Legislative Reform Series

The Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies aims to stimulate the debate around legislative reforms by highlighting good practices and lessons learned in areas such as decriminalization, proportionality of sentences, specific harm reduction measures, alternatives to incarceration, and scheduling criteria for different substances. It also aims to encourage a constructive dialogue amongst policy makers, multilateral agencies and civil society in order to shape evidence-based policies that are grounded in the principles of human rights, public health and harm reduction.

  • Prohibition, a backwards step

    The personal dose in Colombia
    Diana Esther Guzmán & Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes
    Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 4
    January 2010

    dlrIn December 2009, the Congress in Colombia passed a reform to the 1991 Constitution, which considered the possession and consumption of certain quantities of drugs for personal use legal, to enact constitutional prohibition. This briefing shows the changes that this constitutional amendment entails and evaluates the principle potential consequences.

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  • Mexico: The Law Against Small-Scale Drug Dealing

    A Doubtful Venture
    Jorge Hernández Tinajero & Carlos Zamudio Angles
    Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 3
    November 2009

    dlrIn August 2009, Mexico adopted a new law against small-scale drug dealing, which introduces some significant advances in key subjects, such as the recognising of and distinguishing between user, drug addict and dealer. However it still has significant flaws in continuing to treat demand and supply of drugs as a criminal and market phenomenon that are likely to undermine its successful application.

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  • Drug Policy and the Courts: A Brazilian experience

    José Henrique Rodrigues Torres
    Series Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 2
    August 2009

    dlrThis report is a personal response from the author on the issue of Drug Policy and The Courts. A year ago, in the author’s professional practice, he felt duty-bound to make a decision that overturned Brazilian case-law and ran contrary to domestic legislation as regards possession of controlled substances.

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  • Pardon for Mules in Ecuador

    A Sound Proposal
    Pien Metaal
    Series Legislative Reform of Drug Policies Nr. 1
    February 2009

    dlrAt the end of 2008, about 1,500 persons were released who were in Ecuadorian prisons sentenced for drug trafficking. The measure, known as “pardon for mules,” singled out a specific group of prisoners who were victims of indiscriminate and disproportionate legislation that was in effect for many years.

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Publications

Chewing over Khat prohibition

dlr17

Where strict bans on khat have been introduced they have had severe unintended negative consequences and failed to further the integration, social incusion and economic prosperity of Somali communities in particular, which chew khat most widely.

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TNI Drug Law Reform Project

Drug Law Reform in Latin America is a project of the TNI Drugs & Democracy programme

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"Promoting a more effective and humane drug policy in Latin America"

UN Drug Control

In 2011 the 1961 UN Single Convention on drugs will be in place for 50 years. In 2012 the international drug control system will exist 100 years since the International Opium Convention was signed in 1912 in The Hague. Does it still serve its purpose or is a reform of the UN Drug Conventions needed? This site provides critical background.