News
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On a downer
At the 1998 UNGASS, delegates pledged to deliver “significant and measurable” reductions in demand for drugs by 2008. That meeting even used the slogan: “A drug-free world, we can do it”. The deadline has slipped, but the intention seems to remain the same. Who are they kidding? […]
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What Ever Happened to New Zealand’s Lauded Drug Regulation?
If we have learned nothing else from the drug wars, it is that a non-negotiable principle in any reform, must be that personal possession of any substance must never be an offence. But our ‘world leading’ kiwi drug ‘reform’ has succeeded in outlawing personal possession of all new psychoactive drugs…
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The Guardian view on cannabis and psychosis: how do we protect teenagers?
One of the effects of prohibition has been to drive up the THC content and thus the potency of what’s on sale, because this is maximises the ratio of profit to risk. Whether that is what consumers would choose if they could is another question. It’s not entirely fanciful to…
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Rethinking the Global War on Drugs
The United States will need to play a much stronger role in shaping new policies. It is in the untenable position of violating the existing treaties — now that four states have legalized the sale of recreational marijuana — while arguing that they remain a viable framework. Clearly, those accords…
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Did the global war on drugs just die in New York?
A huge global drug summit has just wrapped up at the United Nations. Was it the turning point that many hoped for? The NZ Drug Foundation’s Cameron Price was there. […]
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We Need A Joint Approach On Drug Reform
There has been a shift. We are close to a tipping point, thanks to the consistent work of many stakeholders and activists who have spent years fighting these tough battles in the political minefield that is illicit drug policy. […]
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‘It Is Impossible to Arrest Our Way Out of This Problem,’ Canada Tells UN Drug Conference
“We know it is impossible to arrest our way out of this problem,” Philpott told the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on drugs on Wednesday morning, which happens to be the counterculture holiday devoted to smoking weed.Philpott is Canada’s health minister, and she’s become an unlikely champion for marijuana…
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U.S. Should Seek Bold New Approach on Drugs
The “War on Drugs” has been lost. Not only has it failed to reduce problematic drug use, it has cost more than a trillion dollars over the past few decades, and produced horrific unintended consequences. It has left in its wake a trail of violence, human rights abuse, and infectious…
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It’s Time to Abandon the War on Drugs for a Health-Focused Drug Policy
We need to allow individual countries and specific regions the freedom to explore drug policies that better suit their needs.History is in the making. […]
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Portugal’s Example: What Happened After It Decriminalized All Drugs, From Weed to Heroin
As diplomats gather at the United Nations in New York this week to consider the future of global drug policy, one Portuguese official, João Goulão, will likely command attention that far outstrips his country’s influence in practically any other area. That’s because 16 years ago, Portugal took a leap and…