How the Polish Ministry of Health wants to fight new psychoactive substances. Analogy with the myth of the Hydra and Heracles.
Drug Policy and Law
Drug laws in most countries of the world follow the principle defined by the three international drug conventions (1961, 1971, 1988), that is, they prohibit the non-medical and non-scientific use of some mind altering drugs. This principle is not only outdated but it has become anachronistic: the reality is that millions of people use mind altering substances for recreational purposes and most of them do not experience significant harms from drug use. What is more, many harms people do experience are directly connected to the war on drugs, which created a lucrative black market that only benefits criminal organisations. A drug-free world is an illusion, drug policies should be aimed at reducing the harms of drug use and drug policies instead. We believe that drug use should not be punished and drugs should be regulated as legal products, adjusted to the specific characteristics and risks of those drugs.
Towards Humane Drug Policies in Asia
A report from a drug policy conference in Macau, where we visited a high-tech methadone clinic, a drop-in centre, and interviewed many brave Asian activists who are working on reducing the harms of drug use and drug laws.
Polish Drug Policy in Numbers
“The numbers show us that the current Polish drug policy is not working,” says Adam Stasiak from the Polish Drug Policy Network.
Are You In Italy And Smoking Marijuana? Find Out What The Legal Risks Are, And What To Do About It
Are you a cannabis user in Italy as a student, on business, or on vacation? Here is a guide we think you should read to avoid problems with the law.
Legalisation and Beyond – An Interview with Ethan Nadelmann
The Drugreporter team interviewed the former director of the Drug Policy Alliance at the drug reform conference in Atlanta. Watch our video to learn about his views on the challenges ahead for the movement!
Drug Policy and the Polish Criminal Justice System
“We just do not have the time for that” – that sentence has echoed in my mind since the last conference. What does it concern? Drug policy. Who doesn’t have time for it? The Polish justice system. Polish Drug Policy Network organised a training which aimed to create a platform between judges, prosecutors, and addiction […]
The Gendered Impacts of the War on Drugs
How does the war on drugs affect women? Is it really so different from how it affects men? Our knowledge was very limited before we interviewed the participants of an international workshop in Budapest. Please watch our video report and read our article!
“The Public Mood For Change Is High In New Zealand” – Interview With Ross Bell
The New Zealand Drug Foundation has been in the forefront of drug policy debates in New Zealand for more than 25 years. We interviewed its director, Ross Bell, about the chances of reforming drug laws in his country.
Can Legalising Drugs Fix All Problems?
The legal regulation of drugs is more effective and just than prohibition. But does it really fix most problems? Not without social justice. (This article is available in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian)
“Reconquering Drug Policies From Hysterical Minds” – Interview with Òscar Parés
The Catalonian parliament has recently adopted a new law to regulate the cannabis market. We interviewed Òscar Parés, the deputy director of the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service to learn more about the cannabis reconquista movement in Spain.
