This DUNews video is dedicated to three key topics that today determine the future of Ukrainian drug policy and the healthcare system: the use of psychoactive substances in the treatment of various conditions, the full-fledged legalization of medical cannabis and the introduction of national standards, as well as the revision of Order No. 188 on minimum dosages of psychoactive substances based on European recommendations.

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 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.

Robert Veverka, an activist, a politician and the editor of the most popular Czech cannabis magazine, Legalizace, is being prosecuted for “inciting and promoting toxicomania.” Read our interview with him.

DUNews, together with Talking Drugs, presents the first episode of Drug Policy and Harm Reduction News from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In it, we bring you up to date on important developments in our countries and give the floor to experts for comment. We will be publishing these video newsletters on a regular basis.

On July 6th 2021, our close friend, colleague, and world-renowned addictologist Tomáš Zábranský left us. This text, written by his friend and well-known cannabis activist Jindřich Bayer, is dedicated to him. It asks the question, how did it all start? What was the context for Tomas’ decision to contribute to reforming drug policy on a global level?

The Mayor of Amsterdam is planning to ban tourists from buying cannabis in local coffee shops to reduce “over-tourism”. But are cannabis users the real problem? Is a ban effective to stop street nuisance? We discuss these issues with Joachim Helms, a coffee shop owner and cannabis activists, who has alternative ideas about how to improve public health and safety in Amsterdam.

Hungary violated the rules when it voted against the EU joint position on medical cannabis at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs last year.

Welcome to the first episode of our new live online video show, Drugreporter Café, where we will regularly discuss new developments in the world of drug policy with professionals, activists and decision makers. Today our show will feature drug policy reform in a small country in Southern-Eastern Europe, North Macedonia. We will discuss the chances of reform with two guests, two activists from the country, Vlatko Dekov (HOPS Skopje) and Natasa Boskova (Coalition Margins).

Drugreporter’s video advocacy team gives you a global overview of cannabis reform – watch our interviews with key activists from 6 countries where major reforms are underway!