Marijuana Moment
In a speech delivered last week at an international harm reduction conference, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called drug decriminalization “a crucial step toward a more humane and effective drug policy,” saying that prohibition and criminalization “are failing some of the most vulnerable groups in our societies.”
“We need a transformative approach,” the official said. “Instead of punitive measures, we need gender-sensitive and evidence-based drug policies, grounded in public health. Instead of scapegoating, we must ensure inclusive access to voluntary medical care, adequate housing and other social services. Harm reduction measures, which prevent drug overdose related fatalities, are essential.”
Türk’s comments came in an address to the Harm Reduction International Conference, held in Bogotá, Colombia. He said such events are “important and effective,” gathering “leaders, academics, front-line health workers, people who use drugs, people working in the criminal justice system” and others.
“I particularly welcome the participation of people who use drugs, who have historically been marginalised, criminalised, discriminated against and left behind—often stripped of their dignity and their rights.”
“Criminalization and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and failed to deter drug-related crime.”
The high commissioner emphasized that policies of prohibition and criminalization also contribute to discrimination—”particularly against Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent”—and are having “a large and growing impact on our climate and environment, from water stress to deforestation and the dumping of toxic waste.”
Prohibition should be replaced with “responsible regulation” that “should aim to take control of illegal drug markets, and eliminate profits from illegal trafficking, criminality and violence,” he said.
While Türk acknowledged that there’s “no one-size-fits-all approach to responsible regulation” of drugs, he said that “collaboration is crucial.”
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