A Great and Progressive Announcement by the E.U.

EU READY TO END DRUG PROHIBITION



ENCOD PRESS RELEASE (ENCOD - European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies


From Thursday 09 Dec 2010


BRUSSELS - The European Union will not block any initiative of EU Member States to start the legal regulation of cannabis and other currently illegal drugs. This was repeatedly stated by Dana Spinant, the new Coordinator of the European Commissions Anti-Drugs Unit, at a Public Hearing on Drug Policies in the European Parliament today.

The hearing was organised by Member of European Parliament Michael Tremopoulos (Greens, Greece) and ENCOD, a coalition of citizens for drug policy reform. It brought together the expertise of representatives of civil society -among others leading Spanish activist for legal cannabis Martin Barriuso, spokesman of the Union of Dutch Coffeeshops Marc Josemans, and Richard Cowan, former director of NORML, USA's largest reform organisation. Members of European Parliament Rui Tavares (GUE, Portugal) and Dennis de Jong (GUE, Netherlands) also spoke at the event.

The hearing considered the financial implications of decriminalisation of drugs and regulation of cannabis for public expenditure. Based on an extrapolation on data provided by the EMCDDA the total amount that could be generated by a combination of measures could be estimated between 35 and 60 billion euro, or between 70 and 120 euro for each of the 500 million people who reside in the European Union.

In March 2009, the European Commission published the results of a research report ("Report on Global Illicit Drug Markets 1998 – 2007", edited by Peter Reuter and Franz Trautmann) which conclude that prohibitionist policies are failing in their main objective, which is to reduce the demand and supply of illicit drugs. The report even stated that these policies might be a crucial factor in generating and increasing harm to individual drug consumers, their direct surroundings and society at large.

"Drug prohibition is a blessing for organised crime", said Dennis de Jong, Dutch Member of the European Parliament. "My own government unfortunately is now moving towards more repression on the coffeeshops. In stead of the more reasonable approach towards regulation, the authorities now want to ban foreign visitors by installing membership cards, which will only increase the illegal market".

The testimonies of Barriuso, Cowan and Josemans made clear that legal regulation of cannabis is taking place in several parts of the world and has produces satisfactory results. Decriminalisation of drug use as has taken place in the Netherlands and Portugal does not lead to increased use, but to safer conditions for drug consumers, and more efficient approaches in law enforcement. The same goes for Spain: "In the Basque country, the Cannabis Social Club model, a form of collective cultivation of cannabis for personal use, has been recognised by authorities and proves to be a very succesfull approach that is not questioned", explained Martín Barriuso.

On the hearing Encod called on the European Commission to evaluate the costs of drug prohibition in terms of public spending and the benefits that alternative policies could generate. But Dana Spinant made clear that the Commission has no competence to take any initiatives for opening the debate on drug reform. "The responsibility lies entirely with the EU Member States, it is there where you should address yourself", she said.

http://encod.org/info/EU-READY-TO-END-DRUG-PROHIBITION.html

Please Help Save the Release Helpline.

Release, a small campaigning charity, provides a national advice telephone helpline. Advice is provided in relation to drugs and the law.  Unfortunatly Release is struggling to keep up with the costs of this Helpline, and as a result its closure is looking iminent.  They really need your help! Maybe you have been helped by Release before, or god forbid you may need their help one day in the future - so please spare some of your money to help them.  The government (no surprise here) are unwilling to give Release any funding - ALTHOUGH their own helpline FRANK regularly diverts callers to the release helpline as they do not have the expertise or knowledge to answer callers questions themselves.

Without new funding the helpline is sure to close.  Please help save the helpline!

For more details about the Release helpline service I have copied this information from their website:

Legal Helpline

The legal helpline is staffed by qualified lawyers, paralegals and trained volunteers, who will provide information and advice to the public and professionals. Legal advice is provided on criminal matters; drugs classification; anti social behaviour orders; legal issues pertinent to drugs users such as travelling with prescribed controlled drugs, the impact of criminal convictions and cautions, drug use and its impact on driving requirements. Advice can also be provided on other legal issues — if the legal team cannot assist you with your enquiry, they will provide details of other services that can.

Representation is not a service offered through the helpline although in some cases where there are issues of public law arising, Release will be able to refer you to lawyers who specialise in this area.

Drugs Helpline

Our drug services are managed and run by a team of specialist advisors assisted by trained volunteers.

The drugs team provides help, advice, information, support and referral to people affected directly and indirectly by drug use.

We are here to help you. You will be listened to and we will always do our best to give you the appropriate amount of time and most relevant advice for your individual enquiry.

Your inquiry will be dealt with by someone who understands the issues facing drug users and their family and friends, so you need not feel alone in this. We can link you up with different types of support groups and if you are having difficulty getting treatment, we can help liaise with your local service or GP.

We provide essential support for professionals and for members of the public who may feel isolated and anxious about a drug-related problem.

Our aim is to allow people to make informed decisions with confidence.

The drugs team provides support and advice on a range of issues including advice on the effects on drugs; harm reduction; matters involving drug dependency; different types of treatment including maintenance prescribing and abstinence.

The drugs team is headed up by one of the UK’s leading experts on all issues relating to heroin use.

 The helpline is open from 11am—1pm & 2pm—4pm Monday to Friday.

Apologies Over the Lack of Content ...

Hello Everyone.

Although I am aware this blog has very few followers as of yet, I want to apologies to those few followers over the lack of content on here.  Unfortunately, due to other commitments and my recent relocation to Amsterdam this blog was temporarily abandoned.  As I now have more time on my hand, I believe that it is time I focus once again on this project.  I envisaged a blog where I could spread the word to the masses about UK drug policy and reform, my aim remains the same.  I wish to spread the truth about our drug policies as well as the global war on drugs in the hope of advocating change.  For long enough people have been discriminated against, branded criminals and imprisoned for choosing to alter their perceptions with substances often less dangerous than the accepted drug, alcohol.

... Please be patient with me, alot has happened since I last posted here, but this time (I promise) the blog will take off! ...