ENCOD BULLETIN ON DRUG POLICIES IN EUROPE
JANUARY 2014
PROF. DR. LEGALIZE IT
MANIFEST FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY DRUG POLICIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
On December 6th, 2013, activists for drug policy reform from all over Europe gathered in Brussels to adopt a manifest for safe and healthy drug policies. This manifest contains ten recommendations to the European council, that were made by the European Parliament in 2004. None of these have been implemented. With the following letter, Encod asked all candidates for the European Parliament elections on 22 to 25 May 2014 to sign this manifest and declare support to the recommendations.
Qui sommes nous
En 1993, a pétition de la Commission Européenne, 14 organisations travaillant dans le domaine des drogues ont fondé la Coalition Européenne pour des politiques justes et efficaces en matière de drogues. Après deux décennies, Encod est devenue une plate-forme de 150 membres, organisations, entreprises et citoyens qui veulent mettre un terme à la guerre aux drogues. Au travers d’un lobby politique, d’actions et d’information nous avons porté notre voix devant les Nations Unies, l’Union Européenne ainsi qu’au niveau local et national.
Nous sommes la section européenne d’une Coalition Internationale qui regroupe plus de 500 ONGs de tout le monde qui ont adheré a une Manifeste pour une Politique des Drogues Juste et Efficace (établie en 1998).
Entre nos membres il y a des organisations de consommateurs de cannabis et autres drogues, de travailleurs de santé, réchercheurs, activistes de base et entrepreneurs. Voir la liste des membres.
Notre lutte est entrée dans une phase cruciale. Depuis peu, plusieurs régions et pays du monde ont commencé à développer des alternatives à la prohibition des drogues. Le changement est d’actualité. Mais de quoi seront faites les politiques des drogues dans le futur? Les intérêts des citoyens normaux et ordinaires seront-ils pris en compte?
Après plusieurs années de lobby à l’intérieur de la bureaucratie de Bruxelles, Encod a obtenu sa première victoire au Parlement Européen en décembre 2004, quand les députés européens ont approuvé à la majorité le “Rapport Catania“. Ce rapport propose un changement radical de la politique des drogues de l’UE et recommande la réduction des risques ainsi qu’une analyse scientifique et équilibrée au lieu de la prohibition des drogues. Il recommande aussi l’implication d’organisations de la société civile dans l’élaboration et la mise en place de la politique des drogues.
Dès 2006 Encod fait la promotion du concept de Cannabis Social Club. Ce sont des associations de citoyens qui organisent la culture d’une quantité limitée de cannabis pour satisfaire leurs besoins personnels, à travers d’un circuit fermé de production et de distribution sans but lucratif. Actuellement les CSC agissent légalement en Espagne et en Belgique, et dans plusieurs autres pays se développent des initiatives pour obtenir un statut légal. De plus en plus d’européens découvrent que le CSC est un parfait outil pour montrer ce que pourrait être la légalisation.
Les membres d’ENCOD sont convoqués pour l’ Assemblée Générale Annuelle et peuvent participer dans plusieures listes de mailing électroniques. Nous publions un bulletin mensuel avec une commentaire sur l’actualité de la politique des drogues en Europe et des infos sur les activités d’ENCOD.
Vous pouvez nous soutenir par une adhésion comme membre ou sponsor de notre organisation.
N’hésitez pas de nous contacter avec les questions que vous avez.
What is ENCOD ?
In 1993, following the request of the European Commission, 14 organizations working in the field of drugs founded the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies. During two decades, Encod grew into a platform of 150 members, organizations, companies and citizens who want an end to the war on drugs. With lobby, actions and information we have strengthened their voice at the United Nations, the European Union and on the national and local level.
We are the European section of an International Coalition, which consists of more than 500 NGOs from around the world that have adhered to a Manifesto for Just and Effective Drug Policies (established in 1998).
Among our members are organisations of cannabis and other drug users, of health workers, researchers, grassroot activists as well as companies. See the list of members.
Our struggle has entered a crucial phase. Recently various regions and countries all over the world have started to implement alternatives for drug prohibition. Change is in the air. But what will future drug policies look like? Will they take into account the interests of ordinary citizens?
After many years of lobbying inside the Brussels bureaucracy, Encod achieved a first major victory in the European Parliament in December 2004, when the ‘Catania report’ was approved by a majority of MEP’s (Members of the European Parliament). This report proposes a radical change in EU drug policy and advocates harm reduction and a scientific and balanced approach instead of maintaining drug prohibition. It also recommends to involve civil society organizations in the design and implementation of drug policy.
Since 2006 Encod promotes the concept of Cannabis Social Clubs. These are associations of citizens who organize the cultivation of a limited amount of cannabis to satisfy their personal needs, through a closed circuit of production and distribution on a non-profit basis. CSC’s now operate legally in Spain and Belgium, whereas initiatives to obtain a legal status are carried out in several other countries. More and more Europeans discover the CSC as the perfect tool to show what legalization could look like.
ENCOD members are invited to participate in an Annual Assembly and participate in several electronic mailing lists. We publish a monthly bulletin containing an actual comment on the European Union’s drug policy and news on ENCOD’s activities.
You can support us by becoming a member or donor of our organisation.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any question you may have.
WORKING GROUP ON ENCOD ACTIONS IN VIENNA
WORKING GROUP ON ENCOD ACTIONS IN VIENNA
FOR A LASTING PEACE ON DRUGS
Encod launches a new flyer campaign to raise new members and sponsors to help us build a lasting peace on drugs
If you are interested to receive posters and/or flyers, do not hesitate to contact us at info@encod.org
SUPPORT ENCOD
Dear friend of drug policy reform,
We are asking your support for improving the living conditions of millions of people while attacking one of the world’s strongest criminal enterprises.
We believe this aim can be obtained by ending the global war on drugs.
Who are we?
ENCOD is a platform of more than 150 European associations of citizens who are affected and/or concerned by current drug policies and wish to replace them with a balanced and rational approach. A legal regulation of the production, trade and consumption of drugs. Among our members are platforms of cannabis and other drug users, organisations of health workers, researchers, grassroot activists as well as companies. See the complete list of members.
What do we aim at?
Drug prohibition should be replaced by a rational and balanced approach as the only sensible way of reducing drug related problems. Ending the war on drugs will improve the living standards of hundreds of millions of people, while significantly diminishing one of the major income sources of organized crime.
How do we work?
We promote peaceful activism and campaigns in order to create a public debate on the need to end drug prohibition.
We communicate with local, national and European parliament members and authorities, in order to present them concrete proposals on how to end the war on drugs.
We maintain a website with news on the state of drug policy in Europe and actions to reform it.
For free?
We do not receive any support from authorities or private foundations. It is thanks to the contributions of our members and donors that ENCOD exists and grows. With more support we can do more.
The yearly budget is 60.000 euro. It breaks out like this:
Office costs 10.000
Travel costs 10.000
Campaign costs 10.000
Salary costs 30.000
Total 60.000
How can you support us?
ENCOD is a network of activists. its future depends on the support from citizens who believe that current drug policies are fundamentally wrong, and who want to propose alternatives.
You can support us by becoming a member of our organisation or donate (anonymously if you wish).
Please send your donations and membership fees to:
Account holder: ENCOD VZW
IBAN code: BE02 3630 6318 5840
SWIFT/BIC code: BBRUBEBB
ING Bank, Belgium
Or we accept donations in a range of Crypto Currencies.
For this we use: cointopay.com
Alternatively! you can send your donation via the Cannabis Social Clubs Paypal account.
Your support can do miracles.
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