Decriminalisation, legal regulation & reform

Drug law reform

Publications29 March 2025

The legal regulation of drugs: the potential to deliver global justice

Health Poverty Action proposes restructuring illegal trades to prioritise public health, equity, and sustainability rather than reproducing harmful market practices.

News18 March 2025

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán’s new war on drugs

Against the advice of civil society, Hungary will amend its constitution to criminalise drug use, continuing its history of repressive social reforms.

Publications18 March 2025

High returns: The economic benefits of UK cannabis legalisation

Transform models the spending and revenue outcomes for three post-prohibition market scenarios in the UK, noting potential annual net benefits to the Treasury of up to £1.5 billion.

Events

Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action 2025

World

26 June 2025

Join us on 26 June 2025 to reclaim power, resist injustice, and reform harmful drug laws through collective action in international solidarity.

News20 February 2025

A new dawn for the failed war on drugs

Against the harmful impacts of prohibition, world leaders increasingly embrace public health and harm reduction.

Events

CND68 and drug policy reform: Unpacking key implications

Online

22 April 2025

Join us for a debrief session on the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) to discuss progress, gridlocks and potential ways forward for the UN drug control regime.

Publications12 February 2025

9th Brandenburg Forum on Drugs and Development Policies report - 'Boosting transformative change in global drug policies: Promoting human-centred approaches to cocaine markets and beyond'

The Forum addressed transformative strategies for global drug policies, emphasizing human-centered approaches, harm reduction, and sustainable development.

Events

International Drug Policy Reform Conference 2025

Detroit, United States

12 November 2025 - 15 November 2025

The Reform Conference convenes the growing and dynamic drug policy reform movement.

News13 January 2025

Philippines: Will watching ‘Green Bones’ help decongest our jails?

Decongesting jails in the Philippines requires revising the Penal Code, as well as drug laws.

Blog10 December 2024

Human rights and drug policies: Reflecting on a year of successes and frustrations - International Human Rights Day 2024

IDPC marks Human Rights Day 2024 by shining a light on setbacks, key progress and promising avenues to better align drug policies and human rights standards.

Publications1 December 2024

'No penalties. No arrests. No jails': Perspectives on drug decriminalisation among people who inject drugs in Sydney

Dertadian and Sentas examine community members' drug policy preferences, noting widespread support for non-punitive responses, yet skepticism regarding politicians' capacity to effect change.

News12 November 2024

Canada’s harm reduction legacy is under threat. We must not turn back

Prioritising harm reduction efforts, public health and safeguarding rights are key to combatting rising opposition to Canada's historically bold drug policies and increasingly toxic supply.

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