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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · 4d

We were delighted to attend the Green Party conference to take part in Common Ground Justice Project’s event, Breaking Through the Noise. Our CEO, Jane Slater spoke about a new approach to crime and justice and how this relates to our drug policy reform work at Transform.

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · 4d

💚 @greenparty.org.uk leader @zackpolanski.bsky.social backs legalisation of all drugs 💚

‘The war on drugs has absolutely failed, and ultimately we need to be having a public health approach’ - Polanski speaking to BBC South East ahead of his party conference.

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · 10d

We are hiring!🚨

We are looking for an individual passionate about drug reform to help with fundraising and organisational support.

Bristol (Hybrid)
£25 - 30k FTE
Part-time (2-3 days/week)
6 month contract (possibility to extend)

Apply by 5th October: www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/transfo...

Fundraising and Organisational Support | Transform Drug Policy Foundation | CharityJob

Apply now for Fundraising and Organisational Support. , £25,000 - £30,000 per year FTE, find a career with meaning today

www.charityjob.co.uk

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jul 3

Maybe - but she's a bereaved mum doing a live media interview. This isn't a Lancet paper.

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jul 3

She is taking about the potential for falling purity and increased chances of adulteration/cutting agents

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jul 3

Vicky's daughter Louise died after using ketamine

But unlike the PCC & UK Home Office calls for more punishment, Vicky's tragedy galvanised her resolve to campaign for pragmatic health-led policies & regulation with Transform & @anyoneschild.bsky.social

see anyoneschild.org for more info
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Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control

It's time for drug laws that protect – rather than endanger – young people and their families.

AnyonesChild.org

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jul 3

"Upgrading ketamine to Class A just means that young ppl will take dirtier drugs, the money will go to the dealers. no one wins"

BBC report on last week's @anyoneschild.bsky.social #SupportDontPunish parliamentary lobby - Including interview with Transform Trustee, Vicky Unwin t.co/dVgOxvpetG
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https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vrdn6qejpo.amp

t.co

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 20

This guest blog by @mikejay.bsky.social Mike Jay was originally published in the New Statesman, reproduced with permission

Mike Jay is a cultural historian, author, & former Transform Trustee

mikejay.net

His books include the recent: 'Psychonauts: drugs & the making of the modern mind'
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 20

🚨NEW BLOG🚨

"Ketamine has no deep history or hinterland: it is a product of pharmaceutical modernity.

Its multiple identities mirror the broad spectrum of its effects...from a mild & pleasant giddiness to a white-knuckle ride into another dimension"

transformdrugs.org/blog/how-bri...
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How Britain fell into the K-hole | Transform

transformdrugs.org

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 18

🚨NEW BLOG🚨

*Harm reduction as a form of resistance*

The amazing plenary speech by Michelle Wazan, from
@Skoun_org in Lebanon, at the @HRInews #HRI25 conference in Bogota last month

transformdrugs.org/blog/michell...

Harm reduction as a form of resistance | Transform

transformdrugs.org

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 18

The UN Coca Leaf Review and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights:

Can the @WHO Meet the Moment?

Brilliant new long read explainer in the @TNInstitute *Coca Chronicles* series - by @MartinJelsmaTNI & John Walsh from @WOLA_org

www.tni.org/en/article/t...

The UN Coca Leaf Review and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Can the WHO Meet the Moment? | Transnational Institute

Will the WHO confront its colonial legacy and right a historic wrong? The critical review of the coca leaf could transform global drug policy and marks an important moment for Indigenous rights and tr...

www.tni.org

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 17

Speakers include:
🔵Saket Priyadarshi, Clinical Lead at The Thistle OPC, Glasgow
🔵Meg Jones, Cranstoun, national harm reduction and support service provider
🔵Adam Holland, Clinical Academic at Bristol University

More speakers to be announced.....
eventbrite.com/e/next-steps...
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Next steps for Bristol as a harm reduction and inclusive recovery city

Timely discussion hosted by Transform in partnership with the University of Bristol on why Bristol needs an Overdose Prevention Centre

eventbrite.com

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 17

This is a unique opportunity to learn, collaborate, & contribute to building a healthier, more compassionate city.

As drug deaths continue to rise (especially involving synthetic opioids) this event brings together local stakeholders to explore practical solutions emerging challenges
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · Jun 17

Healthcare professionals, police, community leaders, policymakers & Bristol residents are invited to join Transform & the University of Bristol in shaping the next steps for drug harm reduction & treatment

in Bristol: 7pm Thursday 17th July at City Hall eventbrite.com/e/next-steps...
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Next steps for Bristol as a harm reduction and inclusive recovery city

Timely discussion hosted by Transform in partnership with the University of Bristol on why Bristol needs an Overdose Prevention Centre

eventbrite.com

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Reposted by Transform Drug Policy Foundation

SteveRolles @steverolles.bsky.social · May 30

I talked to the @theLDNstandard podcast yesterday about the good and bad of the London Mayor's cannabis commission report - & the future of cannabis reforms in the UK (first 10 mins) 👇

Also available on apple podcasts, spotify etc.
podfollow.com/the-standard...

The Standard: Will London decriminalise cannabis?

As the Mayor of London urges the government to consider decriminalising possession of small amounts of cannabis, Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst for Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, unpacks...

podfollow.com

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Reposted by Transform Drug Policy Foundation

SteveRolles @steverolles.bsky.social · May 30

The Exec Director of UN Office on Drugs & Crime, Ghada Fathi Waly, has apparently resigned.

Awaiting more info - & can only speculate as to the reasons, but seems likely related to massive funding cuts and broader institutional crisis at the failing agency.
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Reposted by Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Tom Blickman @tomblickman.bsky.social · May 30

The non-enforcement on the sale of illegal hashish in participating coffee shops within the Dutch cannabis experiment will be extended once more until 1 September 2025. This decision was taken following signals of shortages of regulated hashish. 1/2
cannabisindustrie.nl/verlenging-g...

Tijdelijke gedoogperiode voor illegale hasj in wietexperiment verlengd tot 1 september 2025

De tijdelijke gedoogperiode van illegale hasj in het wietexperiment wordt verlengd tot 1 september 2025 maakten de ministers bekend.

cannabisindustrie.nl

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 30

Listen to @SteveTransform discussing the Mayor's Cannabis Commission report on the @theLDNstandard podcast here:

podfollow.com/the-standard...
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The Standard: Will London decriminalise cannabis?

As the Mayor of London urges the government to consider decriminalising possession of small amounts of cannabis, Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst for Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, unpacks...

podfollow.com

Reposted by Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Zoë Garbett @zoegarbett.bsky.social · May 28

Resharing from @transformdrugs.bsky.social report release 2 months ago about how much a legally regulated cannabis market could bring into the economy....

Zoë Garbett @zoegarbett.bsky.social · Mar 4

Another superb report by @transformdrugs.bsky.social on the high returns of legalising cannabis

Estimating annual net benefit to the Treasury of up to £1.5 billion! 🤑

Great context for the delayed & eagaerly anticipated Mayor of London drug commission 👀

Report titled "high returns: the economic benefit of UK cannabis legalisation " in a room with people round a table and "transform" blue banner

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

Read our book: 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' transformdrugs.org/publications...

New report: 'High returns: the economic benefits of Cannabis regulation in the UK'
transformdrugs.org/publications...

Support our #LegaliseUKcannabis campaign
justgiving.com/campaign/leg...
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How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide, 3rd Edition | Transform

Early experiences of cannabis legalisation have brought the issues of social and racial justice to the fore. In this revised and updated version, Transform aims to spell out how to build a regulatory ...

transformdrugs.org

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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

We are long overdue a change to this hopelessly failed policy - and this new report only proposes half the job (decrim), whilst arguably undermining the equally necessary other half (regulation).

So......good but no (legal & regulated) cigar.
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

We hope that the Govt will finally show leadership on this important debate, raised by a high profile Labour Mayor. Cannabis reforms command widespread public support, save police resources and taxpayers money, as well as reducing social & health harms of criminalisation.
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

As such the Commission goes little further than the Police Foundation report (the Runciman report) from 25 years ago (and various Select Committee reports down the years) - which we also criticised at the time for needless timidity.
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

The almost apologetic 'wait & see' position is untenable given the obvious harms of the status quo. There's unknowns re regulation (tho we now know a lot about how to do it properly)

But leaving the mkt in the hands of unregulated organised crime groups helps no one
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Transform Drug Policy Foundation @transformdrugs.bsky.social · May 28

It is, however, profoundly disappointing that the Commission failed to call for meaningful moves toward a legally regulated market - even rejecting (on the weakest of grounds) home growing provisions, or non-commercial models being implemented in Europe
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