In July 2013 the Research and Documentation Centre (WODC) of the Netherlands Ministry of Security and Justice asked RAND Europe to provide a multinational overview of cannabis production regimes. The result of this research was a report that summarises differing cannabis production regimes across the world. It also analyses official statements and/or legal decisions made…Continue Reading RAND Europe Report on ‘Multinational overview of cannabis production regimes’
Latest meeting of the Postgraduate Network
The GDPO-sponsored postgraduate network met for the second time on 24th January at the London School of Economics (LSE). We welcomed a number of new members to the group. The new members of the group to attend were: Kojo Koram, PhD candidate at Birkbeck University. His thesis will examine the position of the law on controlled…Continue Reading Latest meeting of the Postgraduate Network
Behind the Staggering Rise in Women’s Imprisonment in Latin America
Harsh drug laws are driving a surge in the number of women imprisoned in Latin America. Between 2006 and 2011, the female prison population in Latin America almost doubled, increasing from 40,000 to more than 74,000 inmates. The vast majority of incarcerated women are in prison for drug-related offenses. Estimates range from: 75–80 percent in…Continue Reading Behind the Staggering Rise in Women’s Imprisonment in Latin America
INCB vs Uruguay: the art of diplomacy
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