On the 17th of April last year, Portugal implemented a law banning any commercial activity related to so-called New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). The regulations created an interim table, initially listing about 160 substances (phenethylamines, tryptamines, cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids and some plants). Within this legal framework, trading listed NPS is deemed to be a misdemeanor, with offenders subject to a fine. Listed substances, if proven toxic within a maximum period of 18 months, pass on to the definitive criminal table. During this time, fines can go up to € 3,740 in the case of individuals and € 44,890 in the case of legal persons.

Possession of substances for consumption comes under the same legal framework as other types of illegal substances, given that drug use is decriminalised in Portugal. To avoid the black market becoming the sole destination for the substances already in circulation, the government has announced a 15-day "amnesty": During this period, anyone can go to the nearest police station and hand in any substances they have, without fear of prosecution. Traders tried to get around this with marketing ploys: In the days leading up to the ban, the largest distribution chain of NPS in Portugal announced deals such as "two for the price of one”, in order to off-load stock.

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

APDES: Prohibition on legal highs will not work

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) has been working closely with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, INPUD, Harm Reduction International and others on “SUPPORT DON’T PUNISH”: a global advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the harms that are being caused by the criminalisation of people who use drugs. The campaign is part of the “Community Action on Harm Reduction” (CAHR) project, and we would welcome participation from all IDPC members.

 page for people to show their support via the campaign website – through email, Facebook and Twitter

, whereby people can download the campaign poster and submit a photo of themselves supporting the campaign, which will be featured on the website

by a wide range of partners linked to the campaign theme

An international day of action on 26 June 2013.

The international ‘day of action’ on 26 June 2013

 will involve high profile and visually symbolic ‘actions’ that can be coordinated across several key cities around the world – with groups of 100 or more supporters gathering for media photo opportunities etc. They will all be wearing white “SUPPORT DON’T PUNISH” t-shirts, and – in many cities – Richard Nixon face masks. The media will be pre-invited to the event, and will photograph/film the participants for stories to then be carried across international wire agencies and reproduced by subscribing media outlets regionally and globally. The campaign website will include all the resources needed: a campaign toolkit, campaign guidelines, the campaign statement, logos, posters, template media releases, key messages factsheets, risk assessment toolkits, etc.

On 26th June, we will also be encouraging supporters to change their profile pictures on 26th June on Facebook, Twitter, etc. – as well as providing template press releases, etc.

This is the United Nations’ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a day that has historically been used by governments to celebrate the war on drugs – in some cases, even holding public executions of drug offenders as a sign of commitment. But June 26th is also the United Nations’ International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, and this campaign aims to help redefine what June 26th means, and how we look at drug policies around the world.

Some 40 years ago, US President Richard Nixon launched a ‘war on drugs’ and was the first high-profile politician to coin this phrase. This ‘war’ has since resulted in the global repression, incarceration, punishment of people who use drugs, and has been used to justify executions, extrajudicial killings, torture, forced treatments and the demonisation of this population. President Nixon´s face is easily recognizable and, as such, will be visually impactful. The fact that the general public (and much of the media) might not associate President Nixon with the ‘war on drugs’ will also help to ensure interest in the campaign. Once the event has been realised, the photo captions in the press will place Nixon, the ‘war on drugs’ and the campaign in context.

Please take a look at the campaign website, and add your support to this important effort.

Please contact Jamie Bridge (jbridge@idpc.net) if you:

would like to be listed as a ‘supporting organisation’ for the campaign – with a logo and link on the website

would like to participate in, or coordinate, an ‘action’ on June 26th this year

would like to participate in any other way – including using the SUPPORT DON’T PUNISH branding on your own websites / reports / videos or activities

‘Support. Don’t punish’ – Let’s reclaim 26th June with a global advocacy campaign

This Friday, May 17, in Bogotá, Colombia, Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza will present Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos with the outcomes of the hemispheric drug policy review that was mandated by the heads of state at the 2012 Summit of the Americas in Cartagena.

Representatives of the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), the Transnational Institute (TNI), and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) will be in Bogotá on May 17 and available for comment before and after the report’s release. WOLA Senior Associate John Walsh and the Coordinator of TNI’s Drugs and Democracy Program, Martin Jelsma, both participated in the scenarios report described below.

At the Cartagena Summit last year, the region’s leaders expressed their frustration with the ineffectiveness and high costs of current drug control policies and tasked the OAS with producing a report designed to stimulate debate on options for improving policies. The study to be unveiled on Friday represents the culmination of the OAS-led review.

If the review is to fulfill its purpose, the new study should enrich the already-vibrant hemispheric debate over drug policy alternatives, including the option of legal, regulated markets for cannabis.

The new hemispheric study comes as the debate over drug policy alternatives is advancing at the local and national levels. In the United States, Colorado and Washington have already voted to legalize and regulate cannabis, and in Uruguay, the parliament is debating a bill that would legalize and regulate that country’s domestic cannabis market.

The OAS study to be unveiled this week should further propel the debate in key upcoming international forums:

May 20-22: In Washington, the OAS report will be presented and discussed at the bi-annual meeting of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (

Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas

Toward a Comprehensive Anti-Drug Policy in the Americas

 will be the main item on the agenda of the annual session of the OAS General Assembly, which is attended by foreign ministers in the region.

See also the civil society declaration to inform the General Assembly, which included mention of legal, regulated markets for cannabis.

The heads of states of the Americas, while gathered in April 2012 at the Sixth Summit in Cartagena, Colombia, chaired by President Santos, entrusted the OAS with the task of preparing materials for a hemispheric debate about the disappointing results and worrying consequences of current drug policies in the Americas and to explore new approaches for responding more effectively to the problem.¹ Under the leadership of OAS Secretary General Insulza, the review process was intended to identify the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of drug control policies in the region. One year later, two interconnected reports will be presented: an 

document looking at current trends, practices, and policy challenges; and a 

 report, considering different possibilities about how policy might evolve in the future and the results that could be expected with each model towards 2025.

WOLA, Kristel Mucino (In Washington, DC)
+1 (617) 584-1713
press@wola.org

TNI, Martin Jelsma (In Bogotá)
+31 655 71 58 93
mjelsma@tni.org

WOLA, John Walsh (In Bogotá)
+1 (202) 213-4863
jwalsh@wola.org

IDPC, Coletta Youngers (In Bogotá)
+1 (301) 404-1905
coletta.youngers@gmail.com

Click here to read the media coverage of the study.

Colombian President Santos and OAS Chief Insulza to present new study on drug policy alternatives

The Organization of American States (OAS) hosted on Friday 10th May a special session of the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) to receive the recommendations agreed to on Thursday by the participants in the 10th Hemispheric Forum with Civil Society and Social Actors on the central theme of the General Assembly of the hemispheric institution, "Toward a Comprehensive Anti-Drug Policy in the Americas."

The Secretary for External Relations of the OAS, Alfonso Quiñonez, on behalf of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, opened the session by stating that "in the OAS, civil society is an invaluable partner to ensuring the success and sustainability of the policies and programs adopted by Member States."

For his part, the Chair of the CISC, Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS and current Chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Arturo Ulises Vallarino asked the General Secretariat of the OAS to ensure that the Forum's recommendations "are sent as soon as possible to the Commission that is working on the Declaration of Antigua, Guatemala."

The recommendations that emerged from the forum were grouped into three areas: challenges to public health and the development of a comprehensive anti-drug policy in the Americas; challenges to public security; and challenges to democracy and access to justice.

Civil Society presents recommendations to OAS member states on the theme of the upcoming General Assembly

Signed by more than 100 Evangelical leaders, a letter in favor of the decriminalization of drug users, was handed in this Tuesday, May 7th, to the president of Brazil’s National Congress, Henrique Eduardo Alves. The handing in of the letter occurred at a pivotal moment in the discussion of possible drug reforms at the National Congress.


In the document, the religious signatories asked for Osmar Terra’s bill, 7663/2010, to not be voted for, and proposed the possibility of changing some of the bill’s main points, such as what it says in respect to compulsory internment.

Basing itself on the religious trinity, goodness-righteousness-truth, the group supports the construction of a new drug policy that alters the law 11.343/2006 and establishes more objective criteria between drug users and traffickers.

The leaders also defend that chemical dependent peoples have the constitutional right to health, education and social integration. In order to read the official manifesto handed in this Tuesday, access the following article: Evangelists sign a letter in opposition to PL 7663/2010.

In addition to helping make Tuesday's event possible, Viva Rio participated in Ethan Nadelmann's talk - "Drogas: O Brasil não pode retroceder - Lições dos EUA" / "Drugs: Brasil Cannot Fall Behind - Lessons from the U.S.". The event, which was organized by the the Igarapé Institute, Brazilian Commission on Drugs and Democracy (CBDD), Pense Livre Network and the Global Commission on Drug Policy, spurred an interesting debate on the ways that Brazil can move forward with a more efficient and humane drug law. To read more, see the Brazilian
Commission on Drugs and Democracy article on the event.

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

Evangelical manifesto in favour of decriminalisation at Brazilian National Congress

Brazil's most populous and wealthiest state expanded its attack on crack cocaine abuse on Thursday by unveiling a program that will provide about $650 a month in subsidies for the rehabilitation of drug dependants at private treatment centers.

In announcing the program, Sao Paulo State Governor Geraldo Alckmin said 1 ,350 reals will be earmarked monthly for each crack user aged 18 or more who voluntarily enrolls in a rehabilitation program that is expected to get under way in two months in 11 cities.

The state will give the money to accredited rehabilitation centers when clients present a "Begin Again" card they receive after enrolling in a program. The cards are valid for six months, the time considered necessary for rehabilitation.

 Brazil state launches crack rehabilitation program

For a group of leading experts, who have been meeting in the Portuguese capital this week, drug wastewater analysis is an exciting and "rapidly-developing scientific discipline" that may help shape the way we treat illicit drug use.

Drug wastewater analysis - which is also known as "wastewater sampling for drugs" - involves the analysis of human waste, usually at sewage treatment plants. It has been trialed in at least 19 European countries. And the experts say it can provide reliable data on what drugs are being consumed, where they are being consumed, and even on which days of the week.

The method was originally used in the 1990s to monitor the environmental impact of liquid household waste. But scientists now say the method is giving them a clear picture of the quantities of illicit drug use in any give population, and drug flows.

Experts on drug wastewater analysis say it's time for policymakers to get onboard

The Republic of Georgia is considering the legalization of marijuana, a government minister said Friday.

David Sergeyenko, minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, pointed out "ban-related mechanisms," such as Georgia's laws against marijuana, "often entail a ricochet effect, which means strengthening and development of other directions," a reference to distinguishing marijuana from other drugs. He added the issue requires a "well-considered strategy" and said the legalization of marijuana could be a part of it.

Republic of Georgia considers legalizing marijuana, minister says

Um manifesto favorável à descriminalização de usuários de drogas, assinado por mais de 100 líderes evangélicos, foi entregue ao presidente da Câmara dos Deputados, Henrique Eduardo Alves. A entrega da carta ocorreu em um momento-chave da discussão sobre mudanças na lei de drogas pelo Congresso Nacional.

No documento, os signatários pedem a não votação do projeto de lei 7663/2010, do deputado Osmar Terra, e a rediscussão de alguns de seus artigos, como o que diz respeito à internação compulsória.

Com base no tripé bondade-justiça-verdade, o grupo apoia a construção de uma nova política de drogas que altere a lei 11.343/2006 e estabeleça critérios mais objetivos para definir usuário e traficante. Os manifestantes também defendem que seja assegurado ao dependente químico o direito constitucional à saúde, educação e reintegração social.

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

Evangélicos se manifestam contrários a PL 7663/2010

The Interagency Task Team on Young People and HIV (IATT/YP) has launched a new web platform is now live and accessible at 

Thanks to all of you for reviewing the test site and providing useful feedback.

The IATT/YP has built this site to serve multiple functions:

To provide easy access to strategic reports, global guidance, and tools relevant to HIV programming for young people.

To disseminate data on young people and HIV from surveys, key regional and country reports and published research;

To facilitate information sharing between the IATT/YP working groups.

To provide a space for exchange of views among a global network of actors on published resources and information disseminated through webinars.

To provide information on upcoming events relevant to young people and HIV.

1) Progress Dashboard: This dashboard currently shows key epidemiological, behavioural and service indicators for young people aged 10 -24 years. The data is based on national survey indicators currently in UNICEF?s ChildInfo database.****

2) Country and Regional Pages: This section of the site presents an overview of the epidemic in young people in each region and will house country specific reports on youth-specific HIV programming and progress collected through the IATT. *We are calling for inputs for this section. If you want any country or regional specific resources to be included in this section of the site, please send them to the Secretariat.*

3) Research pages: This section features summaries of published research articles, programme evaluations and unpublished research on young people and HIV. Through our work with the Communication Initiative we have built filters that track youth and HIV-focused research in the following themes: young women and girls, injecting drug users, young men who have sex with men, sex work, antiretroviral treatment, testing and counselling, harm reduction, condoms, circumcision, social and behavioural change, gender based violence, sexual education and life skills, incentives for change, and laws and policies.****

4) Community of Practice: This will be used principally to host moderated discussions on topics covered through webinars. It will also house working documents such as the Field Lessons report on ALHIV where we invite implementers to document their own lessons and contribute these to the report. The first discussion on the Community of Practice, started last Tuesday, is on adolescents and HIV in Emergencies as a follow up to the webinar UNICEF hosted on April 11, 2013. Sarah Karmin, UNICEF Specialist, HIV in Emergencies will moderate this discussion. We invite you to participate in this kick-off discussion. In order to register, you can click on the icon in the lower left corner of the site or via this link http://knowledge-gateway.org/youngpeople_hiv. Please encourage your colleagues to register and participate in the discussion as well. Moving forward, we hope that member agencies will use this community of practice as a platform to generate discussions on issues relevant to adolescents and HIV programing*. Suggestions and proposals for subsequent discussions are welcome*. ****

5) Private IATT/YP member e-workspace: This feature is an e-space for the IATT members to share and archive work plans, annual meeting reports, minutes from working group and steering group meetings and draft documents. IATT/YP members who have trouble accessing this site should contact the IATT/YP secretariat.

Interagency Task Team on HIV and Young People web platform launched

LEAHN launched a Statement of Support at the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on the 23rd of April 2013 in Vienna. Over 4,000 signatures in favour of harm reduction were collected from police all over the world and then presented to the Commission audience comprising of representatives from Member States, UNODC and a variety of NGOs. The International Police Advisory Group (IPAG) speaking for LEAHN called for police to become part of the global collaborative effort for HIV prevention.

The IPAG has committed to connecting police with harm reduction organisations to improve healthcare access and prevent HIV spread in vulnerable populations such as injecting drug users and sex workers. The Chair of the IPAG, retired Superintendent Frank Hansen from Australia was clear in his message, stating, “Drug use will always be part of society. Police must accept that and use a harm reduction approach to ensure the best interests of the entire community are addressed”. He also noted the growing momentum of police support for harm reduction. This development was further highlighted by Chief Superintendent Jones Blantari, Ghana Police, who explained the decision of police in Ghana to not enforce laws against sex workers despite the practice being illegal. This demonstrates the capacity for police to make changes in law enforcement practices even in difficult policy areas. There has been no sex work related arrest for three years in Ghana as a result.

LEAHN launches statement of support for harm reduction at UN CCPCJ

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) elected Mr. Raymond Yans as its new President at its 107th session that is taking place in Vienna from 6 to 17 May 2013.

A national of Belgium and member of INCB since 2007, Mr. Yans most recently served as the INCB President (2012) and has also served as First Vice-President (2011), Rapporteur and Member of the INCB Standing Committee on Estimates and Committee on Finance and Administration.

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