Transform exists to promote sustainable health and wellbeing by bringing about a just, effective and humane system to regulate and control drugs at local, national and international levels.

Transform fue creada para promover una salud y un bienestar sostenibles mediante la promoción de un sistema justo, eficaz y humano para regular y controlar las drogas al nivel local, nacional e internacional.

Transform a été créé pour promouvoir une santé et un bien-être durables à travers la promotion d’un système juste, efficace et humain pour réguler et contrôler les drogues au niveau local, national et international.

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Last week saw the 68th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) held in Vienna - the annual gathering of UN member states to supervise the global drug control system. Three key takeaways for Transform are discussed below: The passing of a historic Colombian resolution on review of the global drugs control system; the rising profile of the coca/cocaine regulation debate, and the challenges of a belligerent new US administration seemingly determined to disrupt global governance under the UN system

The CND is the central policy-making body of the United Nations drug control architecture - its various mechanisms and functions usefully explained in 

). Transform has been participating in the CND for almost 20 years - in 2007 becoming the first NGO with a drug reform platform specifically focusing on regulation to be awarded UN 

The CND has a number of components. Alongside other formal proceedings, including the ritual scheduling (prohibiting) of various emerging drugs within the 

, a series of thematic resolutions, nominally offering guidance on different aspects of addressing the ‘world drug problem’, are proposed and negotiated - and form the substantive policy output of the event.

Alongside the formal proceedings, the CND hosts a crowded calendar of over 

 hosted by member states, UN agencies and NGOs. For civil society, the CND is a unique opportunity for advocacy, networking and knowledge exchange - with an extraordinarily diverse audience - ranging from progressive reform advocates to dogmatic defenders of the drug war, including for example member states with legal cannabis, and others still executing people for cannabis offences. It is a rare moment when such a wide spectrum of views move outside their bubbles and interact in the same space.

CND 2025: What future for the UN drug control system?

This report evaluates the economic impacts of legalising and regulating cannabis for adult non-medical use in the UK from a Treasury perspective of income and spending. The report focuses on government revenues (corporation and income tax, VAT, National Insurance, licensing fees, and, in the scenario of a state monopoly model, profits), savings across the criminal justice system (CJS) from reduced costs on enforcement, and the costs of administering a regulatory model.

For Transform, economic arguments for cannabis, though significant, are secondary to public health and social justice policy priorities. But the economic dimensions of the cannabis reform debate are undoubtedly gaining
political salience, particularly as governments face growing budgetary pressures. Public support for cannabis reform, particularly for economic reasons, such as disrupting illegal profits and the potential tax income, is growing in both the U.S. and the UK.

This report analyses three different regulatory scenarios:

1. Home-grow provision for personal use, and non-profit membership-based associations, with no commercial retail

2. Hybrid model including home grow, non-profit associations and regulated commercial retail

3. A Hybrid model Home grow, non-profit associations, and commercial retail operating under a state monopoly (profits on retail sale accrue to the state)


High returns: The economic benefits of UK cannabis legalisation

 The role of cities in promoting more just and effective drug policies


Cities are increasingly recognised as crucial drivers of innovation in drug policy. As interest in a new approach to deliver more just and effective drug policies grows, cities face significant challenges in finding room to design new drug policies and in their implementation, due to political resistance, public opposition, and the rise of populist ‘zero tolerance’ and ‘tough on drugs’ politics across Europe.

This webinar will address the important role of cities in forming progressive drug policies and discuss how cities can collaborate and push for positive change in cooperation with international partners and institutions.

The role of cities in promoting more just and effective drug policies

There was another landmark moment for cannabis reforms last month, ss Germany's upper house voted to bring its 80 million citizens one step closer to legally regulated cannabis access. This follows on from Malta’s recent establishment of a regulated non-medical cannabis availability (through non-profit membership associations), Luxembourg legalising possession and home growing, and ‘research pilots’ of legal retail production and sales in the Netherlands and Switzerland. These European countries have become the new leaders in ending the historic failings of prohibition, with Germany the most politically significant yet.

Transform has supported these reform processes over recent years, acting in an advisory role for the Luxembourg and Maltese Governments, and though ongoing engagement with senior policymakers in Germany, Czechia, and Switzerland. Our efforts continue to support and inform the development of cannabis policies throughout Europe that center public health and social justice. Last year, the newly updated third edition of Transform's 

 was translated into German and distributed to key policymakers.

What are the cannabis reforms happening in Germany?

After several years of debate and political wrangling, Germany’s upper house (the Bundestag) has passed a 

 with a majority (407 to 226). The new Act decriminalises possession of up to 25g of cannabis (50g at home), allows for private cultivation of up to three cannabis plants for personal use, and establishes a framework for licensed not-for-profit membership-based associations (also known as Cannabis Social Clubs) to grow and supply cannabis amongst their members (max 500 per association).



In theory the law will come into force on April 1st. However, it still needs to be passed by Germany’s lower house (the Bundesrat) that represents the 16 German Lander (the sub-national jurisdictions under Germany’s federal government). Some of these more conservative regional Governments, notably Bavaria, are opposed to the reform and may hold up the process. A particular issue has been raised by regional justice ministries regarding the law’s requirement to delete previous criminal records for cannabis (offence expungement), with concerns that the process may overburden their judicial systems. This may mean there would be a ‘mediation committee’ between upper and lower chambers to discuss possible changes to the law - with the expungement element potentially at risk which would be a huge blow for ensuring justice. Whilst it seems very unlikely the new law will be derailed completely, implementation could potentially be delayed until October. A worst case scenario is a longer delay, pushing the reform beyond next year’s general election which, should the current coalition dissolve and the Christian Democrats (who opposed the reform) win, could potentially lead to it being abandoned or, if already passed, repealed.

German cannabis legalisation explained

We, the undersigned organisations, are deeply concerned about the drastic intensification of anti- drug operations in Sri Lanka leading to significant human rights violations.

On 17 December 2023 the Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennekoon, with the endorsement of Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, spearheaded an operation titled “Yukthiya”, with the stated aim of controlling “the drug menace”. The operation is ongoing as of 10 January 2024, with at least one thousand persons arrested daily.

This operation is unfolding in a context of already severe repression against persons who use or are suspected of using drugs, who suffer discrimination and stigma within the Sri Lankan criminal justice system and society.

Alongside the Sri Lankan police, members of the armed forces have been supporting this operation, during which several human rights violations have been reported. These violations include alleged arbitrary arrests, primarily against individuals from marginalised socio-economic communities; searches conducted without warrants or reasonable suspicion; and degrading treatment including strip searches in public as well as cavity searches. The searches and arrests have been televised, in violation not only of the right to privacy (and of basic human dignity) but also of a person’s right to be presumed innocent. According to lawyers, persons are being arrested even when no drugs are found in their possession, simply for having been arrested for drug offences or having been sent to compulsory rehabilitation in the past. The arrests of main livelihood earners and mothers have adversely impacted the ability of families to meet their basic needs during a time of economic crisis in Sri Lanka, and the wellbeing of children.

Persons are being arrested primarily under Section 54A of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, an offence which is non-bailable. As a result, those arrested are bound to spend time (sometimes months) in pretrial detention, thereby exacerbating already poor conditions of imprisonment in an overburdened prison system. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has previously stated that the existing prison conditions and treatment of incarcerated persons are “inhumane and degrading.”At present, as per statistics issued by the Department of Prisons, the level of overcrowding of the prison system is at nearly 200% - with punitive drug policies playing a significant role: as of 2022, 63% of convicted persons were sentenced for drug-related offences.

The total reported number of arrests pursuant to operation Yukthiya has exceeded 29,000 as of 9 January 2024, while nearly 1,500 people are in administrative detention in police custody for further investigation.  At least 1,600 more persons have been sent for compulsory drug rehabilitation, in violation of several fundamental rights; including the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to consent to and withdraw from medical treatment. “Drug treatment” in these centres is abstinence-based, essential harm reduction services are not available, and persons undergo severe withdrawal symptoms without any medical assistance while in detention. The use of violence to discipline and punish has been reported in at least two compulsory drug rehabilitation centres which are within the purview of the Bureau of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation and are operated by the military, which is in itself a violation of international standards.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in its statement at the conclusion of its visit to Sri Lanka in 2017 expressed concern regarding the involvement of military personnel in drug treatment and rehabilitation, the fact that strenuous physical exercise was the core component of compulsory drug treatment, and at the lack of trained professionals to monitor the health of people in detention. Furthermore, the statement highlighted the irregularities in the judicial process by which persons were sent to drug rehabilitation centres without a medical assessment.

More broadly, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has highlighted that by denying persons access to substitution therapies, states are subjecting “a large group of people to severe physical pain, suffering and humiliation, effectively punishing them for using drugs and trying to coerce them into abstinence.” The Special Rapporteur has further stated “forcible testing of people who use drugs without respecting their autonomy and their right to informed consent may constitute degrading treatment, especially in detention settings. States are obliged to respect the enjoyment of the right to health, including by refraining from using coercive medical treatment. The requirement of informed consent, including the right to refuse treatment, should be observed in administering any treatment for drug dependence.”

Since the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs, there is international consensus on pursuing a holistic and health and human rights-based approach to drugs, which encompasses supply and demand reduction as well as harm reduction. The 2019 Ministerial Declaration on drugs – the current global drug policy document - as well as multiple resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the UN Human Rights Council reiterate and recommend a similar approach.

A punitive and militarised approach to drug control contravenes recognised international human rights standards and guidelines, is ineffective to protect individual and public health, and ultimately fails to make communities safer.

Africa Network of People Who Use Drugs (AfricaNPUD) (Africa)

Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) (Asia)

Association for Humane Drug Policy (Norway)

Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation (CDPE) (Canada)

Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) (Argentina)

Corporación Acción Técnica Social (Colombia)

Correlation - European Harm Reduction Network (Europe)

Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network Nigeria (Nigeria)

Foreningen Tryggere Ruspolitikk /Safer Drug Policies (Norway)

GREA - Groupement Romand d'Etudes des Addictions (Switzerland)

Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)

International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) (Global)

International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) (Global)

Skoun, Lebanese Addictions Centre (Lebanon)

Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (Zimbabwe)

Sri Lanka: Stop abusive anti-drug operation and release those arbitrarily detained

Together with many cities in the world, the beautiful city of Amsterdam struggles with the effects of drug-related crime. Therefore, as mayor of Amsterdam, I organise the international conference 

‘Dealing with Drugs – Cities and the quest for regulation’. 

The objective of this conference is to explore how -and not if- further regulation of the drug market can provide a solution, and which steps can be taken towards a more realistic approach of drug policy. This conference will take place on January 26, 2024, at the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Illegal drug trafficking poses a significant threat to cities all over the world. In Amsterdam it threatens our rule of law. The city grapples with daylight assassinations, explosions, cases of mistaken identity murders and fatal attacks on lawyers and journalists. The ruthlessness in which these crimes occur is shocking.

Cities worldwide face similar challenges. For decades, a global war on drugs has been waged. Unfortunately, the path we tread has proven insufficient: drug production and consumption continue to rise, illegal financial flows persist, violence remains unchecked, human rights are violated, and successive generations of youth are drawn into criminality, while the safety net wears thin.

Although victories are achieved in the war on drugs through the diligent investigative work of our partners, the battle is never fully won. This recognition extends beyond academic circles to include former politicians, policymakers and law enforcement.

I advocate a realistic drug policy. This conference represents our first step in that direction. By engaging in candid conversations with international experts, experienced individuals, NGOs and scholars, we aim to move beyond the question of whether regulation can be a solution and focus on 

 it can be achieved. I invite you to join us to and explore alternative approaches, learn from international experiences, overcome challenges and consider the role that cities can play.

I am looking forward to welcoming you at this conference.

Dealing with drugs - Cities and the quest for regulation

Recent explorations into the science of psychedelics and their therapeutic potential have fuelled a rapidly expanding discussion on their role in society. Yet, while attention has been focused on their medical use, non-medical use — particularly in recreational settings — has been marginalised in the public debate. 

This guide from Transform Drug Policy Foundation aims to address this gap and help inform emerging developments at this critical moment in psychedelic policy evolution. It maps out how the classic psychedelics can be responsibly legally regulated in a postprohibition world, making concrete proposals for a four-tiered regulatory framework: 

Private use, including home cultivation, foraging and not-for-profit sharing 

Membership-based not-for-profit associations 

Flexible licensing models for production and retail sale 

Regulation of commercial guided or supervised use 

Drawing on Transform’s more than two decades of experience in global drug policy analysis and advocacy, this guide sets out recommendations for establishing a just and effective system of legal regulation, addressing challenging questions in the debate including corporate capture mitigation, equity, Indigenous rights, psychedelic exceptionalism, and international treaty law.

How to regulate psychedelics: A practical guide

Transform invites you to join the virtual launch of its new publication, 

How to Regulate Psychedelics: A Practical Guide

Psychedelics have recently gained more public attention, but for the most part, discussions have narrowly focused on medical and therapeutic uses. Other reasons for using, including the increasing recreational use of psychedelics, have been largely marginalised. From foraging magic mushrooms to selling LSD in shops, Transform has set out proposals to fill this gap.

Steve Rolles and Ester Kincová will be hosting a webinar to discuss the key challenges in regulating psychedelics and how they decided on a proposed regulatory models, and to answer some of your questions.

So please join us on Tuesday, November 14th at 17:15 GMT (12:15 EST). To register, 

Book launch - How to regulate psychedelics: A practical guide

Despite the billions spent annually on punitive enforcement in an attempt to deter drug use, and the concept of deterrence sitting at the heart of UK and global drug enforcement thinking, it is now clear there is little or no meaningful deterrent effect from arresting, criminalising or punishing people who use drugs.

As long ago as 2006, the UK’s Science and Technology Select Committee found “no solid evidence to support the existence of a deterrent effect, despite the fact that it appears to underpin the Government’s policy on classification” The UK Government responded that it “accepts that there is an absence of conclusive evidence

” Despite the threat of criminalisation people still use drugs - in the UK, three million people did so last year.

In the nearly two decades since that committee report, no such evidence has emerged, despite the Home Office’s commitment to 

consider ways in which the evidence base in the context of the deterrent effect can be strengthened.”

In fact, the UK Home Office’s 2014 report “

” which sought to correct this absence of evidence, instead concluded that “Looking across different countries there is no apparent correlation between the toughness of a country’s approach and the prevalence of adult drug use

” The most recent evaluation of the UK’s drugs strategy noted: “there is, in general, a lack of robust evidence as to whether capture and punishment serves as a deterrent for drug use

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Related Content

CND 2025: What future for the UN drug control system?

High returns: The economic benefits of UK cannabis legalisation

The role of cities in promoting more just and effective drug policies

German cannabis legalisation explained

Sri Lanka: Stop abusive anti-drug operation and release those arbitrarily detained

Dealing with drugs - Cities and the quest for regulation

How to regulate psychedelics: A practical guide

Book launch - How to regulate psychedelics: A practical guide

Criminalisation does not deter people from taking drugs