Colombia President Juan Manual Santos proposes to “decriminalize drugs, yes if the world agrees.”  This is not the first time that the Colombia leader, one of the country with experience and authorization to talk on this subject, shown himself to be partial to those who would change the prohibitions policies.

For this Santos has shown himself ready to participate in the debate and his words are received in the region like one of the leaders the the currently policy against drugs , focus on their prohibition, has not brought about the hoped for results.

But to go from this point of view to one  in which the world as a whole is willing to discuss the matter is another thing indeed.

(….)

The Lack of Leadership in the USA

The principal reason that no one has changed the policy against drugs is there is USA is not receptive to this idea, says Juan Manuel Galán, Colombian Senator and member of the Latin American Commision over Drugs and Democracy.  Although some status in the ISA have made changes themselves, the federal government “has not been out in front of this issue.  There is not a critical mass in the USA that would permit this type of change in policy”, adds Galán.

Although there is a growing consensus in the USA the that the war on drugs has been a disaster, Galán says, it is not easy for the two political parties there get some dialogue going over this topic.  ”They are not interested in this topic because it is not considered a priority for them.”

Fear in the USA

Beyond the lack of leadership in the USA, the international community is not taking the lead on the debate either or at the minimum is proceeding “with extreme caution”, according to researcher Alfredo Rander, director of the Security and Democracy Foundation.

Rangel says that the United States assumed put this prohibition policy in place.  The other nations fear the the isolation and commerical or diplomcation sanctions that would be imposed if they went in the oppostive direction.  No one want to make an enemy of the USA and endanger their economic interest.

(…)

Dateline:  30 January 2012

Source:  http://www.semana.com/politica/santos-despenalizacion-droga-propuesta-eco/171262-3.aspx