Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio "Lula" da Silva has announced that he will finally sign drug-decriminalization and harm-reduction measures into law next week.

”Lula is expected to sign an executive decree on November 24,” writes Narco News publisher Al Giordano, “taking drug enforcement responsibilities away from police agencies, and placing the problems of drug use under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, which will be charged with supporting the safe drug-use centers and make Harm Reduction… the law of the land.”

The Brazilian Embassy in Washington, DC confirmed the impending decriminalization and harm-reduction measures earlier today to the Alliance.

This welcome change comes on the heels of the country’s recent adoption of a policy to shoot down airplanes suspected of trafficking drugs. There was no word from the embassy how the harm reduction policies might impact the shootdown policy.

Update: Narco News is reporting that Lula's expected signing did not take place, and is speculating that U.S. pressure may be the reason.