Brazil To Decriminalize Drug Use On November 24

President Lula To Sign Drug Decriminalization Decree

From Alberto M. Giordano
narconews@hotmail.com
11-17-4

Weeks after some punishing setbacks for the government of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, with his Worker's Party losing three of the flagship cities in the world for Harm Reduction policies toward drug users (São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Curitiba), the Lula administration has finally decided to make the groundbreaking local policies go national.

According to a report in today's Folha de São Paulo (subscription only), Lula's government of has reached a "consensus" to step forward into a bold new era of drug policy: decriminalizing the drug user nationwide, and opening 250 safe drug use centers across the country during the year 2005.

Lula is expected to sign an executive decree on November 24, taking drug enforcement responsibilities away from police agencies, and placing the problems of drug use under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, which will be charged with supporting the safe drug-use centers and make Harm Reduction - a policy to reduce the harms associated with drug use - the law of the land.

Here is an excerpt from today's report from Brazil's largest daily newspaper:

"Policy proposal considers drug consumption as a public health problem, and no longer one for the police. The government wants to create centers for drug use."

"By Luciana Constantino and Luri Dantas Folha de São Paulo - Brasília Bureau

"After a series of internal disagreements about drug policy, the federal government is preparing a realignment of national policy to define drug consumption as a public health problem, and not one for the police as it is today.

"There will be a presidential order creating rules for treating drug dependents, with emphasis on Harm Reduction..."

To read more of the translation, and comment on this exciting new development, head toward The Narcosphere:

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2004/11/15/94326/676

From somewhere in a country called América,

Al Giordano Publisher The Narco News Bulletin http://www.narconews.com/ new email: narconews@gmail.com

How sad it is that a 3rd world country would have to take the lead on this issue.

Here in the US however it will never happen. 70% of all crime in the US is drug related and the Lawyers will never give up their cash cow.

Well, things can change with enough pressure, but it's still going to take awhile. And how insane is it to keep approximately 750,000 people in prison in the U.S., convicted on simple pot possession charges with no history of violent crime? Those tax dollars and law enforcement resources could be used against terrorists, gangs, or illegal aliens instead.

Hey Semjase!
This is another one of those cases where most of the public has been snookered by slick propraganda. In poll after poll about 70% on average of America thinks drugs should stay illegel. Sad indeed.

And on a side note I would like to tell you how much I have enjoyed your postings. Well written and thought out and for the most part I have agreed with you 90+% of the time.
Good Job!

Thanks Pro_Gun. Doesn't seem like there's too much going on in the Libertarian forum here, but I keep posting in here anyway...

Yeah, I'd say we are in agreement about a lot of issues. We do disagree on the war. I've come to realize that war truly is "the health of the state". Richard Maybury was one of the guys who changed my mind about all that. You really should check out his books on World War 1 & 2. His website is http://www.chaostan.com

Book link is http://www.chaostan.com/eric.html

This Richard Maybury looks like an interesting guy. But it is true that I have a very hawkish nature. It can best be summed up by this line from Henry Vth, "In peacetime nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness & humility but when the trumpet of war blast in our ears then imitate the actions of the Tiger!"
War is something to be avoided if at all possible but when it is time to go to war then it should be dome swiftly, efficiently and decisively. And when it is over the defeated should be treated with kindness & courtesy. For when cruelty & lenity serve as a government the gentlest gamester is the surest winner.
However the combatants in Iraq are not part of any government so they are not covered by the Geneva Convention. Therefore they are nothing but terrorist and should be treated as such.
So I guess we get to disagree on something!