INCB President Yans disqualified himself and should consider stepping down International tensions over Uruguay’s decision to regulate the cannabis market reached new levels when Raymond Yans, president of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), accused Uruguay of negligence with regard to public health concerns, deliberately blocking dialogue attempts and having a “pirate attitude” towards the…Continue Reading INCB vs Uruguay: the art of diplomacy
The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
The proliferation of drug trafficking in West Africa, as measured by drug – and most specifically cocaine – seizure data, has drawn considerable attention from the United Nations drug control bodies, and from West European and North American countries that are engaged in anti-poverty, state stabilisation and counter terrorism activities in the sub-region. Underscoring concerns…Continue Reading The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
Uruguay Votes to Become the First Nation to Legally Regulate Cannabis
“The traditional [interdiction] approach hasn’t worked. Someone has to be the first [to try this].” President José Mujica of Uruguay, June 2013 On Tuesday 10th December Uruguay made history by voting to establish a legally regulated system for production and supply of cannabis for recreational purposes. In November 2012, two US States – Washington and…Continue Reading Uruguay Votes to Become the First Nation to Legally Regulate Cannabis
Human rights, harm reduction and you
The UN has declared Tuesday, 10 December as Human Rights Day. The theme this year is ’20 Years Working for Your Rights’, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been established. Among the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is article 25,…Continue Reading Human rights, harm reduction and you
GDPO launches new website and publications
The Global Drug Policy Observatory (GDPO) at Swansea University, UK, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. Engaging in a range of ‘impact’ oriented activities, the recently established Observatory operates with the goal of promoting evidence and human rights based drug policy through the comprehensive and rigorous reporting, monitoring and analysis of…Continue Reading GDPO launches new website and publications
Professor Julia Buxton joins GDPO
Julia, also a Professor of Comparative Politics within the School of Public Policy at Central European University in Budapest, brings to the Observatory a diverse portfolio of academic and policy experience. A specialist on South America and the region’s rapidly evolving political, economic and security architecture she is an expert on Venezuela and is widely published…Continue Reading Professor Julia Buxton joins GDPO
GDPO Establishes a Post Graduate Network
On 26th November GDPO held the first meeting of the newly established post graduate network. The network aims to bring together post graduate students and early years researchers in order to share ideas, discuss articles and provide support to any PG students working on drug policy or related issues. The group will have a virtual…Continue Reading GDPO Establishes a Post Graduate Network
Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative
In recent years, the media has applied the contentious term ‘narco-state’ to a number of West African countries, including Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, on account of the increased volumes of cocaine being trafficked through the region and the impact of this illicit activity on governance and security. The heightened prominence of West Africa in…Continue Reading Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative
Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement takes the stage at United Nations headquarters in New York
Last week the topic of modernizing drug law enforcement took center stage at UN Headquarters when the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and the Czech Republic to the United Nations co-sponsored a program with International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), Harm Reduction Coalition, the International Security Research Department at Chatham House and the International Institute for Strategic…Continue Reading Modernizing Drug Law Enforcement takes the stage at United Nations headquarters in New York
The Beginning of the End for the Pot Prohibition
The beginning of the end for the ‘war on weed’ in the US? A new survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports in August 2013 shows that 82% of Americans think the US is losing the war on drugs. Only 4% of respondents believe the US is winning this war. This survey comes at a sensitive time…Continue Reading The Beginning of the End for the Pot Prohibition