CONSEQUENCES OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
The international illegal drug trade represents a multi-faceted challenge which has implications for the global community. Not only can international drug trafficking undermine political and regional stability, it can also bolster the role and capabilities of transnational criminal organizations in the drug trade. The illegal drug trade and addiction create sweeping negative consequences to individual communities, economic development, and place an additional burden on national public health infrastructures.
International efforts to combat drug trafficking are based on a long-standing and a robust set of multilateral commitments. Despite these multilateral commitments established to curb the supply of illicit substances, there are a growing number of incongruities appearing between various countries’ drug policies and their approaches. These discrepancies are being observed by independent advocates as well as other members of the international community. In recent years, an increasing number of international advocates, including several former and sitting heads of states, have begun to call for a reevaluation of current international drug policies.
Some countries are turning away from the international conventions and unified drug control regime and are moving toward decriminalization or full legalization of certain drugs. Both domestic and international debates are now occurring. This is shifting priorities and resources among various approaches to counter narcotics, including supply and demand reduction; the distribution of domestic and international drug control funding; and the relative balance of civilian, law enforcement, and military roles in anti-drug efforts.1
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