Leaked UN document proposes global decriminalisation of drugs

The United Nations is set to issue a call on all governments to decriminalise the possession and use of all drugs, according to a document leaked by businessman and drug law reform activist Richard Branson.

The document from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recommends the “decriminalisation of drugs for personal consumption” and argued that “arrest and incarceration are disproportionate measures”.

"Treating drug use for non-medical purposes and possession for personal consumption as criminal offences has contributed to public health problems and induced negative consequences for safety, security, and human rights," the document states.

The embargoed document was drawn up by Dr Monica Beg, chief of the UNODC’s HIV/AIDs section, and was prepared for an international arm reduction conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.

In a statement on the Virgin website, Branson said that he was breaking the embargo on the document because he feared that political pressure would lead the UNODC to withdraw their statement at the last moment.

“This is a refreshing shift that could go a long way to finally end the needless criminalisation of millions of drug users around the world,” said Branson, who sits on the Global Commission on Drug policy. “But as I’m writing this I am hearing that at least one government is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on the UNODC.

“Let us hope the UNODC, a global organisation that is part of the UN and supposed to do what is right for the people of the world, does not do a remarkable volte-face at the last possible moment and bow to pressure by not going ahead with this important move.

“The war on drugs has done too much damage to too many people already.”