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Current Events International Law and Marijuana
The article reports on the global debate on the legalization of the marijuana. According to Reuters (2014), some states in the U.S are pushing to legalize the buying and sale of marijuana as a good. However, according to the international law, there are some good that are classified as illegal for either trade or consumption of marijuana among other substances of abuse. While the states in the U.S have the authority to make some laws and authorize sale of some goods and services, these laws are not supposed to conflict with the established international law.
In this event, the UN Anti-narcotics Agency is laying a clear guideline that the legalization of marijuana will be against the international law. This article reports the incompatibility of the new state laws with the international laws. However, the laws have not been passed in the states yet, but there is a genuine concern of the UN Agency over the state laws. This is because some states like Oregon and Alaska have experienced activism from citizens seeking the legalization of marijuana (Reuters, 2014). Reuters (2014) cites the contravention of the international law by Uruguay in 2013 by passing the same law, against the 1961 global convention to prohibit the drug.
The story brings forth the issue of compatibility of local laws with the international laws as well as federal laws in large economies like the United States. While a law is made for the benefit of the people in a country, it should not violate the rights of others or international law. The proposal by some states like Oregon and Alaska therefore illustrates a point of conflict between different laws. However, international laws, especially business laws should dominate over the state and country laws because they protect the interests of the larger majority at the global level.
Reference
Reuters, 2014. U.S. states’ pot legalization not in line with international law: U.N. agency. Retrieved From, < http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/us-usa-drugs-un-idUSKCN0IW1GV20141112> November 19, 2014