• The Human Face

    A Series of Videos on Drug Laws and Prisons in Latin America

    ecuador-screenshot2The human toll of unjust drug policies often goes unseen and unacknowledged; often buried in statistics and official reports. That is why the Transnational Institute (TNI) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) decided to give these faceless statistics a human face. A series of videos feature people who have spent years in prison enduring harsh sentences that are disproportionate to the crimes they committed.

                             

  • Latin America, ready to take the lead

    conferenciaDrug policy dominated the core discussions, but there was much more at the heart of the debates at the II Latin American Conference on Drug Policy: an exercise in democracy, self-determination and leadership in the region. Discussions at the historic Law School building at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro took on greater significance than a series of panels on drug legislation in the region, medical treatment for drug users or the consequences of fighting the drug trade.

  • Argentina: Reform on the way?

    dlrIn August 2009, the Argentina Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional legislation that criminalized drug possession for personal consumption. This briefing discusses the background of that decision and the small steps in the right direction that have been taken since, to conclude that there is still much to do before a reform agenda can be implemented.

    application-pdfDownload the document (PDF)

                             

  • Trends in Drug Law Reform in Europe and Latin America

    This presentation gives a short overview of legislative reforms in Europe and Latin America that provide lessons learned in practice about less punitive approaches intended to reduce drug-related harm to the individual and society.  Evidence suggests that fears that softening drug laws and their enforcement would lead to sharp increases in drug use, have proven untrue.

                             

Drug Law Reform on the Map

peru peru - click to explore further argentina - click to explore further chile - click to explore further uruguay - click to explore further brazil - click to explore further bolivia - click to explore further ecuador - click to explore further colombia - click to explore further venezuela - click to explore further paraguay - click to explore further mexico - click to explore further

Drug Legislative Reforms in Latin America

Mouse over and click on individual countries to explore further

 

 

tni_wola2

Peru: Decriminalization

In Peru, coca leaf consumption has never been criminalized and a state-controlled licensing system exists for its cultivation and distribution.

With regard to other drugs, in 1982, Decree 122 established that dependent users shall no longer be punished for possession of drugs for immediate personal consumption,
...

Click on Peru to read more

Argentina: Decriminalization

On August, 25, 2009, Argentina’s Supreme Court ruled that applying sentences for possession of amounts of marijuana for personal use is unconstitutional.  

Although the Court Order does not specifically reference other substances, it opens the judicial door to drug law reform in Argentina, as the arguments are applicable to other drugs. A bill to decriminalize the possession of a...

Click on Argentina to read more

Chile: Seeking Decriminalization

The adoption in 2007 of Law 20.000 formally decriminalized the possession of drugs for immediate individual use in the private sphere. Drug use or possession in public places is an infraction, punishable with fines, forced treatment, community services and/or suspension of driving licenses.

The same penalties apply to “persons who consume such drugs in private places if they have...

Click on Chile to read more

Uruguay: Decriminalization

Uruguay is one of the few countries that never criminalized the possession of drugs for personal use. Since 1974, the law establishes no quantity limits, leaving it to the judge’s discretion to determine whether the intent was personal use. There are no sanctions at all once it is determined by the judge that the amount in possession was meant for personal use.
...

Click on Uruguay to read more

Brazil: Decriminalization Pending

Brazil went through legislative changes in 2002 and 2006, resulting in a partial decriminalization of possession for personal use. Prison sentences no longer apply and were replaced by educational measures and community services.

The Ministry of Justice and members of Congress are preparing various proposals to reform the current drug law. These are expected to include total decrim...

Click on Brazil to read more

Bolivia: Seeking Decriminalization

Bolivian Law 1008 is very repressive toward drug use, possession and small-scale trafficking. To date, not much has been done to open the discussion toward a more humane legislative framework for drug control.

The current law prohibits drug use and punishes possession for personal use with internment and forced treatment. Domestically, a legal market for coca leaf has always existe...

Click on Bolivia to read more

Ecuador: Decriminalization Pending

In 2008, Ecuador’s Special Assembly (Asamblea Constituyente) approved an amnesty for drug couriers imprisoned for carrying less than 2 kilos and who had spent more than a year in prison.

A new Constitution approved by referendum in September 2008 states about drug users the following: “Under no circumstance shall they be criminalized nor their constitutional rights violated.”...

Click on Ecuador to read more

Colombia: Re-Criminalization Pending

In 1994, the Colombian Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the punishment for possession of amounts for personal use. Since then, adults can possess up to 20 grams of marijuana and one gram of cocaine, among other substances, for consumption in the privacy of their homes without fear of any penal sanctions.

In July 2009, the Supreme Court overruled an October 2008 senten...

Click on Colombia to read more

Venezuela: Partial Decriminalization

In 1993, Venezuela replaced prison sentences with ‘social security measures’ for possession of up to 2 grams of cocaine and 20 grams of cannabis. Possession for personal use is punished with referral to treatment, which can still lead to obligatory internment in specialized centers.
...

Click on Venezuela to read more

Paraguay: Decriminalization

In Paraguay, a new drug law in 1988 exempted from punishment those in possession of a maximum of 2 grams of cocaine or heroin and 10 grams of marijuana for personal consumption.
...

Click on Paraguay to read more

Mexico: Decriminalization

In Mexico the ‘Narcomenudeo decree’ came into effect in August 2009, removing any sanctions for quantities for personal use: 5gr cannabis, 2gr opium, 0.5gr cocaine, 50 mgr heroin or 40 mgr of methamphetamine. Addicts enter mandatory treatment only after the third arrest.

The law strictly defines personal dosage and establishes very low amount thresholds. Therefore, this can res...

Click on Mexico to read more

Latest weblog

Colombia’s new president should call for a dialogue on drugs
In June 1998, Juan Manuel Santos signed a letter delivered to Kofi Annan, then ...

Drug Law Reform on Twitter

The Human Face

Over the years, the Mexican government has adopted increasingly heavy prison sentences and militarized counter-drug policies to confront drug trafficking. The result has been an increase of vulnerable populations in Mexico’s prisons, but no impact on the drug trade or violence.

See more about the human face

Tags

Other projects

UN Drug Control

In 2011 the 1961 UN Single Convention on drugs will be in place for 50 years. Does it still serve its purpose or is a reform of the UN Drug Conventions needed? This site provides critical background.

TNI/WOLA Drug Law Reform Project

Drug Law Reform in Latin America is a joint project of TNI and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) tni_wola2
"Promoting a more effective and humane drug policy in Latin America"