Decriminalisation, legal regulation & reform

Drug law reform

Publications14 September 2026

Ghana National Dialogue on drug policy, human rights and health: Advancing from law to implementation

The report summarises the Dialogue's discussions, highlighting progress and implementation gaps under Act 1019 as well as priorities for strengthening harm reduction, treatment, human rights and public health responses.

Events

Geneva course on drug policy, public health, and diplomacy 2026

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

19 October 2026 - 22 October 2026

The University of Geneva organises a three-day course, in person and online, on the international drug control regime and its consequences for public health and human rights, with a limited number of full scholarships.

Events

Drug policy: Reflections on what we know, what we need to know, and ways forward

Vienna, Austria / Online

23 September 2026

Leading drug policy researchers reflect on the current evidence base, persistent gaps and priorities for future investigation, and policy responses amid rapidly evolving challenges.

Publications2 September 2026

IDPC Progress Report 2025-2026

IDPC reflects on two decades of collective action and a year of resilience, highlighting advances in human rights, international drug policy reform and grassroots mobilisation, despite political backlash, shrinking civic space and funding cuts.

Blog28 July 2026

Ghana’s drug policy reform must move beyond law into practice

Health, justice and civil society actors examined how Ghana can turn Act 1019 into effective harm reduction services, alternatives to punishment, and rights-based practices.

News20 July 2026

Interior Ministry pushes for full implementation of Ghana’s drug law

Ghana is moving to realise the promises of the 2020 drug law reform, prioritising a health and rights approach, and offering alternatives to conviction and incarceration.

Events

29th Harm Reduction International Conference - HR27

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

9 May 2027 - 12 May 2027

The conference focuses on the latest research and discussions on best practice in drug use, harm reduction and human rights.

Blog22 June 2026

South Africa launches Africa’s first national Drug Decriminalisation Coalition

Launching on Support Don’t Punish Day, on 26 June, the Coalition marks a milestone for decriminalisation advocacy in South Africa and across Africa.

Publications12 May 2026

Anti-Latine bias and drug-induced homicide law support: Evidence from a nationally diverse, randomized survey experiment in the United States

Gannon et al. find that anti-Latine bias can increase public support for punitive drug-induced homicide laws in the United States, underscoring how racialised assumptions continue to shape drug policy.

News12 May 2026

Coloniality, race and drug policy - Contemporary Drug Problems special issue: Call for papers

Contributions welcome on how coloniality and racial hierarchies continue to shape drug policy, governance and knowledge production.

News23 April 2026

IDPC joins global call to all states to stop facilitating US extrajudicial killings

A coalition of 125 organisations warns of human rights implications, as well as the risk of legal responsibility for States collaborating in unlawful killings at sea.

News12 April 2026

INCB's Sevil Atasoy: 'Drug policies should be shaped on the basis of human rights and public health'

Türkiye has re-nominated Prof. Sevil Atasoy for re-election to the International Narcotics Control Board, highlighting her extensive experience and commitment to human-centred, evidence-based global drug policies.

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