NationStates Jolt Archive

1: ACKNOWLEDGING: The right of all states to control the use of any intoxicant, hallucinogenic or similar drug within their own boards

2. IN CONSIDERATION OF: The religious rights of members of an established religion within the borders of any nation they reside in

3. PROVIDING: Protection under the law for use of established compounds of a hallucinogenic or drug like nature as established and acknowledged by the respective government and religion.

4. ALLOWING: For the reasonable control of such substances by the nation/state in the interest of preservation of such interests to the security of the state and as to prevent sale and/or cultivation from inside to outside such religious groups and/or from outside to inside such religious groups in a for profit venture.

I know there are quite a few exceptions worded into this but I don't think they are contradictory or weaken the proposal overall and are necessary to prevent any major conflicts with existing resolutions and/or rule violations not to mention wording it so it does not infringe on a sovereign nation to control it's own drug policies.

I'm not clear on what this does, or what category it would be. I think I understand the idea, but it needs writing in a way that makes it plain what its operative function is.

I'm not clear on what this does, or what category it would be. I think I understand the idea, but it needs writing in a way that makes it plain what its operative function is.

It would fall under religious and personal freedoms and the purpose is to allow religious use of substances that would be forbidden under current drug control resolutions and proposals such as the UN Drug Act (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=508897) and without infringing on national sovereignty of those wishing to regulate their own drug policies.

Yo, welcome to the UN. Your head seems to be screwed on no less tightly than most of ours, so I'm sure you'll be a great contributer here.

As for this proposal, it seems like the idea is good, but it needs to be written a little more clearly. I'm having a tad bit of troubling finding out exactly what you're trying to do with this.

There is a bit of a problem, and that is defining "religion". Since your proposal appears to be binding, someone in Ceorana could theoretically make up their own religion and say it required them to smoke thirty thousand pounds of crack every day. Now, this is not something Ceorana would want to allow, so perhaps something allowing nations a bit of leeway in determining what a religion is? Or maybe an international commission to define "religion"?

Good luck with this.

Art Webster
Ambassador to the United Nations

OOC: Gruenberg's right, the operative clauses need to be clarified a bunch.

Basically you are trying to legalize "recreational" drugs by claiming they have some religious - or other "justifiable" use. I don't see any of the nations in the region my nation represents, besides Diwali, that would under any circumstance approve or vote for such a vague proposal.

Yours,
the Duality of Jazeera and Koto

As much as I agree that Religous uses of some drugs is acceptable, I do not see this resolution passing... it is too much like a general legalization attempt meant to create a loophole, allowing people to smoke pot without a legitimate reason. As has been pointed out, anybody can then start up a "Religion", and claim that lighting a joint is a religious requirement

As has been pointed out, anybody can then start up a "Religion", and claim that lighting a joint is a religious requirement

That's one of the vague areas that I have to work and and will try to hammer out if I ever put this up since your right we can't have every joe citizen creating a religion to get to use drugs... at the same time I'm not sure how the best way to setup government oversight without being overreaching into the right to religious freedom.

Oh thank you very much, but guess who's replaced...well, technically Sudalmenia replaced you as the regional delegate, and we them, but you are not in charge anymore! :P

People should be free to do whatever they want to, as long as they don't harm others.

PS If we weren't such a peace-loving nation, we'd declare war on you morons!
PPS Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah! You are losing more and more endorsements every day, and we are gaining! I suppose "democratic socialism" doesn't have that much of an appeal, huh?

OOC: This is a topic that I had been thinking about recently too. I checked, and the current opinion (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=508374) is that it would be 'Recreational Drugs' / 'Legalise'...

OOC: This is an interesting resolution. I'm not suggesting that it's going to be impossible to get a good passable one written, but it's a interesting challenge. As I see it there are several minor potential sticking points.

1) As others have mentioned there is the definition of "religion." You don't want just anyone to create their own religion of one to claim a right to use a drug of the day.

2) Another question is that of public/private usage. Whether or not the drug usage is restricted to the membership or the gathered worship community at large. If the later, then you have other problems to contend with. I personally know of someome who is strongly allergic to simple incense. If some priest starts liberally burning the stuff she gets really sick. I'm personally alergic to penacillin. Although I can't see it's use in a religious context it does suggest that some people may be alergic to other drugs that might be used in a communial worship setting. Warnings may be required.

3) There is also a question of safety. Governments do have some responsibility to protect their citizens at large.

Assuming that these issues (and others) can be addressed within the space of the character limit, I would say go for it, if only to see a reasonable resolution for the recrecational drugs / legalize option. (And yes I would say religion is a "recreation.")

I'll try to get my own draft typed-up, for comparison, in a few days time... but am currently a bit too busy as another of my nations -- 'Bears Armed' -- has people participating in the Winter Olympics...