British billionaire Richard Branson triggered the kerfuffle by leaking a U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) “briefing paper” recommending that governments around the world consider “decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal consumption.” The paper, which was due to be presented at an international drug policy conference underway in Malaysia, stated that “decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal consumption is consistent with international drug control conventions and may be required to meet obligations under international human rights law.” “Treating drug use for non-medical purposes and possession for personal consumption as criminal offences has contributed to public health problems and induced negative consequences for safety, security, and human rights,” it said.
A marijuana user rolls a cigarette. A leaked UNODC paper said governments around the world should consider ‘decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal consumption,’ but the U.N. body said it was merely a discussion document.
Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, is a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, a high-level international panel that says the “war on drugs” has been a failure. He wrote on his blog that he was “delighted” about the “exciting” stance taken by UNODC. “Together with countless other tireless advocates, I’ve for years argued that we should treat drug use as a health issue, not as a crime,” Branson said. “While the vast majority of recreational drug users never experience any problems, people who struggle with drug addiction deserve access to treatment, not a prison cell.” But UNODC moved quickly to tamp down the enthusiastic reception to the document, saying in a statement that the paper “is neither a final nor formal document from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, and cannot be read as a statement of UNODC policy.”
The Vienna-based organization confirmed that the paper had been “intended for dissemination and discussion” at the International Harm Reduction Conference in Kuala Lumpur. “It remains under review and UNODC regrets that, on this occasion, there has been an unfortunate misunderstanding about the nature and intent of this briefing paper,” Meanwhile the BBC reported that the document had been “withdrawn after pressure from at least one country,” which it did not name. UNODC disputed the claim. “UNODC emphatically denies reports that there has been pressure on UNODC to withdraw the document,” it said, adding that “it is not possible to withdraw what is not yet ready.” “Overall, UNODC remains committed to the balanced approach that, in particular, promotes alternatives to incarceration in line with international human rights standards,” the statement said.
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