With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. We spoke with Anna Dovbakh, Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward.
Marijuana Policies
Beyond Prohibition: Pavel Bém on Czechia’s Next Wave of Drug Policy Reform
We spoke with Pavel Bém, a Czech psychiatrist and former mayor of Prague in Vienna during the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) about the country’s latest reforms—from cannabis regulation to psychedelic therapy—and what they mean for the future of drug policy in Europe.
Beyond the Nordic Paradox: How Harm Reduction Is Transforming Drug Policy in the North
Civil society and drug user activists push harm reduction reforms across the Nordic region – please watch the videos from a side event at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and learn more about drug policy reform in Scandinavia!
Recreational Cannabis Reform in Malta and Prospects for a Cannabis Humanitarian Bank — A Utopian Dream?
In this opinion piece, Maltese harm reduction activist Karen Mamo argues that Malta’s cannabis reform must go a step further — by establishing a Cannabis Humanitarian Bank to ensure that vulnerable consumers are not left behind in the country’s decriminalisation efforts.
Drug Policy Prospects in Trump’s Second Term – An Interview with Ethan Nadelmann
At the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, we had the chance to speak with Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance in the United States, about the present and future of drug policy during Donald Trump’s second term as president. Watch the video here!
COSS MARTE: From Convict to Cannabis CEO in New York
Watch Drugreporter’s new video about Coss Marte, a former convict who, thanks to New York State’s Social Equity Program, now runs three cannabis retail shops and a gym where he employs other formerly incarcerated individuals.
The State of Cannabis Reform in Europe | Interview with Tom Blickman at the UN
In this interview, filmed at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, we discussed current developments of cannabis policy reform in Europe with Tom Blickman from the Transnational Institute.
ZuriCan: Legal Cannabis Experiment
Last August, the city of Zürich launched a pilot program that enables its citizens to legally purchase cannabis. We interviewed Dominique Schori from the Drug Information Center about the developments so far.
Homage to Catalonia: Cannabis Social Clubs
“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.
Drugreporter News | 2022 August
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.
