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International dimensions of drug policy

International dimensions of drug policy. Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs March 18, 2001 Terry Cormier Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Overview. Context Challenges International legal architecture International developments Policy challenges. International dimensions.

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International dimensions of drug policy

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  1. International dimensions of drug policy Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs March 18, 2001 Terry Cormier Foreign Affairs and International Trade

  2. Overview • Context • Challenges • International legal architecture • International developments • Policy challenges

  3. International dimensions • Multi-dimensional aspects: diplomatic, policy, financial, humanitarian, legal, law enforcement • In many multilateral and regional fora • Different countries have particular preoccupations

  4. Public Safety:International dimensions • Integration results in new threats to the safety and security of Canadians • Global challenges require global responses • Coherence, coordination, leadership • Horizontal issue management • Growing agenda of public safety issues

  5. Problems of international drug trade • Corruption • Violence • Undermines state and rule of law • Afghanistan • Economic dislocation • Health issues • Money laundering • Trafficking in firearms

  6. International Institutional Structure • UN • Economic and Social Council • Commission on Narcotic Drugs • UNDCP • International Narcotics Control Board • World Health Organization • OAS

  7. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 • Objective: limit the production and trade in prohibited substances • Establishes UN architecture • Deals with control largely by criminal penalties • 4 Schedules • Cannabis is in Schedule 4, subject to highest level of control

  8. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 • Deals with pervasive use and availability of synthetic, psychotropic substances • Follows template of Single Convention • Recognizes the medical necessity • 4 Schedules of control • Requires drugs to be specifically listed

  9. Convention against Illicit Traffick in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 • Instrument of international criminal law • Intent 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”

  10. 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

  11. Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism • Under Canadian chairmanship and leadership MEM was developed by the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) • Peer group evaluation mechanism • Supply and demand • Broadening the understanding of the impact of drugs in our societies

  12. CHALLENGES • Anticipation of future threats • chemical drugs, ATS • nano technologies • Keeping international and domestic contexts in some relative equilibrium

  13. International environment • International environment is changing • Substance 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

  14. Conclusion • Canada promotes multilateralization of international rules • Substance abuse issues are critical social policy issues which engage many different actors • Essentially a political issue

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