United+Nations+Commission+on+Narcotic+Drugs

2010 ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE **United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs** As your Chair I would first like to tell you that I am very excited for the conference and I look forward to seeing all the great things you guys accomplish. My name is Ethan Duncan and I am a freshman at St. Bonaventure. I am a Political Science major with a minor in a Law and Philosophy program. This is my first year involved with Model United Nations at any level. However, I was a 6 year competitor in Forensics (Speech and Debate) in high school so I have learned to love the topics covered in MUN. Other than my apparent interest in politics and what happens around the world, I am an avid sports fan and I love to do volunteer work. Music and movies are hobbies of mine as well. But for now, I’m more interested in seeing what great parliamentary debaters you are as I look forward to a great weekend of Model United Nations. Remember to have fun aside from all the seriousness! Hello Delegates, my name is Matt Phillips, and I will be your Co-Chair for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. As for my background, I am a freshman here at Saint Bonaventure, and I have grown up in this area. I am a Political Science major, and I would like to go to Law School after I put in time as a New York State Trooper. In my free time I enjoy working out and playing sports, especially snowboarding!! I expect a good debate from all of you, so understand the topics thoroughly and your country’s position on them. That being said, I want this to be an extremely fun experience for you so you’ll want to come back. There is no need to be completely serious all the time. Now let me leave you with a quote and know that I am looking forward to meeting all of you. “Just remember, who you are, where you’re from, and who you represent!”

**__Opium Trade/Production in Afghanistan__** Since 2008, Afghanistan has been the greatest illicit opium producer in the world. Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy. Opium is often processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. Afghanistan produces almost 90% of the world’s opium. The resurgence of the Taliban, a hard-line Islamic based movement, in southern parts of Afghanistan is closely linked to the opium industry. The Taliban is using the opium manufacturing as a source of funds and as a means to gain the support of poor, rural Afghans. The Taliban is destabilizing the government of President Hamid Karzai through their control of the sale of opium. The Taliban is supported by al-Qai’da fighters within the region along with Afghan insurgents opposed to the Karzai government, which is supported by United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces. President Karzai has declared a “jihad against poppy” because it was against Islam along with the fact that it was destroying the country; however, the Taliban are encouraging farmers to cultivate opium poppy and are protecting drug routes and traffickers. A major concern from all major parties involved in eradicating the opium trade, including the Karzai government of Afghanistan, is the possibility of the State to fall into ruin because of the divisive drug situation. Many worry that if the opium production continues to fuel the Taliban, the country will eventually fall back in the hands of terrorism. Various organizations have been set up within Afghanistan as counternarcotics measures. They include the Ministry of Counternarcotics and Ministry of Interior in the central government where other more specific agencies fall under them such as the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). Both the United States and the United Kingdom are heavily involved in coordinating and implementing the Karzai government’s counternarcotics efforts. Under Afghan’s Ministry of Interior, there are specific agencies that carry out and execute the policies enacted by the government to combat the narcotics, such as the Afghan Special Narcotics Force (ASNF). At this point in time, the opium business is being fought by the Karzai government that is receiving funds from prominent countries like the U.S. and the U.K. The Afghan opium trade falls under the global war on drugs that all countries are combating. The international community has at the very least assessed the need for United Nations and NATO forces to fight the Taliban insurgency. Taking all of this into consideration, should more countries be stressing the need for more troops to fight the Taliban? As well, how can the international community ensure that the Taliban does not take control of the country? What can be done to wane the Afghan people off of their opium reliance? How is your country impacted by the increasing power of the Taliban? How is your country affected by the opium trade?

** Cannabis ** [|Cannabis] continues to be a controversial drug in many countries while people try and figure out its place in their society. It includes marijuana, hash, and hash oil. The Western world has seen increases in the number of young people using cannabis as a common activity. Other areas of the world utilize cannabis for cooking purposes as well as for religious rituals. Some countries relax their stances against cannabis whenever it is maintained in certain quantities. Countries have allowed for the use of marijuana as a prescription medicine, as seen in some areas of the United States. But trumping all of these exceptions is the fact that marijuana is not fully legal in any country including the Netherlands, contrary to popular belief. A growing problem within the problem already defined is use of cannabis among the world’s youth. Cannabis use represents almost 90% of all illicit drug use among students in the U.S. and Australia and almost 95% in Europe. The highest using countries include Canada, the U.S., Australia, the U.K., France, and Ireland. Issues regarding the use of cannabis in daily life include problems of slowed and diminished reflexes. Another major concern of cannabis is the gateway drug theory that says users will become more inclined to experiment with other drugs that can be more dangerous. Keeping this in mind, can we fight violent drug issues like trafficking before we even fight an issue that can lead to these other drug issues? Although positions may vary worldwide, the major binding concept is that marijuana is illegal. With many more young people using, it seems as if cannabis will continually increase in use over the rest of this generation and ones to follow. If the international community is to have any ability in decreasing the use of marijuana worldwide, where will it be stopped? With different countries having different policies, is it necessary to have a universal resolution binding all abiding countries to ensure of its elimination? Make sure to consider the fact that some countries may be utilizing cannabis for medical purposes that may be legitimate when and if it is not abused. Also, make sure to understand the difference between legalization vs. decriminalization as a means for formulating solutions. Does your country have a decriminalized system for marijuana offenses? Does your country have a zero-tolerance policy against any and every use of cannabis? Some helpful websites: [|Marijuana]

**__ Drug Trafficking Across the United States-Mexico Border __** Drug abuse in the United States is a growing issue to its society and its impact around the world. All types of illegal drugs are trafficked into the United States every year in mass quantities from countries all around the world. The leader in this illegal trafficking to the US however is Mexico. This is a major global issue because Mexico does not produce all that is brings into the United States. It accumulates its product from all across the world and then sneaks it into the country via hidden passages and buying off corrupt officials to look the other way. Efforts are being made from all sides to combat this growing issue. While some drugs are on the decline, others are on the rise, two key being Heroin and Cocaine. Until recent decades Mexico did not have a big hand in Cocaine production, because its plant derivative was not native to the land. However the United States was still the world's largest consumer of Cocaine, which was, and still is today, largely shipped from Latin American countries like Colombia through Mexico. This is also true of narcotics like Mexican Heroin, and Colombian Heroin.  In your research, you may want to consider the following: Other than cocaine and heroin, what other drugs are being trafficked along the US-Mexico border? Who are the main groups responsible for trafficking these drugs across the border? How does this industry and the global war against drugs impact your country? What are some steps that we, as a body, can take to combat this illicit trade?