International dimensions of drug policy Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs March 18, 2001 Terry Cormier Foreign Affairs and International Trade

2 Overview zContext zChallenges zInternational legal architecture zInternational developments zPolicy challenges

3 zMulti-dimensional aspects: diplomatic, policy, financial, humanitarian, legal, law enforcement zIn many multilateral and regional fora zDifferent countries have particular preoccupations International dimensions

4 Public Safety: International dimensions zIntegration results in new threats to the safety and security of Canadians zGlobal challenges require global responses zCoherence, coordination, leadership zHorizontal issue management zGrowing agenda of public safety issues

5 Problems of international drug trade zCorruption zViolence zUndermines state and rule of law yAfghanistan zEconomic dislocation zHealth issues zMoney laundering zTrafficking in firearms

6 International Institutional Structure zUN yEconomic and Social Council yCommission on Narcotic Drugs yUNDCP yInternational Narcotics Control Board yWorld Health Organization zOAS

7 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 zObjective: limit the production and trade in prohibited substances zEstablishes UN architecture zDeals with control largely by criminal penalties z4 Schedules yCannabis is in Schedule 4, subject to highest level of control

8 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 zDeals with pervasive use and availability of synthetic, psychotropic substances zFollows template of Single Convention zRecognizes the medical necessity z4 Schedules of control zRequires drugs to be specifically listed

9 Convention against Illicit Traffick in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 zInstrument of international criminal law zIntent is to harmonize national, drug- related criminal laws and enforcement actions zObligations to create and implement very specific criminal laws zSpecifically obligates Parties “to respect fundamental human rights”

10 International Conventions: Cannabis possession zConsensus view is that it is not possible to decriminalize cannabis and be in conformity with the three Conventions zParties have latitude with respect to penalties and sanctions zConventions recognize explicitly domestic law

11 Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism zUnder Canadian chairmanship and leadership MEM was developed by the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) zPeer group evaluation mechanism zSupply and demand zBroadening the understanding of the impact of drugs in our societies

12 CHALLENGES zAnticipation of future threats ychemical drugs, ATS ynano technologies zKeeping international and domestic contexts in some relative equilibrium

13 International environment zInternational environment is changing zSubstance abuse issues are now considered in broader context -- demand and supply zGrowing recognition that we should differentiate among classes of drugs zGreater appreciation for the broader social, political, economic impacts

14 Conclusion zCanada promotes multilateralization of international rules zSubstance abuse issues are critical social policy issues which engage many different actors zEssentially a political issue