Dear John,

I am writing to give you an update on our mission to deliver global justice through emerging drug reforms, that we have been working on amidst the chaotic global news cycle.

60+ years of the so-called war on drugs has justified racism, upheld neo-colonialism, undermined states, wasted public resources, and formed a volatile shadow economy.

Thankfully, across the world drug reforms are happening. Countries around the world are beginning to address the harms that drug prohibition has inflicted, generating momentum and excitement for the potential of reform.

What comes next is still to be decided. We are determined to realise the potential of new legal drug markets, through informed policy and regulation, with global justice at its heart.

Health Poverty Action is among those leading this conversation. Earlier this month we published a series of nine policy briefings, to capture the attention of policymakers and activists, highlighting the seismic opportunity the legal regulation of drugs presents for global justice.

The briefings cover nine key sectors:Trade Justice, Tax Justice, Public Health, Indigenous Rights, Climate Justice, Good Governance, Land Rights, Labour Rights, and Racial Justice.

Image: Presenting Health Poverty Action's new briefing papers at the UN's 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs, March 2025.

We presented all briefings at the UN’s 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna.

As of late, the global order has been thrown in the air. We can turn this into an opportunity to create new legal drug frameworks that strengthen global justice, public health and human rights.

We must do this before reforms are captured by corporations, and ensure drug policies set a precedent for justice in other trades too.

For now, we invite you to read our briefings, and support our work so we can continue to campaign for equitable drug reform. Share our briefing papers with your network and follow our social media to maintain the conversation’s momentum. Stay tuned for further updates…including an upcoming webinar!

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Only together can we create much needed change.

In solidarity,

Rob Rycroft,
Policy and Campaigns Team