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PHILIPPINES
What in the World...
PHILIPINO DR UG USERS ‘SHUNNED’ B Y SOCIETY AND HUNTED B Y ASS ASSINS-
FIND THEY HAVE NO WHERE T O TURN Las AngelesTimes Sept 19,2016

them yourself as getting their parents
President Duterte has urged the
to do it would be too painful.” He
public to kill Drug Addicts. Image
added that, “These sons of whores
via Concept News Central.
are destroying our children.”
NEWLY-INSTALLED Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte has
elections in May, the former Davao
reiterated his tough stance on crime
city mayor said medals would be
by urging the public to not only kill
drug dealers, but addicts as well. After claiming victory in the general
given to citizens who shot and killed
drug dealers. His words look to have
Speaking to a crowd of 500 in a Ma- been put into action since he took
nila slum, Duterte said: “If you know presidency as bodies of drug suspects
of any addicts, go ahead and kill piled up.

IRELAND

IRI S H G OV E RN ME NT TO D EC RIMIN A LIZE H E RO IN , CO C A IN E , A N D M A RIJ UA N A
CBC News Jul 14, 2016
As the battle to decriminalize — and legal- standing or public education about the overdose rate is lower than every other
ize — weed in the U.S. continues, another nature of addiction. This stigma can be country in the European Union except
country is taking a giant leap towards compounded for those who end up with Romania.
eliminating its stringent drug laws. a criminal record due to possession of
drugs for their own use,” he said. “Addic- In 2009, Mexico took a similar step
tion is not a choice, it’s a healthcare issue. by decriminalizing the possession of
In the near future, Ireland will decrimi- This is why I believe it is imperative that small amounts of heroin, cocaine, mari-
nalize marijuana, cocaine, and heroin we approach our drug problem in a more juana, LSD, and methamphetamine.
possession. Medically-supervised injec- compassionate and sensitive way.”
tion rooms will also soon be available to
drug users, in order to reduce the stigma In Colombia and Peru, cocaine pos-
of addiction. Ireland is following in the The Irish Times reports that injection session and cultivation is legal. The
footsteps of countries that have started facilities will spring up in Galway, Cork, drug is decriminalized in Switzerland
to tire of the fallout from the war on Limerick, in addition to Dublin. “The and Germany. Both countries permit
drugs driven by U.S. policy. On Monday, drug problem is a constantly changing cocaine for medical use, as do the U.K,
during a speech at the London School of phenomenon,” the minister noted in Hong Kong, and Singapore. Hero-
Economics, Minister of Drugs Aodhán his speech. “Governments around the ine is similarly permitted for medical
Ó Ríordáin announced plans to open the world are constantly trying to play catch purposes in Canada, Hong Kong, the
injection centers for drug users in Dublin up to deal with a very sophisticated and Netherlands, and the U.K. Brazil could
next year. Ríordáin also divulged that the lucrative market.” In the past few years, also decriminalize all drug possession in
parliamentary committee on Justice, De- countries in Europe and the Americas the near future. Supreme Court argu-
fence and Equality strongly supports de- have decriminalized and legalized vari- ments were heard in September.
criminalization across the board, and will ous drugs, making a sharp turn away
work towards making that a reality in from tough law enforcement at the heart
2016. Calling on a “radical” shift in drug of the “War on Drugs.” Portugal took
policy, Ríordáin pointed to the public drastic action as early as 2001, when
health implications of decriminalization it decriminalized all drug use. Instead
and the extent to which national funds of jail time, drug users face fines and
are spent on law enforcement and court community service. The impact of the
efforts to crack down on drug use. “Too 2001 law has been significant, with drug
often those with drug problems suffer use among adults and youth dropping
from stigma, due to a lack of under- ever since it went into effect. HIV is far
less common among drug users, and the

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