Michal Matczak (or as he is known among his fans: Mata) is a Polish rapper and activist who launched a campaign for decriminalisation in his country. We interviewed him in Vienna at the 66th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where he came to share his story and promote decriminalisation.

Drugreporter recorded six side events, organised by NGOs at the 66th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, between 13-17 March, 2023. The issues addressed are implementing a human rights approach in drug policy, the nordic drug policy reform, Ukraine’s harm reduction measures during Russian invasion, environmental impacts of the war on drugs and more.

“The essence of the cannabis social club model is sharing,” explained a cannabis activist to a group of international professionals, who came to Barcelona to study the pioneering cannabis policies of Catalonia.

A new law, that came into effect in December, criminalised “illegal rave parties” in Italy. We interviewed Susanna Ronconi from Forum Droghe, an organisation that opposes the law on human rights and public health grounds.

In this short film we summarise what the community of people who use drugs in Portugal acknowledges about the famous drug policy model of Portugal, but also what they would like to see improved.

In this episode:  Two New US States Legalised Cannabis. Colorado Decriminalised the Use of Psychedelics. Key Points of German Cannabis Regulation Leaked to the Press. Italy Bans Raves and Free Parties. Racist Drug War in Brazil. Harm Reduction Advocate Elected to Danish Parliament.

The war on drugs is an instrument of racism, which incites violence and hinders democratic development in Brazil. Watch our new short documentary to find out how a black civil society organization in Brazil, Iniciativa Negra, takes up the fight against this war on people.

Drug policy news from around the world! In this episode: Brittney Griner Is Sentenced to 9 Years in a Russian Penal Colony. Colombia’s first leftist president says war on drugs has failed. Joint Statement of Three EU Ministers on Cannabis Reform. Civil Society Demands Balanced EU Funding for Drug Policies. New Drug Decriminalisation E-Course.

This brief overview of the Hungarian system of diversion from the criminal justice system (elterelés) was prepared and submitted to contribute to the assessment of the European Commission on alternatives to criminal sanctions for drug offenders in Europe (PDF).

“Drugs can kill” – This is how the preface of the newly published World Drug Report, written by the director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime – the Egyptian Ghada Waly – begins. But is it drugs or bad drug policies that kill people?