In reviewing the effects of cannabis regulation, the government must ensure equity to Indigenous people and racialised groups who have been historically at the losing end of the 'war on drugs'.
A recent California study debunks the myth that drug use is the primary driver of homelessness, advocating for the elimination of the criminalisation and stigmatisation of drug use to facilitate access to safe and stable housing for those experiencing homelessness.
While providing an avenue for non-criminalisation for first- and second-time possession offences, the hefty fines risk perpetuating the involvement of people who use drugs with the criminal legal system, particularly those most vulnerable.
Participants of this scheme facilitated by the Drug User Liberation Front reported improved health and life outcomes, including in relation to reliance on street drugs, harmful police interactions and exposure to violence.
Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalise cannabis last year, and since then, in the absence of much regulation, thousands of sellers have opened.
IDPC was delighted to join the ministerial conference where the announcement was made, alongside strategic regional conversations to address the challenges of these nascent legal markets.
In a climate rife with stigma, discrimination and violence toward people who use drugs, Corporación Viviendo, a community-focused NGO in Colombia, provide essential and life-saving harm reduction services.
Following the recent endorsement by the chief public prosecutor, the Scottish government has finally approved the country's first drug consumption room, marking a significant step toward reform that will preserve countless lives.
Drawing from their previous successful collaborations, VNGOC and NYNGOC will work together to guarantee the inclusive and extensive involvement of civil society in the preparations leading up to the 2024 CND Mid-term Review.
