A private commission of politicians, intellectuals, business leaders and health experts hopes to end drug abuse through a new strategy — one that assumes the U.S.-led war on drugs and U.N. approaches aren’t working.

The new Global Commission on Drug Policies turned conventional thinking on its head during their first two day meeting that ended Tuesday in Geneva.

Former presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil — the commission chairman — and Cesar Gaviria of Colombia and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico say the war on drugs in Latin America has failed and suggest a radical reform focused on prevention and education.

The 15-member commission also includes Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson and writers Carlos Fuentes of Mexico and Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa of Peru.

– Article from The Canadian Press.