Those who had their sentences commuted on 31st March are from all over the US and are serving long prison terms for charges of possession, sale and distribution of drugs, such as methamphetamine, marijuana, crack and cocaine.
This photo album displays some of highlights and key moments at the 58th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Special Segment on the UNGASS 2016.
The results of this convention make it clear that, with regards to international laws regarding cannabis, the United Nations commission on drugs and crime is way behind despite a world-wide shift forwards.
Researchers and medical cannabis patients met at the Prague Medical Cannabis Conference to discuss the latest developments in the field. On the sidelines, Drugreporter interviewed two activists who were involved with the recent founding of the International Medical Cannabis Patients' Coalition.
As dry as UN diplomatic gatherings appear, they play a key role in our effort to end the war on drugs; try new approaches to drug policy that reduce harm; end the criminalisation of drug users and keep non-violent drug offenders out of prison; and treat drugs overall as a health issue.
The "war on drugs" strategy, which focuses heavily on the suppression of drug shipments, has not enabled West Africa—or indeed other regions of the world—to meet and overcome the drug threat.
The UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution that convenes a panel of experts to discuss drug policies and their rights impact. It also requests that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a technical report on this issue.
The CSTF was designed to ensure a balanced and inclusive civil society engagement and coordination in the preparatory process of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem in 2016.
Recent studies point out that Ketamine, Psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA,many of them scheduled at the most restrictive form of control, may be able to provide long-lasting relief for depression quickly.
Within the pre-arrest diversion pilot low-level drug and prostitution offenders – of whom 80%-86% are homeless – are referred to the project’s case-workers by police.
INPUD’s video, Slow Death in Ukraine, documents some of the on-the-ground impacts of Russia’s annexation of Crimea on people who use drugs, on their health, and on their human rights. It also explores the catastrophic impacts of the ongoing war in Eastern Ukraine.