Brazil Decriminalizes Drug Use

Donna Volatile · Honourable member Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 5

Weeks after some punishing setbacks for the government of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, with his Worker's Party losing three of the flagship cities in the world for Harm Reduction policies toward drug users (São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Curitiba), the Lula administration has finally decided to make the groundbreaking local policies go national.

According to a report in today's Folha de São Paulo (subscription only), Lula's government of has reached a "consensus" to step forward into a bold new era of drug policy: decriminalizing the drug user nationwide, and opening 250 safe drug use centers across the country during the year 2005.

Lula is expected to sign an executive decree on November 24, taking drug enforcement responsibilities away from police agencies, and placing the problems of drug use under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, which will be charged with supporting the safe drug-use centers and make Harm Reduction - a policy to reduce the harms associated with drug use - the law of the land.

Here is an excerpt from today's report from Brazil's largest daily newspaper:

"Policy proposal considers drug consumption as a public health problem, and no longer one for the police. The government wants to create centers for drug use."

"By Luciana Constantino and Luri Dantas Folha de São Paulo - Brasília Bureau

"After a series of internal disagreements about drug policy, the federal government is preparing a realignment of national policy to define drug consumption as a public health problem, and not one for the police as it is today.

"There will be a presidential order creating rules for treating drug dependents, with emphasis on Harm Reduction..."

To read more of the translation, and comment on this exciting new development, head toward The Narcosphere:

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2004/11/15/94326/676

From somewhere in a country called América,

Al Giordano Publisher The Narco News Bulletin http://www.narconews.com/ new email: narconews@gmail.com

**Ferre** · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:54 pm Post subject:

Bravo for Brazil! They understand that HARM REDUCTION is the most CIVILIZED and HUMAN way to approach drug related issues and laws.

Great news! Thank you Donna.
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**Mystic Power** · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:49 pm Post subject:

(translation follows)

Que coisa bonita. Agora... onde eu ponho meu dicionário Inglês-english-Portuguese?

Um dos blessings escondidos atrás do re-election de nosso presidente mentalmente desafiado do vaqueiro é a rebelião global de encontro "à política extrangeira Americana." A guerra internacional da droga é continuada no pedido (ameaças) dos Estados Unidos.

Agora... mais e mais países estão no modo para fazer o que é direito, melhor que o jogo segue o líder.

Bravo!

Siga Seu Bliss!
Ben
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What a beautiful thing. Now...where did I put my English-Portuguese dictionary?

One of the hidden blessings behind the re-election of our mentally challenged cowboy president is the global rebellion against American "foreign policy." The international drug war is carried on at the request (threats) of the United States.

Now...more and more countries are in the mood to do what is right, rather than play follow the leader.

Bravo!

Follow Your Bliss!
Ben
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**Fyrefly1** · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:46 pm Post subject:

AMEN to that....
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Rev.Viper-I · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 10:36 am Post subject:

Progress !
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indicaspice · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 4:45 am Post subject:

The united states can't stop everyone, as much as they think they can.
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RogerChristie · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 5:50 am Post subject: Hey Tiago! Did you hear this?

Hello Ferre and friends,

Aloha. A new friend of our is Tiago Reis of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tiago is a restaurant owner and he experiments with hempseed foods. He also is starting a THC Ministry there this month! He ordered a Cannabis Sanctuary Legal Defense Kit and he says that his lawyer told him that a cannabis ministry can be opened legally under their strong Constitution. Now this. Terrific!

With this good news of Brazil decriminalizing everything, it will be that much easier for Tiago to open his ministry. Very cool. Hallelujah!

All the best to you,

Roger

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Lilli · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:23 am Post subject:

Hallelujah and the beat goes on.
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