PERSPECTIVE From Repression to Regulation A Latin American Proposal for Reform of Drug Policies JOSÉ CARLOS CAMPERO RICARDO VARGAS EDUARDO VERGARA May 2013 n The war on drugs has failed. New ways of tackling the problems created not only by drug trafficking but also by the prohibitionist policies and the international regime implemented for decades to fight it are urgently needed. n Regulation of the whole value chain(production, trade, and consumption), differen­tiated according to drug type and informed by scientific evidence, would help reduce harms to consumers and third parties and would deprive organized crime groups and other illegal actors of a large proportion of their profits. n The complexity of implementing such regulations can be addressed if there is a clear commitment on the part of the international community, and in particular of coun­tries that, like Germany, have development policies affecting producer and transit countries. These policies can be adjusted to help implement and enforce the regula­tions proposed here.