As an empathetic society, we need to separate out addiction from criminal behaviour. Yes, it’s true that addiction can be a driver of crime, but addiction itself is not – and should not be considered – criminal. By turning over resources currently used to prosecute addicts to health services who can treat addiction, as a society we are sending a…

The harm reduction test was deemed an “overwhelming success” in the report. It explained, “The pilot demonstrated that such an intervention is possible and that people are willing to use the service, despite the limitations arising from the tight timelines, inauspicious physical infrastructure and the lack of dissemination strategies on-site during the festival.” […]

Gino Vambuca, the president of Harm Reduction Australia, said the federal government should do “something concrete” and propose funding for a pill-testing initiative through the ministerial drug and alcohol forum, which brings together state and territory justice ministers. […]

If Canada pulls this off, it could provide a model for other countries to relax their drug laws — and particularly their marijuana laws — without violating international treaty obligations or, at the very least, without getting punished for disobeying the treaties. It’s not just, then, that Canada is changing its own drug laws. […]

ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the success of the pill-testing trial had shown there was demand for the service at future events. “This will assist to better understand how pill testing may help reduce the harms of illicit drug use at festivals and will inform next steps and future drug policy,” she said. […]

New York moved a significant step closer to legalizing recreational marijuana, as a study commissioned by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will recommend that the state allow adults to consume marijuana legally, the governor’s health commissioner said on Monday. […]

Pill Testing Pilot Report Media Release 20 June 2018 […]

Pill Testing Pilot- ACT June 2018 – Final Report Prepared by the Safety Testing Advisory Service At Festivals and Events (STA-SAFE) Consortium […]

There is tremendous gap between policy-makers in Vienna and the reality on the ground. So far in eyes of many activists, the INCB have been the bad guys. However, now that the science is being put back into policy by the WHO – an actor external to the UNODC, it is quite possible this process could be the catalyst for…

A potential class action lawsuit is brewing amongst people denied entry to music festivals after a sniffer dog “indication”, despite not carrying any drugs. At least five people were denied entry to the Above and Beyond event in Sydney on the weekend, with one person being given a six month suspension. […]