'After the War on Drugs' - The Impacts of Legal Regulation in Latin America

Following on from the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) which took place in New York between 19th and 21st April, Canning House is organising its own session in light of what was discussed and also covering areas and issues which were the UN session did not, or were not able, to touch upon.

The panel will look at issues such as the future of drugs policy in light of the UNGASS outcome; the likely development of further cannabis regimes following Uruguay; the possibility of regulated regimes in cocaine if cannabis goes well; and the also the economic/financial implications of all of these points. For example, would there be a significant effect on the economies of the Andean countries if cocaine was regulated? What would happen to Mexico's exports of cannabis if it becomes regulated in California, which could happen very soon?

Furthermore, what are the security implications of legal regulation? Illicit drug trade, particularly through Central America and Mexico, produces heightened security issues connected to drug-trafficking and gang-related violence, arguably exacerbated by the war on drugs.

Canning House is delighted to welcome Baroness Meacher, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform to chair the event, and speakers including HE Néstor Osorio Londoño, The Ambassador of Colombia to the UK, Danny Kushlick, Head of External Affairs at Transform Drug Policy, and Dr John Collins, Executive Director, LSE IDEAS, International Drug Policy Project.