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June 3, 2011

Panel: "War on Drugs" a Failure 
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A high-level international panel has concluded the so-called "war on
drugs" has failed and that governments should consider legalizing
substances, including marijuana. The Global Commission on Drug Policy is
comprised of 19 members, including several former heads of state. Former
Colombian president, Cesar Gaviria, urged the United States to begin
debate on legalization.

Cesar Gaviria: "We want the U.S. society to make a debate on this matter
that has not been done because political leaders are fearful of the
association between crime and narco-trafficking and it's very difficult
to distinguish from consumers to users, but this society needs to
debate. This society is spending $40 billion dollars each year fighting
drugs, that is a lot of money, has more than 500,000 people in jail. But
they are spending that money in a way that is not effective. The
consumption is not being reduced."



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