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Report argues for legalization of narcotics: War on drugs 'failed' -time to break the pot taboo

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Sun, 06/12/2011 - 2:38pm

Agence France-Presse, Published: The Province

The global war on drugs has failed and decriminalizing narcotics such as marijuana could finally help weaken organized gangs, former world leaders said Thursday.

Arguing for a new approach to national and global drug control policies, the Global Commission on Drug Policy called for nations to "break the taboo on debate and reform."

"The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world," the members of the commission said in the report released in New York. Read more »

UN health rapporteur: Drug war ignores rights, decriminalize narcotics use

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Tue, 10/26/2010 - 10:20am
By: Anita Snow, The Associated Press
 
The U.N. independent investigator promoting physical and mental health on Monday urged decriminalization of narcotics use, saying punishment and sanctions don't cure drug dependency.
 
Anand Grover, a well-known lawyer from India, also said the war on drugs has ignored drug users' human rights.
 
Grover is the U.N. Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on physical and mental health. He told the General Assembly committee dealing with rights issues that people who use drugs may not get the health care they need for fear of being arrested, or may be denied health care if they seek help.

Canada gets failing grade in battling AIDS

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 07/21/2010 - 1:09pm
By Mark Iype, Postmedia News
 
A report card issued by the HIV/AIDS community in Canada sent a strong message to governments at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna on Tuesday, saying current strategies for fighting the deadly disease are putting lives at risk.
 
In the report presented by HIV-positive activists, researchers, AIDS organizations and human rights and HIV/AIDS lawyers, Canada received a failing grade in recognizing the needs of women and girls to protect themselves from HIV and to manage HIV infection.
 
In Canada, the number of infected women continues to rise from just over 11 per cent of new infections prior to 1999 to over 26 per cent in 2008, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

UN watchdog takes aim at Canada's medical marijuana program

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 3:48pm

By Steven Edwards, Canwest News Service Published: Montreal Gazette

UNITED NATIONS — Justice Minister Robert Nicholson said Wednesday the government’s medical marijuana regulations are under review after the UN’s drugs watchdog warned Canada needs to tighten up the system.

The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board said Canada is operating outside international treaty rules aimed at minimizing the risk criminals will get hold of cannabis grown under the program.

“The whole question of medical marijuana is being looked at by the minister of health with respect to the options that she has,” said Nicholson, whose ministry serves as the umbrella agency for the government’s anti-drug efforts.

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Canada a 'primary' producer of ecstasy: UN report

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 2:42pm
By BRYN WEESE, Parliamentary Bureau, Toronto Sun
 
OTTAWA — Canada is still a “primary” producer of ecstasy for the U.S. and countries around the world, but the United Nations’ International Narcotics Control Board noted “with appreciation” the federal government’s anti-drug agenda that has clamped-down on traffickers and boosted treatment for abusers.
 
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U.N. narcotics board warns of prescription drug abuse

Submitted by Nicole Seguin on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 11:25am
By Kate Kelland, Reuters   LONDON – Abuse of prescription drugs is growing rapidly around the world, with more people abusing legal narcotics than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined, the United Nations global drugs watchdog said on Wednesday.   The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) also pointed to a rise in the use of so-called "date rape drugs," as sexual abusers try to get around more rigorous controls with substances not banned by international drugs laws.   The INCB said several high-profile celebrity deaths, such as pop star Michael Jackson last year, had focused attention on prescriptio
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