Shake-up under way in global drugs policy

This has been characterised by intense lobbying, spearheaded by some Latin American and European countries, and anti-drug war policy groups, pushing for the adoption of a new global drug policy in the run-up to the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) in 2016, where member countries will debate the issue.

With the US fatigued by the clogging of its jails with drug users and petty dealers, and some of its states now pursuing their own experimental approach to the decriminalisation of marijuana, those nations still intent on hardline approaches may struggle to muster broad support for their cause - particularly given the escalating clamour for a new global policy that allows countries more flexibility in pursuing their own approaches, including one that emphasises public health over prohibition and interdiction strategies.