OUT NOW: The Legal Regulation of Drugs: The Potential to Deliver Global Justice

The shift from drug prohibition to legal regulation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build markets that prioritise justice, equity, and sustainability. 

So, we know the ‘war on drugs’ not only failed, but it caused great destruction under the guise of prohibition. However, finally, there is a shift happening. The end of prohibition is on the agenda of many governments across the world. Decisions about new legal drug regulation are being made now. But we cannot stop here.

Instead of moving drugs from the illicit to licit market in a way that replicates current harms, we can seize this opportunity to imagine a new way of trading and reconfigure one of the world’s major illegal trades to prioritise public health, equity and the planet.

For the first time ever, these papers consolidate Health Poverty Action’s work exploring how we can work to ensure global justice is a priority in decision making on new drug regulation. They outline 9 key principles that must be considered: trade, tax, global health, Indigenous rights, good governance, climate justice, land rights, labour rights and racial justice. 

By learning from past mistakes and collaborating across sectors, governments can create drug policies that benefit people, protect the environment, and strengthen societies.

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