In 2004 the Transnational Institute (TNI) and the Andreas G. Papandreou Foundation (APF) started an Informal Drug Policy Dialogue. Purpose of the dialogues is to have an open-minded exchange of views on current dilemmas in international drug policy making and discuss strategies on how contradictions might be resolved. The meetings are guided by 'Chatham House Rule' to encourage a free exchange of thoughts and confidentiality. In 2007, TNI and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) started a Latin American Informal Drug Policy Dialogue.
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Supporting the process towards UNGASS 2016
Cartagena (Colombia), November 22-24, 2015
The Cartagena Dialogue – organized by four governments and four civil society organizations, with the participation of 79 official and non-governmental delegates from three continents – was designed to strengthen the UNGASS 2016 process by identifying key ideas that help to review drug policies and by making steps to coordinate inter-regional efforts on the preparation, negotiation of the Outcome Document and on the UNGASS itself in April 2016.
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Caribbean Drug Policy Dialogue 2015 San Juan (Puerto Rico)
San Juan (Puerto Rico), April 23-25, 2015
Focusing on the Caribbean region, the thirteenth Informal Drug Policy Dialogue in Latin America, was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 23-25 April 2015, at the initiative of TNI (Transnational Institute), WOLA (Washington Office of Latin America) and Intercambios, Puerto Rico. It was supported in part by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of State and the Centre for Advance Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
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Expert Dialogue on Cannabis Regulation Models
San Sebastian (Spain), October 24-25, 2014
The Expert Dialogue took place in San Sebastian and was hosted by the municipal authorities of the city. Dialogue focused on examining some regulation models currently being implemented. The event was attended by several actors involved in the unregulated market, government officials, politicians and experts from different countries. The debate revolved around the issue of specific laws that need to be changed in Spain in order to bring about regulation; the US-style concept of 'flexibility'; the problems with the CND's multilateral approach; and what can realistically be expected of UNGASS 2016.Download the Executive Summary (PDF)Download the full Report in Spanish (PDF) -
Informal Drug Policy Dialogue 2014, Athens (Greece)
Athens (Greece), January 24-25, 2014
The eleventh Informal Drug Policy Dialogue took place in Athens, co-organised by TNI and Diogenes Association. The programme incuded five sessions: (1) an overview of the national Greek drug policy and the drug situation in Greece, developments in drug policy in Greece; (2) the current state of affairs in Vienna; preparations for the CND high-level review and negotiations of the joint Ministerial Statement;(3) global cannabis policy developments; (4) the control of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS); (5) the road towards the upcoming UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS on drugs) in 2016 has been discussed.Download the report (PDF) -
Latin America Drug Policy Dialogue 2013 Maldonado (Uruguay)
Maldonado (Uruguay) April 2-3, 2013
The ninth Latin America informal drug policy dialogue was devoted to "dilemmas in regulation of the cannabis market." The two-day dialogues were structured around seven sessions: (1) The Uruguayan proposal for cannabis regulation: dilemmas and challenges. (2) Current models of regulation: United States, Spain and the Netherlands. (3) The fine art of regulation: state monopoly vs. self-regulated market which works better and for whom? (4) Addressing cross-border differences and market mobility. (5) Tensions between cannabis regulation and international drug-control treaties: What options do governments have? (6) Cannabis reforms under way in Latin America. (7) Strategy and paths to reform: scenarios and next steps.Download the Executive Summary (PDF)
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Informal Drug Policy Dialogue 2013 Warsaw
Warsaw (Poland), February 14-16, 2013
The tenth meeting of the Informal Drug Policy Dialogue series, organised by the Transnational Institute (TNI) and Diogenis gathered over 35 NGO representatives, academics, policy makers and practitioners. The Dialogue comprised five sessions on drug policy. At the first session, participants discussed the current state of drug policy in Poland. The second session focused on the new European Union (EU) Drug Strategy for 2013-2020 and its Action Plan for 2013-2016. Thirdly, participants discussed cannabis policy reform movements worldwide, with a special focus on the legal regulation of cannabis markets in US states Colorado and Washington and in Uruguay. In the next session, participants shared experiences on different models of decriminalisation, with a specific focus on Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic. The final session provided updates on the 56th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which was held in March 2013.
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Informal Drug Policy Dialogue 2012 Bangkok
Bangkok (Thailand), December 18-19, 2012
The 4th GIZ/TNI Southeast Asia Informal Drug Policy Dialogue titled ‘The Future of Alternative Development in Southeast Asia’ took place on 18 and 19 December 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. An initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Transnational Institute (TNI) in collaboration with the Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). Key issue on the agenda of the 4th GIZ/TNI Southeast Asia Informal Drug Policy Dialogue was the future of Alternative Development and how rural development oriented drug policies can be brought to the forefront in the region.The Future of Alternative Development in Southeast Asia - Download the Report (PDF)
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Latin America Drug Policy Dialogue 2012 Lima
Lima, February 9-11, 2012
The Eighth Informal Dialogue on Drug Policies in Latin America was held in Lima, with the support of the Drugs and Human Rights Research Center (Centro de Investigación Drogas y Derechos Humanos, CIDDH). The event included 32 participants from ten countries in Latin America and Europe, the United States and international agencies. The two days of dialogue were organized in six sessions focusing on the following topics: Drug policy in Peru and its challenges; alternative development theory and practice; harm reduction policies for the drug market; the future of reforms: decriminalization of possession and cultivation for personal consumption; the legal market for coca leaves; and, options and debate in international bodies.Download the Report (PDF) -
Informal Drug Policy Dialogue 2012 Prague
Prague (Czech Republic), January 27-28, 2012
The ninth meeting of the TNI/Diogenis Informal Drug Policy Dialogue series took place in Prague on 27th and 28th January 2012. The aim of the dialogues is to provide a platform for professionals to discuss drug policy issues. Thanks are due to the National Drug Commission Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and the City of Prague for co-hosting this Dialogue. Over 40 participants attended the meeting, including policy makers, practitioners, academics, and representatives from non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations and agencies. Four themes were discussed: the European Union (EU) drug policy agenda, cannabis policy reform, the future of the UN drug control conventions and the upcoming 55th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. This report highlights the main issues covered during each of the sessions.Download the report (PDF) -
Latin America Drug Policy Dialogue 2011 Montevideo
Montevideo, February 17-19, 2011
The seventh meeting of the Informal Drug Policy Dialogues in Latin America took place in Montevideo, Uruguay. The first Informal Dialogue also took place in Montevideo in September 2007. The meeting was supported by Uruguay’s National Drug Board (Junta Nacional de Drogas, or JND). The two days of dialogue were divided into four sessions that centered on the following issues: (1) Micro-trafficking and proportionality of sentences; (2) Challenges to reforming drug policies; (3) Marijuana in Latin America: Has the time come to open the debate?; and (4) Options and debates in international and regional organizations. There was also a discussion on the impact of the decriminalization of drug consumption in Portugal.Download the report (PDF)
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