ENCOD
  • Donate
  • Covid-19 messages
  • News
  • Organisation
    • About us
    • Our Team
      • WORKING GROUPS
      • STUDIES
      • GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
      • FINANCES
    • Our Mission
    • FAQ
    • IN THE PRESS
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • ENCOD MEMBERS
    • INFO FOR MEMBERS
  • Join us
  • Actions & Events
    • CAMPAIGNS
      • FREEDOM TO FARM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM IS THE FIRST TEST OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM AND CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE CANNABIS AS A MEDICINE
        • FREEDOM TO FARM POSTERS
        • FREEDOM TO FARM STICKERS
      • Cannabis Social Clubs
        • HOW TO CREATE A CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUB
        • EXAMPLES OF CSC’S IN EUROPE
        • Cannabis Social Clubs in Aktion
        • PROPOSAL TO REGULATE THE SELF CULTIVATION AND CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS IN BELGIUM
        • Catalonia regulates the Cannabis Social Clubs
        • WORKSHOP ‘HOW TO SET UP A CSC IN GERMANY’
      • 2017
      • 2014
      • 2010 – 2013
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
      • 1995 – 2005
      • EU LOBBY CAMPAIGN
        • 2011
        • 2010
        • 2009
        • 2008
        • 2007
        • 2006
        • 2005
        • 2004
    • ACTION APPEALS
  • Bulletins
  • Video Archive
  • Donate
  • Covid-19 messages
  • News
  • Organisation
    • About us
    • Our Team
      • WORKING GROUPS
      • STUDIES
      • GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
      • FINANCES
    • Our Mission
    • FAQ
    • IN THE PRESS
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • ENCOD MEMBERS
    • INFO FOR MEMBERS
  • Join us
  • Actions & Events
    • CAMPAIGNS
      • FREEDOM TO FARM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM IS THE FIRST TEST OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
        • FREEDOM TO FARM AND CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE CANNABIS AS A MEDICINE
        • FREEDOM TO FARM POSTERS
        • FREEDOM TO FARM STICKERS
      • Cannabis Social Clubs
        • HOW TO CREATE A CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUB
        • EXAMPLES OF CSC’S IN EUROPE
        • Cannabis Social Clubs in Aktion
        • PROPOSAL TO REGULATE THE SELF CULTIVATION AND CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS IN BELGIUM
        • Catalonia regulates the Cannabis Social Clubs
        • WORKSHOP ‘HOW TO SET UP A CSC IN GERMANY’
      • 2017
      • 2014
      • 2010 – 2013
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • 2007
      • 2006
      • 1995 – 2005
      • EU LOBBY CAMPAIGN
        • 2011
        • 2010
        • 2009
        • 2008
        • 2007
        • 2006
        • 2005
        • 2004
    • ACTION APPEALS
  • Bulletins
  • Video Archive
February 1, 2013  |  By ENCOD In BULLETIN

ENCOD BULLETIN 96

pscanna.jpg

ENCOD BULLETIN ON DRUG POLICIES IN EUROPE

FEBRUARY 2013

2013, DRUG REGULATION YEAR ONE


Last year, ENCOD was among those organisations fighting to make sure that the Civil Society Forum on drug policies in the EU would not turn out as a complete fiasco. Even though we decided to break the consensus on the final recommandations to the EU commission, we joined an annex letter supporting steps toward a more balanced approach with harm reduction measures and scientific evidence based drug policy.

Inside the EU CSF, we are seen as the “pain in the ass”, as a resuklt of our efforts to ensure that the voices of the voiceless can be heard and represented, while ensuring that all useful information from all those meetings is provided to to people organized at grassroots levels. Every single citizen, even civil servants, should well recognise what ENCOD stands for, by reading its “Code of conduct“. Lack of transparency is weakening democratic rules.

Last year, ENCOD was also among those NGOs attending the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, including the debates and buffets in corridors, and as always at this high level meeting we played the role of “stone in the shoe”. By highjacking civil society sessions with inputs presenting “Cannabis Social Clubs” and other alternative models such as “Friends of the Coca Leaf”, by asking questions about the current scheduling of cannabis which needs to be reviewed, or urging Yuri Fedotov during his press conference to answer questions like: “is he willing to push Russia for a humane approach on drugs with harm reduction programs?” “Are some US states which have implemented laws for medicinal use of cannabis breaking UN conventions?” And finally: “Will the INCB urge the USA to stop undermining the implementation of the UN conventions, like they did against the coffeeshops in Netherlands?”

obamalat.jpg

In April 2012, for the first time during an official meeting, the US president listened to his colleagues from Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and Mexico who wanted him to consider that the drug war has failed and that a different policy has to be designed. Even if Obama declined to talk about legalisation, he declared that the debate was now open.

While everybody heard about the Netherlands’ stepping backward, by implementing a so-called “weed pass”, this also led to a strong movement opposing this and other measures, with some key cities’ mayors stating they will still allow tourists in coffeeshops.

This civil disobedience state of mind is also very high in France, with a Cannabis Social Clubs movement launched last June, and gaining more and more support and media coverage. Since the election of president Hollande in May, never before has cannabis legalisation and the establishment of injection rooms been so prominent in the public debate.

pscanna.jpg

Last October, in the Strasbourg European Parliament, the importance of cannabis for the pharmaceutical industry was exposed and for the first time large numbers of scientific and health researchers gave an overview of the challenges for laboratories around the world for healing patients with cannabis … even if growing one or many plants can directly and without financial boundaries help people who use cannabis as a medecine.

At the same time, at grassroots levels videos like “If cannabis cured cancer?”, “Too high to fail”, “When we grow”, and last but not least “Breaking the taboo” have been broadcast, freely available for anyone on the internet.

roarkl.jpg

But the sky isn’t nice and blue for all. We believe that those who are deprived of it are Drug War prisoners, like Michael Blanc in Indonesia, Dana Beal, Marc Emery, Chris Williams, Eddie Lepp, Rev. Roger and so many inmates behind US bars, Roar Mikalsen in Norway. We remember them, they miss us and we are still urging all authorities concerned for their immediate release.

In this worldwide turmoil HSBC bank announced they negociated a 1.9 billion dollars fine in order to avoid trial in the US for money laundering, for large scale money laundering for drug cartels. Does everybody know that this bank, which is mainly run from Hong Kong, was established there in 1865 in order to finance trade in the Far East and was originally associated with profits from opium smuggling?

That in a way is the proof of the corrupted global economic system. Definitely “prohibition is a joke” played by “bangsters” or “gankers” something between gangsters and bankers. Then, “legalisation” (or legal regulation for those like Barack Obama who dare not to pronounce it) is the only word that can be used to cut the herb under the foot of all those narcodealers taking benefits from prohibition fuelled by taxpayers’ money.

vienna2003.jpg

May 2013 be the first year of new local regulation measures based on a humane and scientific approach!

ENCOD will keep its goals high and loud, with our Manifesto for Just and Effective Drug Policies, supported by more than 350 organisations worldwide, which in itself could represent an alternative or genuine international civil society forum.

In 2013, may the strenghth of all different networks involved in the drug policy reform movement (as TNI, IDPC, DPA, ICOS, LEAP, NORML, Beckley, Akzept, HCLU etcetera) be able to achieve concrete results such as the “Breaking the Taboo” campaign, by joining or merging their efforts!

ENCOD will work hard and smartly with this aim in the following months, simply because “united we stand, divided we fall”.

By Farid Ghéhiouèche (with the help of Peter Webster)

This bulletin has been written on personal title and does not count with the approval of all Steering Committee members.

Events in February

Visitors at Spannabis, Barcelona – 15 to 17 February 2013, are wellcome to visit the ENCOD stand (nr. 135)

pscanna.jpg
obamalat.jpg
roar.jpg
vienna2.jpg
roarkl.jpg
vienna2003.jpg
Previous StoryMANUAL TO CREATE CANNABIS SOCIAL CLUBS
Next StoryBOLETIN ENCOD 96

Related Articles

  • ENCOD Bulletin 147: Thoughts for societies that use drugs.
  • Encod Bulletin 146

Categories

Archives

  • About us
  • Downloads
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Notice & Terms of Use
  • Imprint

Copyright ©2018 ThemeFuse. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

REPUBLISHING TERMS

You may republish this article online or in print under our Creative Commons license. You may not edit or shorten the text, you must attribute the article to ENCOD and you must include the author’s name in your republication.

If you have any questions, please email thujer@gmail.com

License

Creative Commons License AttributionCreative Commons Attribution
ENCOD BULLETIN 96