Decriminalisation, legal regulation & reform

Drug law reform

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.

Publications12 November 2024

Cannabis regulation, EU drug law, trade rules and the UN drug control treaties

TNI, GDPO and WOLA engage with six European countries to discuss trends towards reform in cannabis policy, offering innovative solutions for legal tensions, coordination and policy development.

Publications11 November 2024

Ireland: Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use - Interim Report

The interim report makes recommendations in favour of decriminalisation, enhancing treatment options, expanded harm reduction options, and addressing social inequity.

News10 November 2024

Could the Netherlands become the first country to legalise MDMA?

In the Netherlands, rising drug-related violence and dangerous fluctuations in the contents of ecstasy pills spark recent calls for a legally regulated MDMA supply, with profits reinvested into harm reduction programmes.

News7 November 2024

It's been 12 months since small amounts of illicit drugs were decriminalised in the Australian Capital Territory

Despite initial reservations, rates of drug use have remained similar while access to harm reduction services has increased.

Events

Addressing the fentanyl overdose crisis effectively: evidence from the border and beyond

Online

10 October 2024 - 10 October 2024

Join experts in a webinar hosted by WOLA as they explore adverse effects of militarised drug policies and the need for effective, rights-based solutions to the overdose crisis.

News3 October 2024

Call for expressions of interest: Director - IDPC Board of Directors

IDPC is seeking to appoint a new member of the Board of Directors to take up position in January 2025.

Publications1 October 2024

Intended and unintended effects of cannabis regulation in Uruguay

Queirolo et al. qualitatively explore the unintended emergence of a cannabis 'grey market' under Uruguay's decade-old legalisation model, highlighting key challenges in policy implementation.

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