International Law and Legalisation and Decriminalisation of Illicit Drugs E-Book

Vivian Stein

• Herausgeber: buch & netz
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: Next Generation
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 101

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

The three UN drug conventions comprehensively and almost universally regulate the dealing with illicit drugs worldwide. Although the treaties are prohibitive, more and more member states seek to liberalise their national drug policies and implement depenalisation, decriminalisation or even legalisation schemes. The article explores member states’ possibilities and limitations under the current treaty framework by giving an overview of their obligations, contractual exceptions and means under general public international law.

Leseprobe

International Law and Legalisation and Decriminalisation of Illicit Drugs Copyright © by Vivian Stein is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

© 2024 – CC-BY-SA (Text)

Author: Vivian SteinPublisher: EIZ Publishing (https://eizpublishing.ch)Layout & Production: buch & netz (https://buchundnetz.com)ISBN:978-3-03805-729-1 (Print – Softcover)978-3-03805-730-7 (PDF)978-3-03805-731-4 (ePub)DOI: https://doi.org/10.36862/eiz-ng009Version: 1.01-20250626

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International Law and Legalisation and Decriminalisation of Illicit Drugs

Vivian Stein

BLaw Vivian Stein is an assistant to Prof Dr iur Christian Schwarzenegger’s Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Criminology. She will complete her master’s degree with a focus on ‘International and Comparative Law’ summa cum laude at the University of Zurich in September 2024 and will then begin her doctoral studies.

The three UN drug conventions comprehensively and almost universally regulate the dealing with illicit drugs worldwide. Although the treaties are prohibitive, more and more member states seek to liberalise their national drug policies and implement depenalisation, decriminalisation or even legalisation schemes. The article explores member states’ possibilities and limitations under the current treaty framework by giving an overview of their obligations, contractual exceptions and means under general public international law.

List of AbbreviationsBibliographyIntroductionLiberalising National Drug Policies in the Light of the Obligations under the UN Drug ConventionsForms of Liberalised National Drug PoliciesDepenalisationDecriminalisationLegalisationThe Obligations under the UN Drug ConventionsThe Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)Actions Related to or Involved in Drug TraffickingActions Related to Individual ConsumptionObligation to PenaliseObligation to ProhibitThe Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)Actions Related to or Involved in Drug TraffickingActions Related to Individual ConsumptionUnited Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)Actions Related to or Involved in Drug Trafficking (Art. 3(1)(a))Actions Related to Individual Consumption (Art. 3(2))Escape Clauses and Other Contractual ExceptionsEscape Clauses in the UN Drug ConventionsExistence of a Relevant Domestic Legal SourceConstitutional LimitationsConstitutional PrinciplesPrinciple of ProportionalitySustainabilitySuitabilityLegitimate PurposeNecessityProportionality in a Narrow SenseProsecutorial DiscretionRelationship with Art. 3(6) Trafficking ConventionLimits of the Exercise of Prosecutorial DiscretionImplementation into National PolicyConflict with National Fundamental RightsBasic Concepts of a State’s Legal SystemConflict between the Relevant National and Contractual ProvisionsTime of the ConflictRemedies under Contract InterpretationLicit Usages: Medical and Scientific UsesMedical UsesScientific UsesLeniency towards Drug Absers as a Measure of Harm ReductionRemedies outside the UN Drug ConventionsReservationsTransitional and other Contractually Permitted ReservationsReservations not Provided for in the ConventionsConflicts with Human Rights ObligationsRight to Health (Art. 12 ICESCR)Right to Privacy (Art. 17 ICCPR)Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Traditional Uses of DrugsIndividual Agreements between Member StatesRequirementsConformity with the Purpose of the UN Drug ConventionsPossible IssuesUnilateral WithdrawalConclusion

List of Abbreviations

1972 ProtocolProtocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, signed in Geneva, 25 March 1972APPGDPRAll Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy ReformArt.ArticleBVerGFederal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) (Germany)D.C.District of ColumbiaDiss.DissertationDRIPUnited Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, signed in New York, 13 September 2007e.g.exempli gratiaed.edition/editoreds.editorset al.et aliietc.et ceteraf./ff.following page(s)/marginal note(s)i.e.id estibid.ibidemICCPRInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed in New York, 16 December 1966ICESCRInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, signed in New York, 16 December 1966ICJInternational Court of JusticeINCBInternational Narcotics Control BoardInternational Convention for Regulation of WhalingInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed in Washington D.C., 2 December 1946  Jr.JuniornfootnoteNMarginal noteNo.NumberPsychotropics ConventionConvention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, signed in Vienna, 21 February 1971s.n.sine nomineSingle ConventionSingle Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, signed in New York, 30 March 1961Trafficking ConventionUnited Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, signed in Vienna, 20 December 1988UN/UNOUnited Nations (Organisation)UN ChartaCharter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco, 26 June 1945UNODCUnited Nations Office on Drugs and CrimeUniversal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights, signed in Paris, 10 December 1948US/USAUnited States (of America)v.versusVienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT)Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, signed in Vienna, 23 May 1969  

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