Barcelona / Washington / New York (Writing and agencies) .- The World Commission on Drug Policy, a high-level group of experts brings together world leaders including former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, and former Latin American leaders, among others, believes that the "war on drugs" is failing the world and urged countries to consider taking steps to legalize cannabis as an attempt to undermine the power of organized groups.
The commission urges world leaders to take a new approach to reduce drug abuse, replacing the current strategy of strictly penalize and imprison consumers while combating cartels that control the business. "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world," says the report released Thursday by the commission.
In addition to those among the members of this committee of 19 members are the Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou, the British entrepreneur Richard Branson, former Secretary of State George Shultz U.S. and other personalities such as writers and Mario Vargas Llosa CarlosFuentes . The commission said that fundamental reforms are urgently needed in the policies of national and global control on drugs.
Among the commission's recommendations include replacing the penalty and punishment for consumers who do not harm other people and offers health services for those in need and encourage governments to consider the legalization of marijuana and perhaps other substances "to undermine the power of organized groups and safeguard the health and safety of other citizens." He said decriminalization initiatives do not result in a significant increase in drug use.
"The major costs of criminalization and repressive measures aimed at growers, traffickers and illegal drug users have clearly failed when effectively cut the supply or consumption," says the report. "The apparent victory to eliminate a source or a criminal organization are almost instantly eclipsed by the emergence of other sources and dealers.
The enforcement efforts aimed at consumers block public health measures to reduce AIDS, the number of victims of overdose and other harmful consequences of drug use, "says the report. The text added that the money spent by governments in futile efforts to reduce supply or imprison people for drug related crimes could be better spent on ways to reduce demand and the harm caused by drug abuse. 
The commission urges world leaders to take a new approach to reduce drug abuse, replacing the current strategy of strictly penalize and imprison consumers while combating cartels that control the business. "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world," says the report released Thursday by the commission.
In addition to those among the members of this committee of 19 members are the Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou, the British entrepreneur Richard Branson, former Secretary of State George Shultz U.S. and other personalities such as writers and Mario Vargas Llosa CarlosFuentes . The commission said that fundamental reforms are urgently needed in the policies of national and global control on drugs.
Among the commission's recommendations include replacing the penalty and punishment for consumers who do not harm other people and offers health services for those in need and encourage governments to consider the legalization of marijuana and perhaps other substances "to undermine the power of organized groups and safeguard the health and safety of other citizens." He said decriminalization initiatives do not result in a significant increase in drug use.
"The major costs of criminalization and repressive measures aimed at growers, traffickers and illegal drug users have clearly failed when effectively cut the supply or consumption," says the report. "The apparent victory to eliminate a source or a criminal organization are almost instantly eclipsed by the emergence of other sources and dealers.
The enforcement efforts aimed at consumers block public health measures to reduce AIDS, the number of victims of overdose and other harmful consequences of drug use, "says the report. The text added that the money spent by governments in futile efforts to reduce supply or imprison people for drug related crimes could be better spent on ways to reduce demand and the harm caused by drug abuse.
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