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Marijuana meddle: UN official rips US states over legal pot policies

Rogue Valley

Rogue Valley

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Marijuana meddle: UN official rips US states over legal pot policies
November 13, 2014

A Russian diplomat who heads the United Nations’ drug policy office reportedly chided U.S. states for legalizing recreational marijuana and vowed to take up his concerns with officials in Washington -- in the latest incident of a U.N. official meddling in local U.S. affairs. In response, one American advocacy group suggested the U.N. agency has no authority here, and has outlived its usefulness.

Yury Fedotov, director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, addressed the ballot measures on Wednesday, on the heels of last week’s midterm elections. Last Tuesday, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., voters approved measures allowing marijuana use – following the pot path blazed by Colorado and Washington state. But according to Reuters, Fedotov told reporters that the moves defy international drug “conventions.” "I don't see how [the laws] can be compatible with existing conventions," he reportedly said, claiming he would take it up with State Department and U.N. officials next week. Fedotov was referring to platforms from international drug treaties as far back as 1961.

But Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told FoxNews.com that while Fedotov technically might be right, those “conventions” have “no teeth.” Further, he criticized the U.N. office for focusing on punitive policies and said, “At this point, we’d be better off without the UNODC.” Nadelmann and allied groups have been buoyed by a string of Obama administration statements making clear that, for now, they will take a lenient approach toward marijuana legalization. Last month, a senior State Department official called for a “flexible interpretation” of U.N. drug policies. “Things have changed since 1961,” Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield said. Given that and other statements from top administration officials, Nadelmann brushed off Fedotov’s comments. “It doesn’t make any difference,” he said. “Fedotov is going through the motions…. but the decision’s already been made.”

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Interesting. Are the pot policies of a growing number of states breaking/ignoring international drug treaties or conventions?
 
Simpleχity;1063974016 said:
Interesting. Are the pot policies of a growing number of states breaking/ignoring international drug treaties or conventions?
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Yawn. I recommend disbanding the UN or at least withdrawing from it.
 
I think there's a thread on this.
 
The US routinely ignores the UN so
 
Simpleχity;1063974016 said:
Interesting. Are the pot policies of a growing number of states breaking/ignoring international drug treaties or conventions?
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Yes they are.

But that is a good thing.

As a result of these policies the silly and hugely destructive prohibition will slowly end.

The UN is still worth keeping. It slows actions often. That's generally good, especially when war is the action being considered.
 
Simpleχity;1063974016 said:
Interesting. Are the pot policies of a growing number of states breaking/ignoring international drug treaties or conventions?
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Initiatives like this one are quite normal now. There is a growing but already massive campaign by Russia to undermine US credibility and legitimacy. They are very adept at it and the propaganda, which is thick and heavy, is impacting attitudes in populations around the world. It is affecting policies to the detriment of the US considerably.
 
fmw said:
Yawn. I recommend disbanding the UN or at least withdrawing from it.
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The UN has it's uses in regards to keeping the peace, but they should be steered back to their original purpose. They should not be a de facto one-world government with the power to decide what countries can or cannot legalize.
 
Maybe we should ask Comrade Fedotov what the UN's policy on members annexing pieces of other countries is.

In other words: Go **** yourself, guy.
 
RabidAlpaca said:
Maybe we should ask Comrade Fedotov what the UN's policy on members annexing pieces of other countries is.

In other words: Go **** yourself, guy.
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Logical fallacies.

A very liberal response.
 
Paleocon said:
Logical fallacies.

A very liberal response.
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I see you stopped in again to hurl nonsensical insults instead of contributing to the topic.

I guess you're in favor of Russia overruling the states? You know what, don't answer that, I don't care, you're just going to tell me I need jesus or something then call me a liberal because I don't want to live in the middle ages with you.
 
What a joke. They are more concerned with our citizens doing what they voted for and having freedom than the number of countries that are being overrun by ISIS, Russia and disease. Give me a break. This organization that we pay 25% of the operational costs and 25% of the "peacekeeping" budget is ridiculous. Cut their budget and build up America. We can then give them money as we see fit, in the form of grants.
 
RabidAlpaca said:
I see you stopped in again to hurl nonsensical insults instead of contributing to the topic.

I guess you're in favor of Russia overruling the states? You know what, don't answer that, I don't care, you're just going to tell me I need jesus or something then call me a liberal because I don't want to live in the middle ages with you.
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The Crimea situation has exactly zero to do with our policies on pot.
 
Blue_State said:
What a joke. They are more concerned with our citizens doing what they voted for and having freedom than the number of countries that are being overrun by ISIS, Russia and disease. Give me a break. This organization that we pay 25% of the operational costs and 25% of the "peacekeeping" budget is ridiculous. Cut their budget and build up America. We can then give them money as we see fit, in the form of grants.
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Did they indicate somehow that this was a higher priority than ISIS?
 
Simpleχity;1063974016 said:
Interesting. Are the pot policies of a growing number of states breaking/ignoring international drug treaties or conventions?
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Actually that would appear to be the case. A couple of decades ago, at the urging of the US government, the UN declared marijuana a narcotic and thus it fell under international conventions. One of their first actions was to declare Mexico and Canada narcotic export countries along with Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cambodia, Peru and so forth.

Russia has a very serious drug problem consuming twice as much heroin per 1000 as the US, it's OK to have half the country ripped to the gills on vodka but a puff of pot gets you the gulag.

BTW, the US government is still one of the harshest when it comes to marijuana policy.
 
Deuce said:
But you can't remember?

...do you have more to share?
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I don't remember the forum, but I think this might be a duplicate.
 
Fearandloathing said:
Actually that would appear to be the case. A couple of decades ago, at the urging of the US government, the UN declared marijuana a narcotic and thus it fell under international conventions. One of their first actions was to declare Mexico and Canada narcotic export countries along with Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cambodia, Peru and so forth.
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Came in to make sure this was addressed. The US effectively compelled the member nations of the UN to criminalize marijuana, and are now not enforcing that consistently even at home.

It's the sort of hypocrisy that I hope will end the incredibly wasteful War on (Some) Drugs.
 
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Yeah, and?
 
WillyPete said:
Came in to make sure this was addressed. The US effectively compelled the member nations of the UN to criminalize marijuana, and are now not enforcing that consistently even at home.

It's the sort of hypocrisy that I hope will end the incredibly wasteful War on (Some) Drugs.
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The US has been the most rabid country on pot since the 30's, long jail sentences for a hash pipe? You guys jailed George Carlin for a pipe!

They dug in and held onto that for years, continue to conduct an anti campaign filled with half truths and lies and now that the citizenry is catching up with the rest of the world they are realizing that jailing George Carlin or whoever for minor **** is really stupid.

But they can't suddenly go from pot being a drug that will melt your brain and turn you into a "fiend" to "OK, go ahead and be like the rest of the world".

BTW, I have been told that the US Department of Health refuses to even look at medical studies, some of which show huge promise in the treatment of cancer and pain management. If you are dying of cancer here, you get all the pot you want if you desire, paid for by our taxes.....

But it is still illegal. I can smoke openly here, can buy it a dispensary three of which are within walking distance, the Vancouver police will NOT lay a charge for simple possession and so forth.

So you are not alone in the hypocrisy department, but the US going to the UN was a rather nasty especially now that it's legal in three states.

Thanks for the post
 
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