Pubdate: Fri, 14 Feb 2014
Source: Stabroek News (Guyana)
Copyright: 2014 Stabroek News
Contact:  http://www.stabroeknews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4034

DRUG POLICY MUST CHANGE IN U. S., EUROPE - URUGUAY PRESIDENT

MONTEVIDEO , ( Reuters) - The United States and Europe need a new 
strategy in the war on drugs and should look at alternatives such as 
the regulated sale of marijuana, says Uruguayan President Jose 
Mujica, whose country recently legalized the production and sale of cannabis.

In an interview with Reuters yesterday, the 78-year-old former 
left-wing guerrilla said the world's biggest economies, which are the 
biggest markets for illegal narcotics, need to tackle drug 
trafficking using tools other than prohibition.

"The industrial societies are the ones that have to change," he said. 
"We are trying to find a path. ... For a small country, it's possible 
to experiment with this, but it's also very possible for a developed 
country because of the resources it has." In December, Uruguay's 
parliament approved a bill to legalize and regulate the sale and 
production of marijuana.

The move is being closely watched by countries around the world, some 
of which are seeking to change anti-drug policies that are widely 
seen as having failed. Mujica pointed to changing laws elsewhere, 
including those of U. S. states that have taken steps to 
decriminalize and even legalize marijuana use, but he said there was 
a long way to go before reaching a consensus on what works best.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom