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After Two Years, Where are the Changes in Brazil?

Posted by Narco News - March 4, 2005 at 6:27 am

After Two Years, Where are the Changes in Brazil?
The Slow Pace of Drug Policy Reform Under the Lula Administration

By Natalia Viana
Special to The Narco News Bulletin
March 4, 2005

Full Story: http://www.narconews.com/Issue36/article1217.html

Comments

A Framework to Push for Reform from Two Sides

Submitted March 21, 2005 - 7:57 pm by Benjamin Melançon
I posted my thoughts on this political defeat of drug policy reform under another entry.  I lack any significant knowledge of Brazilian politics, so I'd appreciate an informed critique.

In short, I think that in any country the individual liberties faction of the movement against drug prohibition has to lead the debate, insisting with no backsliding that it is a matter of personal freedom that adults can choose what they put in their bodies, and substances meant for consumption cannot be made illegal.  In this context the harm reduction movement proposes its most comprehensive alternatives to drug prohibition, emphasizing the ineffectiveness of present law in preventing drug use, abuse, crime, and violence.

As important as harm reduction is on its own merits, I don't think it can win politically when framed primarily as a way to keep drug users from hurting themselves.  Even in the context of reducing the harm of drugs (and prohibition policies) to society, I think the reform effort will be more successful if there's a strong sense that the drug prohibition laws have to go, one way or another.

Please set me right on Brazil's drug policy reform movement situation below.  More general comments would be better posted under my comment at the other thread.

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