Regulate Drug Use, Don’t Criminalize It

Ethan Nadelmann

Ethan Nadelmann is the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance.

Updated January 13, 2014, 2:38 PM

No Latin American government is going to pursue legalization unilaterally. Both external and internal opposition make that impossible. When Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Otto Pérez Molina of Guatemala and other regional leaders raise the issue, their real intention is to stir up fresh debate so that all drug control options, including various types and degrees of decriminalization and legal regulation, are fairly considered. Among these, three stand out in terms of impact and political viability over coming years and decades.

The benefits of taking the global drug business out of the hands of criminals almost certainly outweigh the risks.

First, decriminalize possession of small amounts of any drug for personal use. That will have little impact on overall demand for illicit drugs, but it will significantly reduce the arrest and incarceration of millions of people worldwide, most of whom are poor and often members of vulnerable minority groups. It will also cut down on low-level corruption by police. Portugal has provided a model for successful implementation of such a policy over the decade, and others in Europe and Latin America are beginning to follow in its footsteps.

Second, legally regulate cannabis, more or less like alcohol. Criminal organizations would lose billions in profits while governments would reap billions in law enforcement savings and tax revenue. Cannabis consumers would no longer be treated as criminals. And the separation of cannabis markets from other illicit drug markets would reduce the number of cannabis users who go on to use more dangerous drugs. The Dutch have had a successful model of quasi-legalization for over three decades. But the rapidly emerging world leader in this area is the United States, where 17 states have legalized medical marijuana and Colorado and Washington will vote this November on whether to legally regulate cannabis like alcohol.

Third, allow addicts and other serious consumers to obtain the drugs they want or need from legally regulated sources. Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland have all demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of programs that provide pharmaceutical heroin to people who have been addicted to illegal heroin. Crime and arrests drop, addicts' lives improve and taxpayers benefit. The great challenge is to expand such programs to include many more people and a greater diversity of drugs.

This is the only way to significantly reduce the demand for the drugs produced and sold illegally by criminal organizations. The benefits of taking the global business out of the hands of criminals and allowing it to be legally regulated almost certainly outweigh the risks of moving in this direction.

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Topics: Guatamala, Latin America, drugs, war on drugs

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