One of Morocco's main political parties has started the process of legalizing marijuana cultivation on Wednesday with an informational hearing in parliament over its industrial and medical uses.

The hearing held by the Party for Authenticity and Modernity, or PAM, is the first step in eventually introducing a draft law to legalize the widely grown cannabis plant — an economic staple in the mountainous north of the country.

According to the UN, Morocco is one of the top producers of hashish in the world, supplying 42 percent of the world supply with nearly all of it going to Europe.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

 Moroccan party holds hearing for legalising cannabis

An independent evaluation team is working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to conduct an independent evaluation of activities conducted between 2008 and 2012 under The UNODC Global Programme HIV/AIDS.

A core component of the independent evaluation is a survey of the project stakeholders. We invite you in your capacity as a key stakeholder to participate in this web-based survey on the Global Programme HIV/AIDS. We would appreciate your honest and thoughtful responses. Your answers are an important contribution towards understanding the implementation of the project activities and how these have impacted on your organization’s progress in the area of HIV and injecting drug use. Even if you have participated in an interview, we would like to ask you to complete this survey.

Your participation is confidential which means that your responses cannot be traced to you in any way. Your participation is voluntary and there is no compensation for your participation in this study.

The survey should take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. We would like to ask you to complete this survey now, or as soon as possible but no later than 11trh of December. We greatly appreciate your participation.

If you have a comment or a question about the survey or would like to qualify an answer in any way, please send an email to Mr. Adan Ruiz-Villalba, UNODC Independent Evaluation Unit: adan.ruiz-villalba@undoc.org



By clicking the link below or copying it into your internet browser you will be forwarded to the first page of the online questionnaire.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

Survey for the Evaluation of UNODC Global HIV/AIDS Programme

The violence that erupted during a coca eradication campaign in Apolo, Bolivia, in October was sadly reminiscent of the violence and conflict that characterized the “zero coca” policies of previous Bolivian administrations. By the time the confrontation ended, three members of the security forces and a doctor were dead, and nearly 30 people were wounded. Fortunately, the Apolo deaths are an anomaly, both because such violence is now extremely rare in Bolivia and because forced eradication is only taking place in very limited areas of the country deemed to have excess coca cultivation. Nonetheless, the incident illustrates the complex political waters that the government of Bolivian President Evo Morales has to navigate in meeting the demands of its coca grower base while reducing coca cultivated for illicit markets.

Upon taking office, Morales adopted a “coca yes, cocaine no” strategy. While cocaine interdiction efforts have continued unabated, the new approach to coca control focuses on gradual and consensual coca reduction through economic development and income diversification, combined with “social control” exerted by powerful coca growers unions. Each farmer in the Chapare coca growing region, for example, is allowed to grow one “cato”—about a third of an acre—of coca; anything beyond that is subject to elimination. The coca growers themselves help enforce the cato system, with harsh penalties applied to those who fail to comply, and the Bolivian government has put into place a sophisticated coca monitoring system that tracks coca from farm to official markets in order to avoid diversion to illicit ones.

Shifts in cultivation, usage put Bolivia’s coca policy at the crossroads

Donors at the launch of the Global Fund’s Fourth Replenishment today pledged US$12.0 billion for the next three years, the largest amount ever committed to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The pledges represent a 30 percent increase over the US$9.2 billion in firm pledges secured in 2010 for the 2011-2013 period. In remarks made at a pledging session here today, several partners echoed the Global Fund leadership’s determination to attract further commitments during the coming three years in order to defeat the diseases.

“We’ve had a terrific beginning,” said Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Chair of the Board of the Global Fund, who led the pledging session. “I offer heartfelt thanks for the generosity of all partners in this effort. Now let’s go to work.”

Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said in remarks that closed the Replenishment launch: “The 21st Century ideals that led to the founding of the Global Fund are now stronger than ever: partnership, shared responsibility, and mutual accountability. In many ways, this is a replenishment of hope. It is a lifting up of the human spirit.”

Global Fund donors pledge US$12 Billion

The Blue Point Foundation (http://www.kekpont.hu/) has been a valued member of the Correlation Network, (www.correlation-net.org) a European network of low threshold service providers, universities, research groups and drug user advisory organizations. Our members have welcomed the Blue Point organization as a respected leader in providing harm reduction services, HIV/HCV prevention and a comprehensive range of social services to Budapest’s’ most vulnerable individuals,people who inject drugs (PWID).

Among its range of services, the Blue Point Foundation has been operating a needle and syringe exchange program (NSP) since 2006 in the 8th district of Budapest that has become the largest NSP service in Hungary. The Blue Point NSP has been highly effective in preventing HIV, viral hepatitis and caring for its current 3200 registered users, including the 100-150 clients that walk through its doors everyday. More than 60% of Blue Points registered NSP clients are local residents, socially disadvantaged, with low education, poor employment opportunities, and predominantly of Roma origin.

Unfortunately, the municipality of Budapest's 8th district decided to terminate the cooperation agreement with the Blue Point Foundation.

From our point of view and in regard of overwhelming evidence, that NSP works to reduce blood borne infection diseases, The Blue Point NSP program is a critical and essential component to Budapest’s public health services, offering well-proven comprehensive and effective interventions to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Un-addressed, the reported increased frequency of injections will spread HIV/HCV infections quickly, the health care system will become over burdened, and sadly many individuals and families will suffer needlessly.

Therefore from a medical and public health ethical perspective, we sincerely ask and recommend reconsiderations for closing the Blue Point Foundation NSP services.

Please sign this statement by sending an e-mail to administration@correlation-net.org with your name, name of organisation and country.

Urgent call for support: City of Budapest to close Bluepoint NSP programme

When he became president, Enrique Peña Nieto said that his administration would focus on reducing violence and the crimes that most affect the general population. He also said that he would work to “transform into reality the human rights enshrined in the Constitution.” A year into Peña Nieto’s administration, those promises are still unfulfilled.

So far, the results from the Peña Nieto administration’s strategy for reducing violence and combating the crimes that most affect society have been disappointing. While there has been a slight reduction in the homicide rate, violence remains rampant in parts of the country, and kidnapping and extortion are at record-high levels. As Mexico’s National Statistics and Geography Institute (

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, 

INEGI) 2013 victimization survey made clear, more Mexicans feel unsafe this year than in previous years.

Security experts have pointed to a slight increase in organized crime-related homicides for October 2013 after a drop in September, and in certain states, especially Michoacán, the security situation has continued to deteriorate. There are widespread accusations of collusion between government officials, the police, and criminal groups. Self-defense groups are clashing publicly with criminal organizations, largely because the government has been unable to stop killings, kidnappings, extortion, and other abuses against the general population.

One year into the Enrique Peña Nieto administration

Changes in response to independent review on opioid replacements.

Changes aimed at improving the quality and range of drug treatment services across the country were announced in the Scottish Parliament today.

Minister for Community Safety, Roseanna Cunningham, and Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson, announced the changes in response to the recommendations of an independent group commissioned by the Scottish Government to gather evidence on opioid replacement therapies (ORT) for people with drug problems.

The group’s report, published in August, concluded that ORT, in particular methadone, is supported by a strong evidence base and its use should continue. However, it also concluded that ORT, where prescribed, should be one of a full range of treatment options across the country ranging from community to residential rehabilitation, and services should become more aspirational in relation to supporting individuals’ recovery.

Improvements to drug treatment in Scotland

Six prisoners are the first to complete the two-day Scottish Drugs Forum Naloxone Training for Trainers course held towards the end of October. One prison officer also took part in the two day training alongside the prisoners.

Newly-liberated prisoners are recognised as a group which is at high risk of accidental fatal overdose and the latest initiative at HMP Edinburgh will allow the newly-trained prisoners to deliver overdose prevention/naloxone awareness sessions to fellow prisoners.

Part of SDF’s Scottish Government-funded work to assist the roll out Scotland’s world leading national naloxone programme is to develop networks of former and current drug users to become Naloxone Peer Educators.

1st prison naloxone peer educator group launched in Scotland

Councillors in Berlin have voted to launch the country's first cannabis cafe in their district. But some hurdles remain.

A large majority in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Council have backed the move as part of efforts to curb local drug dealing, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily reports. District Mayor Monika Herrmann says the "prohibition policy" of the past few decades has failed: "We now have to think about offbeat solutions."

Berlin council votes to open first cannabis cafe

Lugano, Switzerland –- A ground-breaking international collaborative survey, published today in 

, shows that more than half of the world’s population live in countries where regulations that aim to stem drug misuse leave cancer patients without access to opioid medicines for managing cancer pain.

The results from the Global Opioid Policy Initiative (GOPI) project show that more than 4 billion people live in countries where regulations leave cancer patients suffering excruciating pain. National governments must take urgent action to improve access to these medicines, says the European Society for Medical Oncology, leader of a group of 22 partners that have launched the first global survey to evaluate the availability and accessibility of opioids for cancer pain management.

New global study led by ESMO reveals a pandemic of intolerable pain affecting billions

Um dos modelos usados como referência mundial como uma alternativa ao tráfico de drogas sofreu um golpe baixo na semana passada. Martin Barriuso, da Associação Canábica Pannagh, do País Basco, e outros quatro membros foram presos acusados de tráfico de drogas e formação de quadrilha. Abaixo, leia a tradução do manifesto publicado em apoio e solidariedade a estes ativistas.

Quem quiser assinar o manifesto, pode escrever para freepannagh@gmail.com

O apoio de todos é imprescindível, tendo em vista que as associações canábicas são legais na Espanha e estas prisões são inconstitucionais.

El día 5 de diciembre presentaremos el manifiesto en un acto público en Bilbao

“Ao completar dois anos de prisão preventiva dos usuários da associação canábica Pannagh, o promotor anti-droga pediu a prisão de mais cinco membros, totalizando 22 anos de prisão e multas de cerca de dois milhões e meio euros.

A promotoria acusa Martin Barriuso, o presidente da associação e Igor Gaminde, tesoureiro e secretário, de um “crime de tráfico de droga com notável importância”, para o que pede sentenças de quatro anos e meio de prisão, além de “integração do grupo criminoso”, que correspondem mais um ano e meio de sentença. A três dos acusados foram impostas fianças de um milhão de euros, pelo que se embargarão todos seus bens. Os outros dois réus, ambos parceiros colaboradores na colheita, são acusados de tráfico de drogas e terão uma pena de dois anos e uma multa de mil euros cada.

Diante desses fatos, as pessoas abaixo-assinadas querem expressar publicamente o seguinte:

A Associação de Usuários Pannagh foi formalmente criado como uma associação sem fins lucrativos em 2003. Trata-se de adultos que usam maconha, e suas atividades são destinadas a prevenir seus membros dos riscos do mercado negro e prevenir os danos associados ao uso da planta.

É de conhecimento comum que a Pannagh tenta criar circuitos de abastecimento de canábis de acordo com a lei vigente e que permitam reduzir o tráfico ilícito. Para isso, leva a cabo há anos cultivos de maconha em um circuito fechado que têm sido repetidamente declarados legais por diferentes tribunais. Todos os casos anteriores foram absolvidos e arquivado em decisões judiciais finais, incluindo ordens dos Tribunais Provinciais de Biscay e Alava, chegando a ser devolvida a maconha apreendida por duas vezes.

Acreditamos que o fechamento da Pannagh – que já dura dois anos – e as acusações contra alguns de seus membros é um bom exemplo da incerteza jurídica em torno de suas atividades, uma situação que a associação vem denunciando há anos em vários níveis, e cuja existência foi reconhecida pelo Parlamento Basco na resolução que levou à criação de um papel regular dos Clubes Sociais de Canábis.

Vale ressaltar que, desde a sua fundação, a Pannagh vem desenvolvendo trabalho público no sentido de encontrar um quadro de direitos e obrigações para os usuários de canábis, bem como para obter uma regulamentação abrangente de atividades relacionadas à planta. Durante anos, suas atividades têm sido de conhecimento geral e toleradas pelas autoridades.

Uma preocupação especial é que se acuse três membros da junta diretiva por formação de quadrilha quando este grupo é uma associação legalmente registrada, cujas atividades foram desenvolvidas sem sombra de sigilo. Não só é injusto punir mais severamente aqueles que tentam seguir as vias legais, como também pode fazer outros acreditem que é mais seguro longe deles.

Sem entrar em processos específicos e qualificar atuações jurídicas, queremos mostrar o nosso apoio ao trabalho público feita pelos acusados e, portanto, todo o grupo de pessoas que representam os usuários. Entendemos que o seu trabalho é em prol de uma regulamentação coletiva de usuários de canábis em nossa comunidade, e as políticas sociais mais justas e eficazes têm sido positivas e construtivas.”

Registe-se para recever as Alertas mensais do IDPC e obter informação sobre questões relacionadas com as políticas de drogas.

Menifesto em apoio a Martin Barriuso e a Pannagh 

Pannagh, one of the oldest cannabis social clubs in Spain, is being prosecuted by the Spanish justice. The prosecution calls up to 6 years in prison for club officials, including Martin Barriuso.

We ask you to spread this manifesto as much as possible through social networks, websites, emails and everything you can think of. Any person or organization wishing to join this manifesto may send their support to freepannagh@gmail.com. In that mail please simply specify if you support the manifest on a personal or at an institutional level. Soon we hope to have versions in other languages, and we appreciate any assistance in this task.

On December 5th we present the manifesto at a public event in Bilbao.

Two years after the precautionary closure of the association of cannabis consumers Pannagh, the anti-drug prosecutor has asked prison sentences totaling 22 years in prison and fines of nearly two and a half million euros for five members of the association.

The prosecution accuses president Martin Barriuso, treasurer Igor Gaminde and the secretary of the association of a "drug trafficking offense with outstanding importance" asking for sentences of 4 and a half years in prison and of involvement in a "criminal organization" which correspond to another year and a half sentence. The three were imposed a bail of one million euros, so all their assets were seized. The other two defendants, two members working with a harvest labour contract, are accused of drug trafficking and sentences of two years a 1.000 euro fine have been requested.

Given these facts, the signatories want to publicly express the following:

The Association of Cannabis Consumers Pannagh was formally established as a non-profit association in 2003. It consists of adult people who use cannabis, and its activities are aimed at avoiding risks to its members which are related to the black market and preventing damage associated with the use of the plant.

It’s common knowledge that Pannagh attempts to create alternative circuits to supply cannabis within the current legal framework and to reduce illicit trafficking. To do this Pannagh for several years has organised a closed circuit of cannabis cultivation. This has repeatedly been declared legal by different courts. All previous cases have been dismissed and filed through final judicial decisions, including orders of the Provincial Courts of Bizkaia and Álava. In both cases the confiscated cannabis was returned to the organisation.

We believe that the closure of Pannagh - that has now lasted two years - and the complaint against several of its members is a good example of the legal uncertainty surrounding Pannagh’s activities, a situation that the association has been questioning for years at various levels, and the existence of which was recognized by the Basque Parliament in the resolution that led to the creation of an initiative to regulate Cannabis Social Clubs.

It is noteworthy that, since its founding, Pannagh has been developing activities towards establishing a framework of rights and obligations for cannabis consumers, as well as a comprehensive regulation of plant related activities. For years, its activities have been generally known and tolerated by the de facto government.

It is particularly worrying that three members of the board of Pannagh are accused of involvement in a criminal organisation, when the group is exactly the opposite: a legally registered association, whose activities have been developed without a shadow of secrecy. Not only is it unfair to punish more harshly those who try to follow the channels of the law, but also can it make others believe that it is safer away to keep away from them.

Without going into qualifying the specific legal proceedings, we want to express our support to the public work of the accused persons and, therefore, to that of the entire group of people representing cannabis consumers. We understand that their work in favor of regulation for groups of people who use cannabis in our community, and for more just and effective social policies, has been positive and constructive.

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