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Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

Jun 30

I'm in Berlin today for the German Govt cannabis legalisation consultation process expert hearings - opened this morning by the minister of health; making the pragmatic case for responsible legal regulation - and identifying the various public health challenges....
1/

The minister explains why he changed his mind on regulation - acknowledging the failure of historic policy & how regulation offers better health & criminal justice outcomes; inc child protection, controls on marketing etc.
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The minister emphasises the need to learn from alcohol and tobacco, to have careful monitoring and evaluation that can inform evolving policy, and to prioritize public health and youth protection in policy design.
3/

Read 62 tweets

Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

Jun 27

@UNODC

The @UNODC #WorldDrugReport2022 is out today.

unodc.org/unodc/en/data-…

As usual it contains a wealth of useful data.

The real story is often what it *doesn't* contain, & political interest in editorial & special sections

So I'm diving in - will post thoughts as I go
🧵1/

@UNODC

@UNODC Oh dear

It gets off to a spectacularly bad start with the preface.

In fact even the first four words.

This is old-school drug war rhetoric - perhaps the first time new @UNODC director @GhadaFathiWaly has had a chance to do some threat-based prohibitionist flexing.
2/

The preface, & entire booklet makes prominent calls for prevention (27mentions) & treatment (67 mentions).

But, amazingly given UNODCs very specific harm reduction mandate, the words 'harm reduction' do not appear ONCE in the entire part1 71p. summary booklet.
3/

Read 20 tweets

Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

May 23

@AlboMP

Here is new Australian PM @AlboMP on drug law reform in 1999

"We are a society that is full of contradictions. Some drugs are legally sanctioned and others are outlawed. To say that the reason for this is to do with public health and safety is a nonsense."
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@AlboMP

@AlboMP "The drugs responsible for the most deaths and diseases in this country are not heroin, cannabis, ecstasy or cocaine—they are alcohol and tobacco."
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@AlboMP

@AlboMP "The deaths associated with heroin, for instance, arise not so much from the drug itself, as from overdoses caused by its uncertain purity and from dangerous substances used to dilute it. As well, there's the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C from the use of dirty needles."
3/

Read 13 tweets

Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

Dec 15, 2021

I've been asked how Malta's new law is different from Spain, the Netherlands & Portugal - and, in that context why people saying it is the first EU country to 'legalise' cannabis

So here's a THREAD to explain - with apologies in advance for length/dullness
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to explain the distinction you need to understand whats happened in the other countries:

Portugal changed its law in 2001 removing criminal sanctions for possession (of any drug), but it remains a civil offence, with various sanctions available....

transformdrugs.org/publications/d…

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small scale cannabis possession is usually dealt with by confiscation & no further action taken - but repeat 'offenders' (its still technically an offence) can be fined or referred to treatment.

There's no legal supply - so 'legalisation' is an often misused word.
3/

Read 22 tweets

Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

Aug 17, 2021

THREAD
Stopping the production of Afghan opium/heroin coming to the UK was one of the key justifications given by Tony Blair 20yrs ago for supporting the coalition military intervention in Afghanistan post 9/11

Aside from any other outcomes, hows that worked out?
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From Blair's speech:

"We act also because the al-Qaida network & the Taliban regime are funded in large part on the drugs trade. 90% of all heroin sold in Britain originates from Afghanistan. Stopping that trade is, again, directly in our interests"

theguardian.com/world/2001/oct…
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In the 20yrs that followed some £37billion was spent & over 400 British soldiers have killed - a significant but unspecified proportion of this financial & human cost was related anti-drug operations (UK led the presence in Helmland - one of the key opium production regions)
3/

Read 11 tweets

Steve Rolles 🇺🇦

@SteveTransform

Aug 16, 2021

THREAD:
The Canadian Expert Task Force on Substance Use was commissioned by the federal Govt to make recommendations on:
- decriminalisation of possession
- the new draft Govt drug strategy

Their reports are here:
canada.ca/en/health-cana…

They are *essential reading*
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These are clear & considered reports that call for an evidence based health led approach:

"Canadian policy on substances must change significantly to address and remove structural stigma, centre on the health of people who use substances, and align with current evidence"
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But unlike so many reports that have come before - they do not shy from politically challenging issues:

"Bold actions are urgently needed, inc. decriminalization, the development of a single public health framework which regulates all substances, & expansion of safer supply"
3/

Read 14 tweets

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