Marijuana in the United States and the international drug control regime: Why what is promoted abroad is not applied at home

Anti drug policies are being increasingly questioned in Latin America, parts of the United States and in other parts of the world. In the United States nearly 20 States allow medicinal marijuana and Colorado and Washington State have made recreational marijuana use legal in clear violation of the United Nations conventions. In Latin America a group of former presidents and a few current ones have argued for a debate to rethink international drug policies. Uruguay is advancing legislation to allow recreational marijuana use under a controlled system that includes a government monopoly of its production and distribution. In May 2013 the government of the Republic of Georgia introduced a bill to legalize marijuana. In April 2012 the Summit of the Americas mandated the Organization of American States to produce a report based on scientific evidence that may allow exploring new policy options. Adapted from the source document.