OAS agenda includes legalizing marijuana

Otto Perez and Jose Miguel Insulza

On Tuesday, June 4, the Organization of American States (OAS) will start the 43rd session of the General Assembly and for the first time it will focus on the discussion of alternative means to fight the war against drugs, including its controversial legalization.

At 45 km southwest of the colonial capital, Antigua Guatemala, the discussions will receive foreign ministers or delegates from 34 countries who are active members of the OAS, under the theme “Towards a comprehensive policy against the world drug problem in the Americas.” This debate is superimposed on the current reforms seeking for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

“We are opening the discussion, that had not been achieved. We look forward to the positions of all the American countries,” said the Guatemalan President, Otto Perez, after meeting with Secretary General of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, who received an investigation carried out by experts at the request of the agency to analyze the problem of drugs on the continent and the new approaches to fight it.

This document was presented last May in Colombia, which will be discussed in Guatemala. It has several scenarios such as decriminalization, starting with marijuana, strengthening security and institutions with public health.

United States, one of the largest cocaine consumers, sent a delegation led by Secretary of State John Kerry. Also accompanying him is William Brownfield, who has made objections to the expert report, especially about the legalization.

Within this discussion it would be pending the reform of the Commission, which is strongly criticized by authoritarian governments like Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, those who accuse subject to U.S. interests. The OAS General Assembly will open on Tuesday, June 4, and will meet on Wednesday and Thursday.