UN criticises British decision to downgrade cannabis

[Frazz]

The British Government's decision to downgrade cannabis to a Class C drug has been criticised by the head of the United Nations anti-drugs department. Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said countries got the "drug problem they deserved" if they maintained inadequate policies.

In an unusual statement, he suggested cannabis was as harmful as cocaine and heroin - a stance which differs wildly from the British attitude of treating cannabis far less seriously than Class A substances. Mr Costa suggested that cannabis was now "considerably more potent" than a few decades ago and that it was a "mistake" to dismiss it as a soft, relatively harmless drug.

 

"Today, the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that different from those of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin," Mr Costa said.

 

The report estimated 162 million people used cannabis at least once in 2004, the equivalent of 4 per cent of the 15 to 64-year-old global population.

 

Author: ?

Date: Tuesday 27 June 2006

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/26/uun.xml

Copyright: Telegraph group limited

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What are Antonio Maria Costa's qualifications to be able to speak so authoritively on the subject of drugs?

 

I suggest he doesnt known bugger all about drugs, his CV in brief :

 

* Degree in political science from the University of Turin (1963);

* Degree in mathematical economics from the Moscow State University (1967); and

* Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley (1971).

 

His career history is as follows:

* 1969 to 1983: Senior economist in the United Nations Department of International Economics and Social Affairs.

* 1983 to 1987: Under-Secretary-General at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

* 1987 to 1992: Director-General for Economics and Finance at the European Commission.

* 1992 to 2002: Secretary-General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

* 2002 to present: Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV).

 

He is speaking only for his masters the USA who is the biggest single contributor to the United Nations, and the only country who weilds the power at the U.N.

 

[Budman2012]

Fk That Prick!

 

Sounds like he only knows about money to me (Economics) nothing about drugs at all. Who chooses these clowns.

 

Hopefully America will get what it deserves for Its inadequate (And Absurd) policies (Global policies it seems) - Policies - Police - Similar words eh.

 

Fck The Corporate World! and Fck The Pigz!

Budman ... Out.

[pipeman]

can someone please tell me what the fuck the UN does except let the USA dominate the rest of the world through their social and military policies. Edited June 27, 2006 by pipeman

[SukonmiSkunk]

nope, pipeman.. they dont do anything else thats about it.. let the US walk over everyone...

the funny thing is its legal in quite a few states in the US.... for MEDICINAL purposes...

 

so pot is on the same plane as herion mmmm kool, seeing as herioin is used for EVERY pain killer known to man... funny how I can smoke 40+ cones a day and when I run out.. I seem to able to go with out.... I dont like too .. but I am sure I am not addicted ...otherwise I couldnt go with out....

 

I CHOOSE not to go with out...

[WantDaChronic]

that guy is nothing but a polititian in the pocket of the usa

 

pipeman, to answer your question, they do nothing else

[jaguarrh]

the UN does do a nice line of blue hats...

[mull]

Good camo the blue hats

 

As harmful as heroin, cocaine and the UN... and considerably more potent than a few decades ago (less impotent!)