Breaking the Taboo

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"Richard Nixon

President of the United States "

"In the 1970s,

the US declared war on drugs.

Drug consumption was defined

as a crime punishable by jail. "

"Ronald Reagan

President of the United States "

"But has a drug free world

ever existed?"

"40,000,000 B.C.

The Drunken Monkey Hypothesis"

BREAKING THE TABOO

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"2700 B.C. China - Cannabis"

"1300 B. C Assyria - Cannabis

"1000 B.C. Egypt - Opium"

"500 B.C. Greece - Wine"

"1492 Columbus brings cannabis seeds

to the Americas"

"1600 Arabis - Hashish"

"1800 China - Opium War"

"1885 Freud - Morphine"

"1914- 1918

World War I - Medicinal Cocaine"

"1920 US Alcohol Prohibition"

"1965 Vietnam War"

"1960s Counterculture"

"1971 Richard Nixon declares War on Drugs"

"1960s Bob Marley"

"1970s Eric Clapton"

"Synthetic Drugs"

The Latin American Commission on Drugs

and Democracy met today

in Rio de Janeiro to discuss new ways

to fight drug trafficking

and narcotics consumption.

"2008 The Latin American Commission

on Drugs and Democracy"

It is not easy to talk about drugs.

But we must since democracy

is at stake.

Drugs lead to violence,

undermine the rule

of law and contribute

to illegal repression.

They also facilitate corruption. All this

erodes credibility of the institutions.

Any questions?

Would the legalization of marijuana

reduce the power of traffickers?

Bolivia is leading a campaign

to take out the coca leaf

from this list of drugs, bad drugs.

So what is your opinion on this issue?

Since repression has not worked,

do you think the right approach

is decriminalization

and liberalization?

What legal changes do you think

should be made?

Is the state prepared to treat addicts

instead of putting them in jail?

Won't we be making life easier

for the traffickers?

Rational people change their minds

when confronted with new evidence.

"Fernando Henrique Cardoso, sociologist

President of Brazil "

Back then, I was not aware

of the seriousness of the issue.

People ask me why I didn't do

anything as President.

I did not have the right information.

I was not directly involved.

The general consensus was that

police repression was the solution.

The repressive policy was a failure.

I did not see this. I was wrong.

There are risks involved.

One could ask why am I meddling

with the drug issue

when I should be at home looking after

my great-grandchildren?

I remember a favela in the outskirts

of So Paulo.

A lady approached me and asked:

"Is it true that you are going

to put marijuana in children's snacks?"

So I understand how risky this issue is.

Getting it wrong could be devastating.

Early on this debate I read

in a local newspaper

that the active ingredient

of marijuana

was not THC but FHC.

They were mocking me.

"Favela Vigario Geral,

Rio de Janeiro"

"Afroreggae

Waly Salomao Cultural Center"

When I turned 13, my only option

was drug trafficking.

You end up believing that this

is the right option.

"Vitor Onofre

Afroreggae coordinator"

The only path.

It's the only reality you face each day.

Guns, drugs and violence.

"Favela Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro"

Sixty years ago, our guns

were. 22 and. 32 caliber.

Forty years ago,.38 specials,

pistols and 12 gauges arrived.

"Former drug trafficker"

Then came assault rifles,

machine guns and AK-47s.

So there is a link between

the introduction of new weapons

- and shifts in trafficking?

- Yes.

Every time a new gun showed up,

there was a new trafficker behind it.

And did this increase the power

of the drug market?

No.

But it increased crime.

- Crime? Killing?

- More bloodshed.

"Firearms seized by Rio's police - 2009"

We have around 150,000 firearms here.

"Allan Turnowski

Former Civil Police Director"

War weapons seized in Rio.

This one was made in Switzerland.

- This one's global.

- It is the AK-47.

Born in Russia

and spread worldwide.

"Carlos Oliveira

Former Deputy Director of the Civil Police"

Guns made in countries

such as Austria or Germany...

"In 2011, Carlos Oliveira was arrested

for diverting weapons seized

from drug traffickers.

He was released a few months later.

An investigation was opened up to review

the Federal Police's poor record

in combating arms trafficking.

Carlos claims to have been a victim

of a political witchhunt.

To date, this case has not been

decided on. "

I was surprised by the way

we got to the favela.

We arrived in a strange way:

By helicopter.

The chopper has to dodge

because the traffickers may shoot at it.

I live in a community where

rival factions are at war.

One night I went to a party

with my girlfriend.

That was when it happened.

I was hit by a stray bullet.

I woke up at the hospital,

and realized what had happened.

So I ended up like this.

I was 18 or 19 years old.

When the police raid a favela,

traffickers shoot at residents

to force the police to stop

and help the injured.

"Stray bullet victim - 19 years old"

Innocent people always pay

the highest price.

I had nothing to do with trafficking

and then this happened.

It makes me angry.

"Cracolandia - Sao Paulo, Brazil"

The crack situation in Brazil

is the best example of the

failed war on drugs.

Crack arrived to Brazil

during the 1990s.

It came from the US,

where it's long been used.

We had no educational

campaigns.

Kids started using crack believing

that it was like any other drug you smoke,

like marijuana or cigarettes,

just a little stronger.

But it's a hugely addictive drug.

So what is the situation today?

We waged war on crack

and what happened?

It spread nationwide,

becoming an epidemic.

"Brazilian Anti-Drug Commercial"

Drug trafficking finances violence.

And you fund the trade.

If you are going to buy drugs,

remember the cost.

"Denis R.

Marijuana User - Sao Paulo, Brazil"

It's not my fault

if I finance trafficking.

Because the only way I can

smoke a joint

is by getting some weed from

the traffickers at the favela,

and they are usually armed.

If I'm caught by the cops,

they'll beat me up.

Once I was picking up marijuana

and two police cars showed up.

I heard gunshots.

I don't feel safe, but in my case,

there's no alternative.

So I'd rather take the risk

then end up empty-handed.

My mother is terrified that

I'm in contact with traffickers.

She thinks I'm going to super dangerous

places where everyone's armed.

But the truth is that all drug users

are also dealers.

Users buy drugs from someone,

then consume them.

He gives some to his friends.

Since drugs are criminalized,

it's a crime to have drugs on you.

Why would ten people go uphill

to buy drugs,

when only one can go buy

some for everyone?

And the kid understands that

if he sells it for a bit more,

his stash is free.

"Washington D.C., USA"

We have to look at what is

happening in the US

because of its power to influence

repressive drug policies

across Latin America

and the world.

And also because of its crucial

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