MALAYSIANSKINI | When then US president Richard Nixon first coined the phrase "war on drugs" in June 1971, governments all around the world enthusiastically bought into the idea.

It was recognised that the presence of narcotics in society was a harmful one and it was generally accepted that a tough approach was needed.

Some 50 years on, it has been recognised that harsh measures, including the death penalty, did not have the desired effect and only resulted in...