Legal regulation of drugs: A policy to transform the state and organized criminal organizations
A Talk by David Restrepo , Zara Snapp , Amaya Ordorika and Nazlee Maghsoudi
About this Talk
"What have been the impacts of the legal regulation of drug markets to confront criminal organizations? The regulation of psychoactive substances is an innovative policy that has gained momentum in countries such as Uruguay, Canada, and the United States – especially with cannabis – as a public policy to address the unintended consequences of drug prohibition such as the creation of profitable illegal markets, mass incarceration and human rights violations, and as a strategy to respond to organized crime. It is a decision that has brought with it other mechanisms embracing criminal, social and racial justice, including the integration of farmers of illicit crops into legal schemes and amnesty for people imprisoned for offenses related with drugs. This session aims to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the legal regulation of drug markets as a public policy to address the impacts of prohibition related to organized crime and state related violence and human rights violations. The roundtable will highlight the voices of experts with trajectory in peacebuilding, legal regulation and transitional justice from civil society organizations, academic and public institutions.
Section 1. What has the legal regulation of illegal drug markets achieved so far regarding the transformation of the state? (30 minutes)
Section 2. What have been the impacts of legal regulation on the political and economic power of criminal organizations? (30 minutes)
Section 3. Q&A (15 minutes)"
About The Speakers
Director of Research at CESED (Centro de estudios sobre seguridad y drogas | Universidad de los Andes)
Co-founder, Instituto RIA
Co-founder of Instituto RIA, a Mexican civil society organization. Masters in public policy from Harvard University Specialist on social justice, development, and peace building framework
Advocacy and Researcher Coordinator, ReverdeSer Colectivo
Cofounder of ReverdeSer Colectivo. Co-author of the book: "The social cost of the war on drugs in Mexico: militarization and systematic human rights violations".