017 at: https://www.washlaw.org/pdf/wlc_report_racial_disparities.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.washlaw.org/pdf/wlc_report_racial_disparities.pdf Shelf Number: 129381 Keywords: Arrests and Apprehensions Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Racial Disparities Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement

Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Title: Mid-term assessment of the EU drugs strategy 2013-2020 and final evaluation of the action plan on drugs 2013-2016 Summary: This evaluation assesses the degree of implementation of the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and the Action Plan 2013-2016 in terms of outputs and, to the extent possible, impacts. It looks at the extent to which the objectives of the EU Drugs Strategy have been achieved, highlighting the areas where progress has been made and those where progress is lagging. In addition, the evaluation aims to provide evidence to support the Commission's decision about whether to propose a new Action Plan for the period 2017-2020, and if so, what changes would be needed compared to the current plan. In accordance with the Better Regulation guidelines, the evaluation addresses 13 research questions that relate to the criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and coherence of the EU Drugs Strategy and the Action Plan as well as their EU added value. The evaluation addresses all parts of the Strategy; the two policy areas (or 'pillars') of drug demand and drug supply reduction, and the three cross-cutting themes of coordination, international cooperation, and information, research, monitoring and evaluation. This summary describes how the data were collected for the evaluation (and the limitations to those data), sets out the main findings in relation to each of the 13 research questions and presents some cross-cutting conclusions which highlight key messages from across the evaluation criteria. Lastly, it lists the 20 recommendations made by the evaluation Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2016. 280p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2017 at: https://bookshop.europa.eu/en/search/Filter?SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26Author%3DEmilie%2BBalbirnie Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: https://bookshop.europa.eu/en/search/Filter?SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26Author%3DEmilie%2BBalbirnie Shelf Number: 145413 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Trafficking

Author: Levi, Michael Title: Drug Law Enforcement and Financial Investigation Strategies Summary: Since the 1980s, there has been a major push in rhetoric and institution-building, emphasizing the centrality of attacking the financial lifeblood of drug trafficking networks and organised economic crimes. Much progress has been made in legislation and the creation of financial intelligence units. However, there are volumes of commentary and legal analysis, but almost nowhere in the world is there any systematic analysis of law enforcement or criminal justice inputs or outputs, let alone of outcomes in terms of reduced crimes of any kind or reduced harms arising from the 'organised' nature of crime. Much depends on how plausible it is that the sources of funds can be represented as being licit when saving or investing: but a global, well-advertised set of financial intermediaries exist upon whom to experiment, and expectations of being reported following failed attempts may be quite low. Judging from the continued involvement of major banks in negligently or actively facilitating a variety of suspected illicit activities, and the relative impunity of institutions that are 'too big to be prosecuted', normal risk perceptions of relevant parts of financial institutions are not nearly high enough to deter all serious noncompliance to AML regulation, though without increasing perceived and/or actual detection risks and reducing elapsed time to action, raising sanctions alone may not work. This report makes no claim to be offering a certain route to success, but is offering an overview of some better and some false steps that have been undertaken in the field of drug law enforcement and financial investigation strategies. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Modernising Drug Law Enforcement Report 5: Accessed May 18, 2017 at: https://www.tni.org/files/MDLE-5-drug-law-enforcement-financial-investigation-strategies_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: https://www.tni.org/files/MDLE-5-drug-law-enforcement-financial-investigation-strategies_0.pdf Shelf Number: 131377 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Drug Trafficking Financial Investigations Money Laundering Organized Crime

Author: Monaghan, Geoffrey Title: Practical implications of policing alternatives to arrest and prosecution for minor cannabis offences Summary: The purpose of this report is not to present a comparative study of legal rules and policies pertaining to cannabis in these or other countries, but to examine an issue largely neglected in the academic literature and by those advocating drug policy reform: namely the practical implications of policing and enforcing these developments. The report provides an overview of some of the many difficulties that may - and do - confront police services when tasked to implement such measures (including the exercise of discretion) through examination of the rules and experiences of four jurisdictions, namely, Australia, England and Wales, Portugal and Switzerland. Along with some examples from the USA, specific aspects of each case study are scrutinised with the intention of highlighting points likely to be of interest to policy makers and practitioners alike. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Modernising drug law enforcement - Report 4: Accessed May 19, 2017 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/566349360/library/MDLE-report-4_Practical-implications-of-policing-alternatives-to-arrest.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/566349360/library/MDLE-report-4_Practical-implications-of-policing-alternatives-to-arrest.pdf Shelf Number: 131376 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Enforcement Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana

Author: Comolli, Virginia Title: Drug Markets, Security and Foreign Aid Summary: Through the delivery of aid, some countries have tried to export their preferred drug control policies and have leveraged the recipients� need for aid to influence their policy approach. The approaches adopted in many aid agreements seem to be insulated from the advances in the global debate about alternative drug policies and harm reduction and remains heavily focused on law enforcement. Counter-narcotics aid can become a tool to divert attention from ineffective domestic strategies, and to refocus international attention towards the challenges faced by drug producer and transit countries. Even if aid projects benefitting drug law enforcement were continuously effective, it would not prevent a shift or adaptation of the drug market, and it would not decrease demand in consumer countries. Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Modernising Drug Law Enforcement Report 6: Accessed May 19, 2017 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-6-Drug-markets-security-and-foreign-aid.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/MDLE-6-Drug-markets-security-and-foreign-aid.pdf Shelf Number: 131375 Keywords: Drug Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy

Author: Hao, Zhuang Title: The Cross-Border Spillover Effects of Recreational Marijuana Legalization Summary: We examine the spillover effects of recreational marijuana legalization (RML) in Colorado and Washington on neighboring states. We find that RML causes a sharp increase in marijuana possession arrests in border counties of neighboring states relative to non-border counties in these states. RML has no impact on juvenile marijuana possession arrests but is rather fully concentrated among adults. We do not find evidence that marijuana sale/manufacture arrests, DUI arrests, or opium/cocaine possession arrests in border counties are affected by RML. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2017. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper No. 23426: Accessed May 22, 2017 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w23426.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w23426.pdf Shelf Number: 145663 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Legalization

Author: Hughes, Brendan Title: Cannabis Legislation in Europe: An Overview Summary: Cannabis is the drug most often mentioned in reports of drug law offences in Europe. In 2014, the drug accounted for 57% of an overall estimate of 1.6 million offences (EMCDDA, 2016). Cannabis is also Europe's most commonly used illicit drug. It is estimated that at least one in every eight young adults (aged 15-34 years) used cannabis in the last year across the European Union. At the national level, these rates range from less than 1% to over 20% of young adults. The most recent data suggest that 1% of the adult population (aged 15-64 years) of the European Union and Norway, or about 3 million individuals, are smoking cannabis on a daily or near- daily basis. The trends in use also vary between countries. In surveys since around 2005, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom have shown decreasing or stable trends in reported use, while upward trends can be observed in Bulgaria, France and three of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland and Sweden). A renewed debate about the laws prohibiting or permitting cannabis use and supply around the world has been fuelled by the legalisation of supply and use of cannabis for 'recreational' purposes in some US states and Uruguay since 2012. Proposals to legalise the drug have raised concerns they may lead to increases in cannabis use and related harms, and questions about the ways in which cannabis for non-medical purposes could be regulated to mitigate these concerns. In the European Union, a system of unlimited distribution has evolved in the Netherlands since the 1970s, and this has seen further developments in the last few years. The advantages and disadvantages of these regulated systems are being closely observed. The model of 'cannabis social clubs' has been increasingly mentioned in drug policy debates. Its advocates argue that the decision to not prosecute individuals for cannabis use in some countries can also be applied to registered groups of individuals, in order to permit a closed system of cannabis production and distribution. At present, the model is rejected by national authorities in Europe. Throughout Europe there is media and public discourse on the issue of changing cannabis laws. However, national administrations are concerned about the public health impact of cannabis use and generally oppose the decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis for recreational use. Nonetheless, cannabis laws and the medical and scientific research that informs policy-making can be regarded as entering a period of change, the direction of which is still unclear. It is with this background in mind that the EMCDDA has decided to produce this report. Incorporating and building on earlier EMCDDA work (see Resources, page 30), the present study outlines the legislation relating to cannabis around the European Union (with a focus on 'recreational' use, rather than production and use for medical or industrial purposes). Written for a broad audience, the report aims to give brief answers to some of the more frequently asked questions raised in the discussions about cannabis legislation. These have been grouped into four parts: 1. What is cannabis and what are countries' obligations to control it? 2. What do the laws and associated guidelines say? 3. What happens to cannabis offenders in practice? 4. Where is cannabis legislation going? Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2017 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/4135/TD0217210ENN.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/4135/TD0217210ENN.pdf Shelf Number: 145791 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Legalization Drug Policy Illicit Drugs Marijuana

Author: Sviatschi, Maria Micaela Title: Essays on Human Capital, Labor and Development Economics Summary: This dissertation contains four essays on human capital, labor and development economics. The first two chapters study how exposure to particular labor markets during childhood determines the formation of industry-specific human capital generating longterm consequences in terms of adult criminal behavior, labor outcomes and state legitimacy. The third chapter explores how criminal capital developed during childhood can be exported to other locations generating spillover effects on human capital accumulation. Finally, the last chapter studies how improving access to justice for women affects children's outcomes. Chapter 1, "Making a Narco: Childhood Exposure to Illegal Labor Markets and Criminal Life Paths", shows that exposing children to illegal labor markets makes them more likely to be criminals as adults. I exploit the timing of a large anti-drug policy in Colombia that shifted cocaine production to locations in Peru that were well-suited to growing coca. In these areas, children harvest coca leaves and transport processed cocaine. Using variation across locations, years, and cohorts, combined with administrative data on the universe of individuals in prison in Peru, affected children are 30% more likely to be incarcerated for violent and drug-related crimes as adults. The biggest impacts on adult criminality are seen among children who experienced high coca prices in their early teens, the age when child labor responds the most. No effect is found for individuals that grow up working in places where the coca produced goes primarily to the legal sector, implying that it is the accumulation of human capital specific to the illegal industry that fosters criminal careers. As children involved in the illegal industry learn how to navigate outside the rule of law, they also lose trust in government institutions. However, consistent with a model of parental incentives for human capital investments in children, the rollout of a conditional cash transfer program that encourages schooling mitigates the ef- fects of exposure to illegal industries. Finally, I show how the program can be targeted by taking into account the geographic distribution of coca suitability and spatial spillovers. Overall, this paper takes a first step towards understanding how criminals are formed by unpacking the way in which crime-specific human capital is developed at the expense of formal human capital in "bad locations." While my first chapter focuses on low-skilled labor and criminal capital, my second chapter studies the expansion of high-skilled labor markets. In Chapter 2, "Long-term Effects of Temporary Labor Demand: Free Trade Zones, Female Education and Marriage Market Outcomes in the Dominican Republic", I exploit the sudden and massive growth of female factory jobs in free trade zones (FTZs) in the Dominican Republic in the 1990s, and subsequent decline in the 2000s, to provide the first evidence that even relatively brief episodes of preferential trade treatments for export industries may have permanent effects on human capital levels and female empowerment. Focusing on a sample of provinces that established FTZs and exploiting variation in the opening of zones and age of women at the time of opening, I show that the FTZs' openings led to a large and very robust increase in girls' education. The effect persists after a decline in FTZs' jobs in the 2000s following the end of a trade agreement with the U.S. and an increase in competition from Asia. The reason appears to be that the increase in some girls' education changed marriage markets: girls whose education increased due to the FTZs' openings married later, had better matches with more stable marriages, gave birth later, and had children who were more likely to survive infancy. In sum, the evidence in this paper indicates that labor markets can improve female outcomes in developing countries through general equilibrium effects in the education and marriage markets. Another question I address in my dissertation is whether criminal capital developed during childhood can be exported to other locations. In the first chapter, I find that individuals take skills related to the illegal drug industry with them when they move to other districts, even when they move to districts without significant illegal industries. Chapter 3, "Exporting Criminal Capital: The Effect of U.S. Deportations on Gang Expansion and Human Capital in Central America", provides new evidence on how an increase in criminal capital due to deportations from the US affects human capital investments in El Salvador. In 1996, the U.S. Illegal Immigration Responsibility Act drastically increased the number of criminal deportations. In particular, the leaders of large gangs in Los Angeles were sent back to their countries. In addition to having a direct effect, the arrival of individuals bringing criminal skills and connections may have generated important spillover effects. We exploit this policy to look at the impact that deportation policies and the subsequent arrival of criminal capital to El Salvador had on several educational and economic outcomes. Using the 1996 policy and geographical variation in the exact location and delimitation of different gang groups, we find that criminal deportations led to large increase in crime and decrease in human capital accumulation for children living in these areas. Overall, this project helps to understand one of the reasons why El Salvador is among the world's most violent peacetime countries. Understanding these effects is crucial for public policy to successfully incorporate deported criminals back into society. While my work in the Dominican Republic and the previous literature has shown that increasing the returns to education for women incentivizes schooling, there is little evidence on how domestic violence affects human capital development and whether improving access to institutions for women can address these issues. During my field work in rural areas of Peru, I found that institutions do not usually address the problems facing women or ethnic and religious minorities. For example, the police do very little to stop domestic violence. Moreover, in many cases, women do not even trust these institutions enough to report these issues. Chapter 4, "Inter-Generational Impacts of Improving Access to Justice for Women: Evidence from Peru", exploits the introduction of women's justice centers (WJCs) in Peru to provide causal estimates on the effects of improving access to justice for women and children. Our empirical approach uses variation over time in the distance from schools and households to the nearest WJC together with province- by-year fixed effects. After the opening of WJC, we find that primary school enrollment increases at schools that are within a 1km radius of a WJC and the effect decreases with distance. In addition, we also find that primary school second graders have better test scores in reading and mathematics. Moreover, we find that children in primary school living in household's located near a WJC are more likely to attend school, to pass a grade and they are also less likely to drop out of school. We also provide some evidence that these improvements might be driven by an increase in the bargaining power of women inside the household and decrease in domestic violence. In sum, the evidence in this paper shows that providing access to justice for women can be a powerful tool to reduce domestic violence and increase education of children, suggesting a positive inter-generational benefit. Details: New York: Columbia University, 2017. 243p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 20, 2017 at: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:nk98sf7m24 Year: 2017 Country: South America URL: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:nk98sf7m24 Shelf Number: 147415 Keywords: Child Labor Cocaine Drug Policy Economics of Crime Gangs Illegal Drugs Illegal Immigrants Illegal Industries Labor Markets Violence Against Women

Author: Hughes, Caitlin Title: A Summary of Diversion Programs for Drug and Drug-Related Offenders in Australia Summary: Aims: The diversion of illicit drug users and drug-related offenders comprises an important component of Australia's policy response to illicit drugs. Identifying the programs and their key characteristics poses a formidable task for policy makers and researchers, particularly following the recent expansion of diversionary responses. This project aimed to summarise the current state of diversion in Australia: its nature and design. The analysis was guided by the following questions: What programs are currently utilised for the diversion of illicit drug users and drug-related offenders? What are the key characteristics of the diversion programs? What are their similarities and differences? Results: This project identified 51 programs operating for the diversion of drug and drug-related offenders throughout Australia. By examining their key features we noted that diversion expanded considerably since 2000, and that there was an expansion not only in the number, but also the type of programs. Diversion is now provided across the full spectrum of the diversion system, via police, courts and specialist courts. Accordingly 31% programs were for police diversion, 22% for court diversion and 18% drug courts (29% were multi-targeted). Some programs targeted drug offences. But the majority either targeted drug related offenders or were accessible for any offender. This was just one indication of the diversity of program features. In spite of the diversity an increasingly similar set of diversionary responses was provided in Australia. The five major types ranged from police cautioning to drug court mandated treatment programs. In most jurisdictions three forms of police drug diversion were offered: Police diversion for cannabis (29% programs); Police diversion for other illicit drugs (25% programs); Police diversion for drug or drug-related offenders (46% programs); Police diversion programs were complemented by two main types of court diversion programs, which targeted primarily minor drug users/drug-related offenders: Court diversion for minor drug/drug-related offenders (63%); Court diversion for serious drug/drug-related offenders (37%); Each program type had a unique design, not only in diversionary mechanism, but also in terms of who could access the program and their typical program requirements. In theory this facilitated the provision of diversion across a spectrum of people. It became increasingly clear through this project that while there was a movement towards having five main types of diversion in each jurisdiction, there remained considerable differences in jurisdictional systems. Jurisdictions differed in their priorities towards for example the provision of court or police diversion and in the level of emphasis upon drug courts. Moreover, we identified gaps in some systems for particular types of users. Both factors have potential impacts upon who accesses diversion, the types of outcomes and the overall cost-effectiveness of diversion systems. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 2008. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug policy Modelling Program Monograph 16: Accessed December 7, 2017 at: https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/16%20A%20summary%20of%20diversion%20programs.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/16%20A%20summary%20of%20diversion%20programs.pdf Shelf Number: 110583 Keywords: Diversion Programs Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Policy Drug Treatment Drugs and Crime

Author: Matthew, Dayna Bowen Title: Un-burying the Lead: Public health tools are the key to beating the opioid epidemic Summary: On November 1st, the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, chaired by Governor Chris Christie, released its report and recommendations for fighting "the worst drug overdose epidemic in U.S. history." The Report repeatedly underscores the scope and urgency of the nation's opioid epidemic that is ravaging families and communities in all 50 states. It claims 175 lives daily. In addition to these deaths, other tragic and costly health consequences of this epidemic include unprecedented increases in the incidence and prevalence of addiction, increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and a dramatic increase in the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. There is much in the Report to praise. For example, the Commission recommended that the president declare the opioid crisis a national public health emergency and the president adopted this recommendation. The declaration of a public health emergency will eventually allow states to apply for and Congress to fund long-term interventions to prevent and treat drug abuse. Moreover, the Commission's recommendations that emphasize treatment and harm reduction admirably include systemic changes that would have long-term impact, such as:  Development of new quality measures to incentivize early screening and treatment referrals;  Waiver of Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusions within Medicaid to expand capacity for in-patient treatment;  Broad expansion of federal drug courts to divert individuals away from prison and into treatment programs; and  Insurer regulations and penalties for mental health parity violations. However, this report argues that it is the Commission's final six recommendations - buried in the back of the report--that offer the most far-reaching and promising opportunities for state and federal leaders to strike at the root causes of the opioid crisis. These final recommendations, listed on the left side of Table 1 below, signal that our government may be willing to seriously address the opioid crisis as the public health emergency that it is. They aim at changing the fundamental social and environmental conditions that are risk factors for the populations among which addiction and death rates are soaring. As such, they have the greatest potential for impact because they reach the broadest segments of the community where addictions flourish. But even they do not go far enough. These good ideas need to be accompanied by action steps to implement them with the immediacy that this crisis warrants. This report suggests the logical "next steps" that should accompany the Commission's recommendations. They are listed on the right side of Table 1 below. This report proceeds in three parts. It first calls attention to the Commission's final six recommendations. It argues that these proposals, which focus on reforming housing, employment, family, criminal justice and educational determinants of opioid addiction, are the most important. interventions of all. Second, this report places the current opioid epidemic into historic context; America has seen terrible spikes in opioid and other drug related deaths in this country during two prior periods. The public health lessons from earlier epidemics provide strong support for the Commission's final six recommendations, and counsel a comprehensive approach to the social and economic risk factors associated with opioid addiction. Finally, this report asserts that the Commission's recommendations will have limited impact unless they are implemented with immediate action steps to ensure, and even expand, their concrete impact. Therefore, for each one of the Commission's final six recommendations, this report proposes a related action step for housing9 and employment,10 community engagement, and criminal justice interventions12 that are essential to defeating the worsening opioid crisis in this country. Moreover, this section urges the Administration to reach back 50 years in America's self-proclaimed drug "war" and extend the public health framework it has now adopted toward opioid addiction to the victims of America's earlier opioid crisis, and to those who became addicted to successor drugs. These victims of America's earlier opioid crises tragically were subjected to a criminal justice rather than public health approach to their disease. This report argues it is not too late to correct that error, by applying the public health framework to all populations affected by the disease of addiction. In conclusion, this report outlines a comprehensive and equitable strategy that federal, state, and local governments, as well as affected communities can take to effectively address the social determinants of opioid addiction. Details: Washington, DC: USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy , 2018. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2018 at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/es_20180123_un-burying-the-lead-final.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/es_20180123_un-burying-the-lead-final.pdf Shelf Number: 149227 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Drug Treatment Opioid Epidemic Opioids Public Health

Author: Jelsma, Martin Title: Balancing Treaty Stability and Change: Inter se modification of the UN drug control conventions to facilitate cannabis regulation Summary: Key Points - Legal tensions are growing within the international drug control regime as increasing numbers of member states or jurisdictions therein move towards or seriously consider legal regulation of the cannabis market for non-medical purposes, a policy choice not permitted under the existing UN legal framework. - Reaching a new global consensus to revise or amend the UN drug control conventions to accommodate cannabis regulation, or that of other psychoactive plants and substances currently scheduled in these treaties, does not appear to be a viable political option in the foreseeable future. - The application of dubious or 'untidy' legal arguments to accommodate regulated cannabis markets does little for the integrity of the regime, undermines respect for international law more broadly and is not sustainable. - Appealing to human rights obligations can provide powerful arguments to question full compliance with certain drug control treaty provisions, but does not in itself resolve the arguable conflict between different treaty obligations. - States may wish to adopt a stance of respectful temporary non-compliance as they pursue legally valid and appropriate options for the re-alignment of international obligations with domestic policy. - The nature of the international drug control regime's internal mechanisms does much to limit avenues for modernisation and forces states to consider extraordinary measures, such as the rightful choice made by Bolivia in relation to coca to withdraw and re-adhere with a new reservation. - Amongst reform options not requiring consensus, inter se modification appears to be the most 'elegant' approach and one that provides a useful safety valve for collective action to adjust a treaty regime arguably frozen in time. - Inter se modification would require the like-minded agreement to include a clear commitment to the original treaty aim to promote the health and welfare of humankind and to the original treaty obligations vis-a-vis countries not party to the agreement. - A legally-grounded and coordinated collective response has many clear benefits compared to a chaotic scenario of a growing number of different unilateral reservations and questionable re-interpretations. - Among other things, inter se modification would provide opportunities to experiment and learn from different models of regulation as well as open the possibility of international trade enabling small cannabis farmers in traditional Southern producing countries to supply the emerging regulated licit spaces in the global market. - Inter se modification would facilitate the development of what, within an international policy environment characterized by faux consensus, is increasingly necessary: a 'multi-speed drug control system' operating within the boundaries of international law, rather than one that strains against them. Details: Swansea, UK: Global Drug Policy Observatory, Swansea University, 2018. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Report 7: Accessed April 5, 2018 at: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Stability-Change-Inter-Se-Modification_GDPO-TNI-WOLA_March-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Stability-Change-Inter-Se-Modification_GDPO-TNI-WOLA_March-2018.pdf Shelf Number: 149703 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Control Drug Markets Drug Policy Illegal Drugs Marijuana

Author: Hudak, John Title: Uruguay's cannabis law: Pioneering a new paradigm Summary: Uruguay is the first country to legalize and regulate its domestic non-medical cannabis market. In light of this pioneering role, the choices and experiences of Uruguayan authorities hold important lessons for other jurisdictions that may consider whether and how to regulate cannabis. Uruguay's breakthroughs and challenges related to banking, international treaties, access to the product, enforcement, medical cannabis, tourism, and research and evaluation in particular hold immense value to policymakers and analysts elsewhere. To this end, this report examines the conditions that led Uruguay's government to pass its cannabis law in 2013, studies its progress so far, and identifies areas that policymakers should consider addressing in order to maximize the law's potential benefits. Details: Washington, DC: WOLA, Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings, 2018. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2018 at: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/gs_032118_Uruguays-cannabis-law_FINAL.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Uruguay URL: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/gs_032118_Uruguays-cannabis-law_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 149717 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana Legalization

Author: Pulido Moreno, Rodrigo Title: Cannabis in Uruguay. A case study of the regulated cannabis market in Uruguay Summary: This study deals with the impact of the legislative bill that enabled the creation of a regulated cannabis market in Uruguay as a means to combat organized crime in the country. This study will also explore the hypothesis that this legislative bill changed the legal character of criminality as well as reformulating narcotic issues from being a criminal issue into a public health issue. Analyzing the very specific case of Uruguay's current narcotic policies becomes a means to explore the ideas that constitute Law Nr 19.172 "Marijuana and its derivatives" which might be indicative of the attitudes in society regarding criminality. This ties into the new iteration of the dichotomy between law and democracy as a result of this legislative reform in Uruguay and the possible new role of legal theory in a democratic country which is discussed in this article. Details: Stockholm: Department of Romance Studies and Classics Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Stockholm, 2017. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed April 17, 2018 at: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1069404/FULLTEXT01.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Uruguay URL: http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1069404/FULLTEXT01.pdf Shelf Number: 149841 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Enforcement Drug Markets Drug Policy Marijuana

Author: Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Title: Working Paper on Projected Costs of Marijuana Legalization in Illinois Summary: Potential revenue resulting from the legalization of marijuana is often discussed as a remedy for lagging state budgets. Indeed, 24/7 Wall St. reports "marijuana sales could add to state coffers an estimated $566 million in excise tax revenue per year," which is in the middle of the low ($350M) and high ($700M) projections estimated by pro-marijuana groups like the Marijuana Policy Project. This report finds that legalization in Illinois, however, would cost at least $670 million, outweighing the projected tax revenue. To justify legalization, proponents often cite high criminal justice costs, often not recognizing that in 2016 Illinois decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. Additionally, the issue of legalization is often confused with the matter of medical marijuana, claiming the drug is necessary to aid those in need of medication. Supporters of the commercialization of marijuana often fail to acknowledge the costs resulting from marijuana use, including, but not limited to, drugged driving crashes and increased workplace absenteeism. Catalyst members have partnered with SAM to create this study in an attempt to publish valuable data in regard to the costs of the commercialization of marijuana. While we believe that this study has viable financial information about the monetary costs related to Illinois, we also feel that there are experiences far more significant than quantitative cost data. It is crucial to examine this cost study as one element of a larger view on the issue of marijuana in Illinois - an issue that touches individuals, families, and communities. Much has been said about the revenues that marijuana legalization might bring to Illinois. Few, however, discuss the costs of such a policy. Omitting costs is a critical oversight: no policy or business plan would be complete without discussing both sides of the balance sheet. It is also important to note that this study uses similar methods as previous studies by SAM estimating costs in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Although a full cost accounting of marijuana legalization would be impossible at present, enough data exists to make rough-and-ready estimates of certain likely direct and short-term costs, such as: 1. Administrative and enforcement costs for regulators 2. Increased drugged driving fatalities 3. Increased serious injuries from drugged driving crashes 4. Increased Property Damage to Vehicles from Drugged Driving 5. Short-term health costs a. More emergency room visits for marijuana poisonings b. Injuries from marijuana concentrate extraction lab explosions/fires 6. Increased rates of homelessness 7. Workplace costs/costs to employers: a. Increased absenteeism b. More workplace accidents Initial approximations even of these few costs indicate that it is unlikely that revenues from legalization would ever exceed its costs. This report concludes that even conservative cost estimates of only the issues above would cost Illinois approximately $670.5 million in 2020. Details: Alexandria, VA: SAM, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2018 at: http://healthyillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ILLINOIS-REPORT_419.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://healthyillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ILLINOIS-REPORT_419.pdf Shelf Number: 149855 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Legalization

Author: International Expert Group on Drug Policy Metrics Title: Aligning Agendas: Drugs, Sustainable Development, and the Drive for Policy Coherence Summary: Current drug policy too often has a negative impact on communities and runs counter to efforts to ameliorate poverty through sustainable development. However, this is often not captured by the metrics used to measure the impact of drug policy. One way to improve these metrics is to align them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This would not only help overcome many of the limitations of drug policies resulting from suboptimal metrics but also make sure these policies enhance, rather than hinder, efforts to achieve the SDGs. This report analyzes how more precise, more complete, and better conceived metrics can help us to understand the impact of drug policy on sustainable development and the prospects of achieving the SDGs. The report is the result of over a year of work by the International Expert Group on Drug Policy Metrics, convened by the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum and the International Peace Institute. This group puts forward the following recommendations for the UN, member states, and the drug policy community: Develop a framework for policy coherence between drug policy and sustainable development. Create an external advisory committee bringing together experts on drug policy and sustainable development. Add SDG indicators related to drug policy. Put in place mechanisms to gather data on the effects of drug policies. Use the SDG indicators as a model for improving drug policy indicators. Prioritize outcome - rather than process-oriented metrics. Details: New York: International Peace Institute, 2018. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1802_Aligning-Agendas.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.ipinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1802_Aligning-Agendas.pdf Shelf Number: 149982 Keywords: Developing Countries Drug Control Drug Eradication Drug Policy Drug Policy Reform

Author: Ledebur, Kathryn Title: Promoting Gender-Sensitive Drug Policies in Bolivia Summary: In the Plurinational State of Bolivia, women account for 8 percent of the country's more than 17,000 people behind bars. In only three other Latin American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador and Chile) do women comprise a larger share of the overall incarcerated population. Almost 40 percent of the women behind bars in Bolivia are held for low-level drug offenses, often as a result of structural socioeconomic conditions, such as poverty and the pressures of single parenting. These women are typically poor, have limited education, and do not have access to stable jobs with decent pay; a startling percentage have been victims of domestic and sexual violence. They are often driven into the drug trade out of economic necessity. High rates of pretrial detention have also contributed to severe prison overcrowding. Indeed, according to the online database the World Prison Brief, Bolivian prisons are ranked as the eighth most congested in the world. In response to extreme prison overcrowding, between 2012 and 2018 the government of President Evo Morales enacted six prison pardon, sentence reduction, and amnesty initiatives, leading to the release of almost a third of Bolivia's total incarcerated population. Specific gender-sensitive clauses benefited mothers and caregivers. These gender-focused initiatives, paired with poverty reduction and increased state support for mothers, contributed to an 84 percent decrease in the number of women incarcerated for drug offenses between 2012 and 2017, going against the trend of increasing female incarceration for drug-related offenses in most Latin American countries. But Bolivia's considerable progress in reducing the incarceration of women for drug offenses could stall without the enactment and implementation of broader judicial reform efforts. Promoting Gender-Sensitive Drug Policies in Bolivia concludes with a series of concrete reforms that are needed to significantly advance the implementation of gender-sensitive drug policies in Bolivia. Of particular importance, the voices of women impacted by drug policies must be included in the debate, in order to develop and implement more effective, humane, and inclusive initiatives, grounded in public health and human rights. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Andean Information Network, 2018. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Bolivia-Report_FINAL_English.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Bolivia URL: https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Bolivia-Report_FINAL_English.pdf Shelf Number: 150027 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Drug Policy Female Offenders Gender-Specific Responses

Author: Munoz-Mora, J.C Title: Does Land Titling Matter? The Role of Land Property Rights in Colombia's War on Drugs Summary: The 'war on drugs' has failed. Despite an increase in law enforcement, production levels of coca - the crop used to make cocaine - have hardly altered in the last decade. A 2017 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that coca cultivation in Colombia had increased by 52 per cent; thus, there is an urgent need to find alternative policies to counter illicit behaviour. Research by the Institute of Development Studies found that regions in Colombia with a higher level of land titling, where people who have worked land for many years are given formal ownership of it, witnessed a greater reduction in the area of land used to grow coca Details: London: Institute of Development Studies, 2018. 2p. Source: Internet Resource: IDS Policy Briefing Issue 156: Accessed September 20, 2018 at: https://www.ids.ac.uk/publications/does-land-titling-matter-the-role-of-land-property-rights-in-colombias-war-on-drugs/ Year: 2018 Country: Colombia URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2539032 Shelf Number: 151594 Keywords: Cocaine Drug Policy War on Drugs

Author: Mungroo, Pat Title: Cannabis Regulation: The World is moving forward, what is stopping us? Summary: The conference was perfectly timed to coincide with a transformation in the international outlook for cannabis. For some 50 years the question has been, will it ever be possible for people to buy relatively safe cannabis from a legal outlet. Today the question is quite different. Now everyone is asking which of the models of cannabis regulation will be the most safe and effective. So far we have at least five options. Cannabis regulation in Washington, Colorado, Uruguay, the Netherlands and Spain all differ one from the other. There are of course other questions too. Will the Federal Authorities take a different view of cannabis regulation once President Obama leaves the White House? It seems likely that so many States will have introduced regulation by 2016 that it will be difficult to put the gene back in the bottle. Or will the federal banking laws continue to undermine the cannabis industry and ultimately kill it? In the UK politicians have been persuaded by psychiatrists that cannabis causes psychosis and memory loss and controls should therefore not be relaxed. Professor Curran's work and contribution to the conference is of great importance. Professor Curran used scientific methods to show that the balance between THC and CBD in cannabis is important in determining the level of risk of the drug. Regulation, which could control the potency of legally available cannabis, would thus create a much safer world for our young people. Professor Curran's work is supported by Dr. Robin Murray who also emphasised the key importance of the THC strength of cannabis in determining the risk of psychosis. Melissa Bone's contribution on medical consumption of cannabis, particularly for the treatment of cancer, underlines the need to re-schedule cannabis to support research into its medicinal uses. John Churchill is right to emphasise the need to create a fire wall between cannabis use and drug dealers; at the same time separating the hard and soft drugs markets. The arguments of Peter Reynolds and Peter Moyes also deserve to be taken seriously. What we need is public education about the facts presented in this helpful report, to replace the myths which have dominated public thinking for so long. Details: Cambridge: Qualitative Cannabis Research Forum, 2014. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Conference Report: Accessed October 11, 2018 at: https://www.academia.edu/9535332/Cannabis_Regulation_The_World_Is_Moving_Forward_What_Is_Stopping_Us Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.academia.edu/9535332/Cannabis_Regulation_The_World_Is_Moving_Forward_What_Is_Stopping_Us Shelf Number: 151474 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Policy Drug Reform Marijuana

Author: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Title: Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016 Summary: The state's Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee has released its second set of findings from the committee's review of the scientific literature currently available on the health effects of marijuana use. The report, "Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016," also provides survey data about marijuana use in Colorado and data from hospitals and the poison center on potential marijuana-related health effects. Senate Bill 13-283 requires the committee to monitor the emerging science and medical information about marijuana use and report its findings. "Just as with tobacco and alcohol, continued monitoring of marijuana use and potential health effects help guide our work to protect the health of Colorado's citizens," said Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "We want to base policy decisions and educational campaigns on sound science." The report recommends continued monitoring of several trends, including: About 6 percent of pregnant women choose to use marijuana while pregnant. This percentage is higher among those with unintended pregnancies as well as younger mothers or those with less education. Using marijuana during pregnancy is associated with negative effects on exposed children, including decreased cognitive function and ability to maintain attention on task. Effects may not appear until adolescence. At least 14,000 children in Colorado are at risk of accidentally eating marijuana products that are not safely stored, and at least 16,000 are at risk of being exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke in the home. The committee found strong evidence such accidental exposures can lead to significant clinical effects that, in some cases, require hospitalization. More than 5 percent of high school students use marijuana daily or nearly daily. This has been the case since at least 2005. The report finds weekly marijuana use by adolescents is associated with impaired learning, memory, math and reading, for as long as 28 days after last use. Weekly use also is associated with failure to graduate from high school. In addition, adolescent marijuana users are more likely to develop cannabis use disorder or be addicted to alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs in adulthood. In Colorado, one in four adults ages 18-25 reported past-month marijuana use and one in eight use daily or nearly daily. These numbers have been consistent since marijuana's legalization. There are indications that policy and education efforts about the potential health effects of marijuana are working. For example, marijuana exposure calls to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center have decreased since 2015. This includes calls about accidental exposures in children under 9 years old. In addition, the overall rate of marijuana-related emergency department visits dropped 27 percent from 2014 to 2015. (2016 data is not available yet.) The report also cited these trends: Past-month marijuana use among adults and adolescents has not changed since legalization either in terms of the number of people using or the frequency of use. Based on the most comprehensive data available, past-month marijuana use among Colorado adolescents is nearly identical to the national average. Daily or near-daily use of marijuana among adults in Colorado is much lower than daily or near-daily use of alcohol or tobacco. Based on its findings, the committee also recommends continuing to use survey, poison center and hospital data to monitor trends in marijuana use and health effects; state support of research to fill important gaps in public health knowledge; and continued public education about the potential risks of marijuana use. Details: Denver: The Department, 2017. 304p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2018 at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tmPQ67k3NVQlFnY3VzZGVmdFk/view Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tmPQ67k3NVQlFnY3VzZGVmdFk/view Shelf Number: 153528 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Marijuana Marijuana Legalization Public Health

Author: Global Commission on Drug Policy Title: Regulation: The Responsible Control of Drugs Summary: Executive Summary The legal regulation of drugs is rapidly moving from the theoretical to the practical domain. Regulation is a critical part of drug policy reform if the harms of prohibition and the illegal drug market are to be reduced but remains a particularly challenging element of the public and political debate. Progress requires engaging with legitimate public concerns about how regulation might be implemented and what its impacts will be, as well as political opposition and institutional inertia. Regulation and management of risky products and behaviors is a key function of government authorities across the world. It is the norm in almost all areas of policy and law - except drug policy. Regulation addresses the reality of risk in our lives and our communities and is all around us: product safety regulations that require flame-retardant mattresses; food regulations that require "sell-by" dates on labels; regulation of which vehicles can be driven, how fast, and where, and so on. This report addresses the reality that over 250 million people around the world are taking risks by consuming currently prohibited drugs. Accepting this reality and putting in place an effective regulatory strategy to manage it is neither admitting defeat nor condoning drug use. It is part of a responsible, evidence-based approach that deals with the world as it is in contrast with ideologically driven and ultimately counterproductive attempts to create a "drug free world". The report identifies key questions that, in the Commission's experience, have become particular stumbling blocks in the progress of the public dialogue on regulation. By engaging with these questions directly, the report aims to facilitate and encourage the debate, thus bringing this much needed reform nearer. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Author, 2018. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/reports/regulation-the-responsible-control-of-drugs/ Year: 2018 Country: International URL: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ENG-2018_Regulation_Report_WEB-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 154187 Keywords: Drug Policy Drug Regulation Illegal Drug Market Illicit Drug Market Legalization

Author: Goodhart, Charles A. Title: Canadian Legalization of Cannabis reduces both its cash usage and 'Black' Economy Summary: The Canadian Government legalized Cannabis usage on October 17th, 2018. During the same month, primarily in the week before and after such legalization, the amount of cash in circulation fell quite materially, in contrast to the rises typically observed in previous years. A key driver is likely to have been Cannabis users switching from cash payments for illegal purchases to using standard recordable electronic payments for their purchases, which have now become legal. The legalization of Cannabis should ultimately reduce the size of the Underground economy by around 4 or 5 percent, with a much bigger decline likely in the black economy. Details: London: Centre for Economic Policy Research, 2019. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper DP13448: Accessed February 15, 2019 at: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=13448 Year: 2019 Country: Canada URL: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=13448 Shelf Number: 154612 Keywords: Black Economy Cannabis Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Underground Economy

Author: Carrieri, Vincenzo Title: Light Cannabis and Organized Crime - Evidence from (Unintended) Liberalization in Italy Summary: The effect of marijuana liberalization on crime is object of a large interest by social scientists and policy-makers. However, due to the scarcity of relevant data, the displacement effect of liberalization on the supply of illegal drugs remained substantially unexplored. This paper exploits the unintended liberalization of cannabis light (C-light, i.e. with low THC) occurred in Italy in December 2016 by means of a legislative gap, to assess its effect in a quasi-experimental setting. Although the liberalization interested all the Italian territory, the intensity of liberalization in the short-run varied according to the pre-liberalization market configuration of grow-shops, i.e. shops selling industrial canapa-related products that have been able to first place the canapa flowers (C-light) on the new market. We exploit this variation in a Differences-in-Differences design using a unique dataset on monthly confiscations of drugs at province level (NUTS-3 level) over the period 2016-2018 matched with data on the geographical location of shops and socio-demographic variables. We find that the legalization of C-light led to a reduction of 12% of confiscation of marijuana per each pre-existing grow-shop and a significant reduction of other canapa-derived drugs (plants of cannabis and hashish). Back-to-envelope calculations suggest that forgone revenues for criminal organizations amount to at least 160-200 million Euros per year. These results support the argument that, even in a short period of time and with an imperfect substitute, the organized crime's supply of illegal drugs is displaced by the entry of official and legal retailers. Details: Essen, Germany: RWI - Leibniz-Institut fur Wirtschaftsforschung, 2018. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Ruhr Economic Papers #774: Accessed February 22, 2019 at: http://www.rwi-essen.de/media/content/pages/publikationen/ruhr-economic-papers/rep_18_774.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Italy URL: http://www.rwi-essen.de/media/content/pages/publikationen/ruhr-economic-papers/rep_18_774.pdf Shelf Number: 154730 Keywords: Cannabis Drug Policy Illegal Drugs Illegal Markets Marijuana Organized Crime

Author: Health Poverty Action Title: The Hidden Opioid Crisis: how the so-called 'war of drugs' leaves patients dying in pain Summary: Terminally ill patients, predominantly in the Global South, are dying in pain due to repressive drug policies. The failed 'war on drugs' has led many governments in low and middle-income countries to adopt excessively restrictive drug policies due to the stigma and concern around illegal use. This has reduced access to legal pain medication such as morphine. Global access to pain relief displays stark inequality. While the US is suffering from an overdose epidemic, the plight of much of the rest of the world is hidden. The majority of people needing pain relief live in poorer countries where access is severely lacking, leaving millions dying in horrendous and preventable pain. Our briefing, 'The Hidden Opioid Crisis: How the so-called 'war on drugs' leaves patients to die in pain', examines the impact of the so-called 'war on drugs' on access to opioid-based pain relief, such as morphine in three Indian states. It shows how stigma and misinformation around opioids resulting from the failed 'war on drugs' have led to complex bureaucratic regulations and restrictive legislation. This, combined with a lack of understanding of opioid medication and inadequate training means institutions and health workers are failing to prescribe morphine to patients in pain. As a result, terminally ill patients are forced to travel hundreds of miles just to get pain relief, leaving them with travel costs and loss of income that drive families into debt. Others are simply unable to access it and die in pain. This is a story that is repeated in many parts of the world. Details: London: The Author, 2019. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing: Accessed March 5, 2019 at: https://www.healthpovertyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/India-opioid-crisis-briefing-WEB.pdf Year: 2019 Country: India URL: https://www.healthpovertyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/India-opioid-crisis-briefing-WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 154807 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Opioid Epidemic Opioids War on Drugs

Author: New York City. Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization Title: A Fair Approach to Marijuana: Recommendations from the Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization Summary: New York State may be poised to legalize non-medical adult cannabis use in the coming year, joining ten other states and the District of Columbia. This crossroads presents New York City with unique challenges and opportunities. These challenges include working to see that the State legislation is best structured to protect New York City residents and visitors to avoid unwanted consequences from adult legalization. The legislation, and State and City regulations that follow, must do all they can to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers. At the same time, we have the responsibility to use this turning point to help redress the disproportionate harms that criminalization of cannabis use has caused the City's communities of color. Legalization also poses unique opportunities to build a new industry in ways that advance our City's commitment to promote economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged New Yorkers and small businesses. The State legislation should forge a path to opportunities not for big corporations but for New Yorkers who need them most. Ongoing federal criminalization of cannabis adds further complexity to these challenges, perpetuating potential ill-consequences particularly for disadvantaged communities while limiting access to financial, tax, and other services and benefits to support the burgeoning industry. To help chart the City's course for cannabis legalization, Mayor Bill de Blasio convened the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization with the charge of identifying the goals and challenges that should guide the City's preparations for potential legalization. The Task Force includes representatives of City agencies that engage in areas affected by cannabis legalization, including those concerned with public health, public safety, education, economic opportunity, and finance, among others. The Task Force reviewed the range of regulatory regimes in other jurisdictions that have legalized adult cannabis use and the practical experiences of those jurisdictions. It conducted interviews with public health and public safety officials throughout the nation and in Canada, and consulted with academic and other experts, New York City officials, and community organizations. Task Force members also attended community listening sessions in New York City to hear the views of New Yorkers on the issues posed by legalization. Based on this research, the Task Force developed the following guiding principles for cannabis legalization and the recommendations summarized in the Executive Summary and detailed in the report below. Details: New York City: Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization, 2018. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2019 at: http://criminaljustice.cityofnewyork.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/A-Fair-Approach-to-Marijuana.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://criminaljustice.cityofnewyork.us/reports/mayors-task-force-on-cannabis-legalization/ Shelf Number: 155247 Keywords: Cannabis Legalization Drug Policy Drug Reform Illegal Drugs Marijuana Legalization New York City Public Health

Author: Jelsma, Martin Title: Fair(er) Trade Options for the Cannabis Market Summary: Policy changes over the past five years or so have dramatically reshaped the global cannabis market. Not only has there been an unprecedented boom in medical markets, but following policy shifts in several jurisdictions a growing number of countries are also preparing for legal regulation of non-medical use. Such moves look set to bring a clear range of benefits in terms of health and human rights. As this groundbreaking Report, highlights, however, there are also serious concerns about the unfolding market dynamics. Many for-profit cannabis companies from the Global North are aggressively competing to capture the licit spaces now rapidly opening in the multi-billion-dollar global cannabis market. This threatens to push small-scale and marginalized traditional farmers from many countries in the Global South out of the emerging legal market. It is argued here by Martin Jelsma, Sylvia Kay and David Bewley-Taylor that there should be no reason why, using carefully designed regulatory frameworks, small-scale farmers cannot work in mutually beneficial partnership with or alongside large companies. This might be achieved through a fair(er) trade cannabis model built around a rights-based, inclusive and environmentally sustainable approach to market engagement. Mindful of the intricate, cross-cutting and complex nature of the commercial and legal environment, Fair(er) Trade Options for the Cannabis Market proposes a set of interconnecting frameworks through which to better understand the issue and concludes with a set of guiding principles upon which a fair(er) trade cannabis model might be built. Details: s.l.: Cannabis Innovate, 2019. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2019 at: https://cannabisinnovate.org/ Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://cannabisinnovate.org/ Shelf Number: 155334 Keywords: Cannabis Markets Drug Markets Drug Policy Marijuana Markets

Author: Harris, Katharine Neill Title: The Case for Marijuana Decriminalization Summary: In recent years public opinion surveys have found that a consistent and increasing percentage of Texans support marijuana reform, but this support has not translated into policy change. The authors explain why it should. Details: Houston, TX: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, 2019. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2019 at: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/b4b661ec/bi-report-041619-drug-mjdecrim.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/b4b661ec/bi-report-041619-drug-mjdecrim.pdf Shelf Number: 155598 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Legalization