Is something about to change in the way we face the challenge of illegal drug use? The Summit of the Americas is taking place in Colombia, and it seems that something is stirring. You can read about it in the Observer, here. Another conference about drugs? Nothing new in that, you might think. Well, there is. The Summit of the America’s brings together 33 out of 35 heads of government from the Americas; until now most conferences about drug abuse which have posed radical solutions have been shunned by those who hold office, and been supported by people who are former office holders, that is to say, people able to talk about drug decriminalisation and legalisation without fear of committing electoral suicide. But this conference is a gathering of men and women in office. That, I think, is a first. The other thing is this: consider these words which come from Mauricio Rodriguez, a close aide to President Santos of Colombia and the current Colombian Ambassador to London:
11:37 AM
Time to end the War on Drugs
Criminalising drugs is a statist policy does more harm than good
Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith
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