[PASSED] Drug Decriminalization Act

[Abacathea]

"Why is this supposed to be a meaningful threat? Any nation can resign at will. Are we supposed to be emotionally held hostage by this statement, afraid that we may upset your delegation?"

Its not a threat. In fact, the only reason I am still in WA is I am running for President of my region next month and need endorsements. and I could honestly give a rats ass if you feel emotionally held hostage, because that was never my intention.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out! I just polished all the brass and I don't want ass marks on the Strangers Bar doors!

[WayNeacTia]

"Why is this supposed to be a meaningful threat? Any nation can resign at will. Are we supposed to be emotionally held hostage by this statement, afraid that we may upset your delegation?"

Its not a threat. In fact, the only reason I am still in WA is I am running for President of my region next month and need endorsements. and I could honestly give a rats ass if you feel emotionally held hostage, because that was never my intention.

I can see your career going far in the WA.

[Northern Connecticut]

Its not a threat. In fact, the only reason I am still in WA is I am running for President of my region next month and need endorsements. and I could honestly give a rats ass if you feel emotionally held hostage, because that was never my intention.

I can see your career going far in the WA.

Too late already left.

[Separatist Peoples]

I can see your career going far in the WA.

Too late already left.

"You will not be missed, ambassador."

[Greater Cesnica]

This draft has been submitted. You may approve it here.

[The Python]

This draft has been submitted. You may approve it here.

Full support, not much to say besides that

[Bananaistan]

"It is disappointing that none of the concerns raised by the Abacathean were addressed prior to submission. In particular the requirement that all drugs are equal is disturbing and is exactly a one size fits nobody solution to a question nobody asked. Our opposition remains but we note that member states can still legitimately prosecute people in possession of illegal substances for other offences - such as funding international terrorism and organised crime."

[WayNeacTia]

This draft has been submitted. You may approve it here.

Are you campaigning for this?

[Tinhampton]

This draft has been submitted. You may approve it here.

Are you campaigning for this?

Yes - the below campaign telegram was sent by GC to every delegate (except Killzone35, Tsaivao, Primorye Oblast, North East Somerset and Greylyn) at 05:42:15 BST on Sunday:

Greetings, Esteemed Delegacy,

We are reaching out to you to ask that you read and consider approving our proposal, Drug Decriminalization Act. This proposal aims to prevent people from being convicted and thrown into prison just for possessing drugs for their own consumption, which we feel represents a grave injustice towards human dignity, not to mention a waste of a nation's expenditure. To clarify, no part of this resolution mandates that nations legalize recreational drugs in any capacity; rather we intend to eradicate the criminalization of an act whose sole 'victim' would be the consumer of a recreational drug.

You may find the link to approve our proposal here -> https://www.nationstates.net/page=UN_vi ... 1632024477

We hope you will consider approving our proposal so it can go to vote! Thank you for your consideration!

Kind Regards,

The World Assembly Delegations of Greater Cesnica and Honeydewistania

[Abacathea]

"It is disappointing that none of the concerns raised by the Abacathean were addressed prior to submission. In particular the requirement that all drugs are equal is disturbing and is exactly a one size fits nobody solution to a question nobody asked. Our opposition remains but we note that member states can still legitimately prosecute people in possession of illegal substances for other offences - such as funding international terrorism and organised crime."

Money Laundering, enabling criminality, the list goes on... My opposition remains. I would like to clarify that I typically have no issue with authors of draft legislation, as is the case with this particular piece, however, there have been very few drafts over the years that have irritated or annoyed me more than drugs legislation which always tends to be an attempt at a blocker or a one size fits all piece and rarely is open to change or suggestion.

[Qvait]

I support the proposal in principle as it ends the prohibition on recreational drug use, but I believe that it missed the mark by not including provisions on rehabilitation and treatment for addictive use. IA is on point by bringing it up. Decriminalization alone is not enough to end the prohibition, but we also need to make sure that people get whatever treatment they need for addiction.

[Honeydewistania]

I support the proposal in principle as it ends the prohibition on recreational drug use, but I believe that it missed the mark by not including provisions on rehabilitation and treatment for addictive use. IA is on point by bringing it up. Decriminalization alone is not enough to end the prohibition, but we also need to make sure that people get whatever treatment they need for addiction.

I believe that Greater Cesnica is working on a companion draft tackling that matter.

[Imperium Anglorum]

I don't support this for reasons previously given. And looking back, I also see that a typo reversed the perception of my entire position. I mean that it would not be difficult to bundle both decriminalisation and treatment together within the character limit. (That was the reason I brought up the following:) Just omit the preamble and practise word economy.

It would be too difficult to write something near the word limit which would work; the author could cut off the preamble (a la Tariffs and Trade Convention) and practise some word economy. [IA edit: See edit and above.]

OOC: I have started working on a companion draft that would fully tackle rehabilitation and aiding those suffering from substance abuse issues. A nice co-author is also helping out.

I don't think the policies should be separated into different resolutions. Decriminalisation goes nowhere without treatment for substance abuse. At the same time, treatment for substance abuse is cut off at the knees by lack of decriminalisation. The two must be bundled together.

"simple drug possession" as the possession of drugs by an individual where such possession is not for the purposes of: (i) monetary or other forms of material gain or (ii) providing drugs to an individual without their consent or otherwise with malicious intent,

As to this, what's to stop a member nation from imposing statutory intent-to-distribute? Note also that malicious has a specific meaning. It has a general "law"-feeling of the word, but it doesn't mean "harm" in criminal law. It refers to "a state of mind (see MENS REA) usually taken to be equivalent to *intention or *recklessness: it does not require any hostile attitude". "malice", Oxford Dictionary of Law (6th edn, OUP 2006). I am unclear as to what you want this "otherwise with [intentional] intent" clause (or alternatively this "otherwise with [inured to risk] intent" clause) to mean. The wording raises the obvious questions: risk of what and intent to do what?

Even if we take the view that here, "malicious intent" means "intent to harm others" (which it doesn't), couldn't a nation set a rebuttable presumption of harmful intent for possession of various date rape drugs? In such a situation, possession of those drugs without authoring papers would be de facto impermissible.

Edits upon edits...

[Axmanlandia]

The axmanlandiain representative rises from the Jazmin scented petal filled waters of his walrus jacuzzi as water cascades from his glittering metallic diplomatic Speedos his drug injector pack purring

"We of axmanlandia support any measure that grants greater internal chemical autonomy to the proletariat"

"Since time immemorial the forces of reactionary fascism have saught to replace euphoria with obedience and eternal love with bitter compliance"

"We stand forsquare behind this mesure and send a pitcher of highballs your way as a gesture of solidarity from our proud nation"

Sitting back down in the swirling foaming water he taps a scantily clad diplomatic aid of inditerminate gender who begins mixing the drinks from an almost comicaly overstocked bar

[Qvait]

I support the proposal in principle as it ends the prohibition on recreational drug use, but I believe that it missed the mark by not including provisions on rehabilitation and treatment for addictive use. IA is on point by bringing it up. Decriminalization alone is not enough to end the prohibition, but we also need to make sure that people get whatever treatment they need for addiction.

I believe that Greater Cesnica is working on a companion draft tackling that matter.

If that's the case, I would like to see that before voting for.

[Sincluda]

---

The Europeian Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote FOR the General Assembly Resolution, "Drug Decriminalization Act".
Its reasoning may be found here.

---

[Amerion]

The South Pacific's World Assembly Delegation has cast the Coalition's vote FOR this proposed resolution, Drug Decriminalization Act, and warmly encourages fellow member regions to vote FOR.

[Neo-Western East Korea]

After having reviewed both law 122 (thank you, ambassador below us) and then this law, still unconditional support, as we already had these policies within our law, but we are saddened this does not allow us to sell drugs on the international market.

[Sierra Lyricalia]

Full support, we can finally claim our drug selling is internationally legitimate! (Please do not check any Neo-Korean international warehouses before the law is passed)

"Ambassador, I suggest you revisit Resolution #122, and then try again with this one."

[Separatist Peoples]

This draft has been submitted. You may approve it here.

Ooc: I'll be dipped in shit. I didn't think this would survive. GC, i was wrong and you were right.

IC: "We oppose this. Justice systems and domestic legislatures of governments have a greater interest in setting punishments for crimes than the international community."

[Elwher]

While we applaud the intention of this proposal, and have implemented it in our fair land, we cannot in good conscience impose our beliefs on drug usage on those nations who feel differently about it. This is a matter that should be settled on a local level, not in an international forum.

[Grand Pato]

The people of Grand Pato firmly support the decriminalization of drug possession everywhere, and we believe the Drug Decriminalization Act is a step in the right direction, deserving of our vote.

But, it is urgent that we address what was NOT covered:

We strongly encourage the safe, careful use of drugs and do believe there should be additional legislation to foster rehabilitation and safe use in clinics to reduce the rate of overdose.

We recognize that, when one has to buy drugs from an illegal source, quality is impacted - and it may be laced or fake, greatly decreasing safety. It also creates a lucrative black market with no regulation at all.

Thus, we hope an industry of legal, taxable, regulated drugs is on the horizon.

[Caymarnia]

While we applaud the intention of this proposal, and have implemented it in our fair land, we cannot in good conscience impose our beliefs on drug usage on those nations who feel differently about it. This is a matter that should be settled on a local level, not in an international forum.

We are inclined to agree. While we are of the belief that recreational drug use, legal or otherwise, dulls the brains and poisons the precious bodily fluids of our workforce, other nations may believe differently, and that is their prerogative. We also support rehabilitation efforts, and have made strides in that regard here in the wake of our recent revolution, but at the same time, the resolution (as pointed out by the esteemed representative of Bananaistan) treats all drugs used recreationally as being on the same level. This is not true. Cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines are not on the same level as cannabis or tobacco (or alcohol, if we want to lump that in); indeed, the demand for and distribution of these "harder" drugs constitute a considerable threat to the health and security of all nations. Decriminalizing them will not alter that.

Caymarnia therefore votes against.

[Alpinumtia]

"Although we are in full agreement that rehabilitation is needed to effectively combat the problem of substance abuse, we are afraid that the deliberate ambiguity put forward in this resolution could potentially be exploited by those with malicious intent. We cannot in good faith, support this resolution. We also firmly believe that nations should have control over their own substance abuse law. The forceful nature of this resolution is in contrast to the World Assembly's democratic values. Resolutions of this nature should only serve as a recommendation for nations, instead of a requirement."

OOC: Ayo like a couple weeks earlier a resolution like this got completely shot down and its passing all of a sudden? Whats wrong with people lol

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

Making cannabis legal? Maybe, maybe.
Making all drugs legal? No.
Why No?
This resolution is very hypocritical and it aims to reduce innocent convicts which might be good in the first part. Then you read the author's previous drafts and see that they say "Drugs have won the war on drugs". This is extremely stupid as the war of drugs is on the side of the nations, not the drug dealers. This resolution will give free out of jail cards to criminals.

"simple drug possession" as the possession of drugs by an individual where such possession is not for the purposes of monetary or other forms of material gain or providing drugs to an individual without their consent or otherwise with malicious intent"

This slowly contradicts itself as governments can't manufacture drugs. Where do the consumers get the drugs? The drug dealers. The consumers are witnesses and why would they tell their drug dealer?
Our vote is against.