international dimensions of drug policy senate special committee on illegal drugs march 18, 2001...
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International dimensions of drug policy
Senate Special Committee on Illegal DrugsMarch 18, 2001
Terry Cormier
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
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Overview
ContextChallengesInternational legal architectureInternational developmentsPolicy challenges
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Multi-dimensional aspects: diplomatic, policy, financial, humanitarian, legal, law enforcement
In many multilateral and regional fora
Different countries have particular preoccupations
International dimensions
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Public Safety:International dimensions
Integration results in new threats to the safety and security of Canadians
Global challenges require global responses
Coherence, coordination, leadershipHorizontal issue managementGrowing agenda of public safety issues
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Problems of international drug trade
CorruptionViolenceUndermines state and rule of law
AfghanistanEconomic dislocationHealth issuesMoney launderingTrafficking in firearms
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International Institutional Structure
UN Economic and Social Council Commission on Narcotic Drugs UNDCP International Narcotics Control Board World Health Organization
OAS
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Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
Objective: limit the production and trade in prohibited substances
Establishes UN architectureDeals with control largely by criminal
penalties4 Schedules
Cannabis is in Schedule 4, subject to highest level of control
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Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
Deals with pervasive use and availability of synthetic, psychotropic substances
Follows template of Single ConventionRecognizes the medical necessity 4 Schedules of controlRequires drugs to be specifically listed
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Convention against Illicit Traffick in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
Instrument of international criminal lawIntent is to harmonize national, drug-
related criminal laws and enforcement actions
Obligations to create and implement very specific criminal laws
Specifically obligates Parties “to respect fundamental human rights”
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International Conventions: Cannabis possession
Consensus view is that it is not possible to decriminalize cannabis and be in conformity with the three Conventions
Parties have latitude with respect to penalties and sanctions
Conventions recognize explicitly domestic law
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Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism
Under Canadian chairmanship and leadership MEM was developed by the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)
Peer group evaluation mechanismSupply and demandBroadening the understanding of the
impact of drugs in our societies
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CHALLENGES
Anticipation of future threats chemical drugs, ATS nano technologies
Keeping international and domestic contexts in some relative equilibrium
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International environment
International environment is changingSubstance abuse issues are now
considered in broader context -- demand and supply
Growing recognition that we should differentiate among classes of drugs
Greater appreciation for the broader social, political, economic impacts
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Conclusion
Canada promotes multilateralization of international rules
Substance abuse issues are critical social policy issues which engage many different actors
Essentially a political issue