Will Cuba Update its Drug Policy for the Twenty First Century?
December, 2017
Cuba has an unprecedented opportunity to avoid such outcomes by proactively upgrading its drug policy as it updates its economy — by building on strengths while adjusting for new vulnerabilities. Among other things, Cuba’s National Drug Commission, National Anti-Drug Directorate, and other bodies tasked with formulating and implementing national drug policy should continue to fortify border controls, to develop anti-money laundering measures, and to strengthen bilateral counternarcotics cooperation. More importantly, they could also emphasize prevention and treatment by decriminalizing the possession of all drugs for personal use, by adopting proven harmreduction strategies, and by elaborating alternative sentencing procedures for non-violent drug offenders, including low-level traffickers and producers.
