Amsterdam Manifesto Dealing with Drugs

Amsterdam Manifesto Dealing with Drugs January 26th 2024, Amsterdam We, a diverse coalition of administrators, policymakers, scientists and civil society representatives, are united in creating more humane drug policy. This means prioritizing the well-being of all impacted by the multifaceted challenges of illegal drug markets and the associated health, social and economic harms. Together, we focus on an integrated approach to drugs, taking into account public health, human rights, social justice and safety. Across the world, the so-called ‘war on drugs’ has failed to protect the health and safety of citizens and communities. Moreover, it has and continues to fuel organized crime, escalate violence, disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals and societies, and disrupt economies. We seek to break this vicious cycle by embracing pragmatic, evidence-based policies that acknowledge the realities of drug use and drug markets. Recognizing the failures and human rights violations caused by punitive drug enforcement, we pledge to adopt health-focused policies that emphasize harm reduction, decriminalization and the regulation of drug markets. These policies are aimed not only at safeguarding public health and human dignity, but also at fostering social justice.

As we transition towards a health-focused drug policy, our resolve against the criminal control of drug markets remains steadfast. Exploring a different approach does not imply a relaxation of efforts against drug trafficking and related crimes. We are committed to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring they do not exploit or dominate this sector, thereby safeguarding public health and upholding the rule of law. Our strategy is a balanced fusion of law enforcement and public health initiatives, aimed at ending the dominance of, and eliminating the risks posed by criminals in drug markets.

Guiding principles 1. Effectiveness as policy compass: Drug-related policies should be guided by their effectiveness in delivering public health, human rights, social justice and sustainable development. 2. Regulatory alternatives and risk mitigation: Recognizing the limitations of punitive drug laws, we advocate for exploring

regulatory market alternatives to mitigate the risks associated with illegal markets. Legal regulation of drugs can provide opportunities for education and safer consumption practices, thereby promoting public health and reducing harm. 3. Public health, social policy and addressing underlying issues: In addition to reducing stigmatization, responsible legal regulation can redirect government resources towards effective prevention, treatment and harm reduction services. Our shift towards a public health approach, including drug decriminalization, aims to address not just drug use, but also root causes such as stigma, socio-economic inequalities, and social injustice. 4. Cautious implementation: Policy development should be cautious, scientific and evidence-based, guided by rigorous monitoring and learning from regulatory scholarship.

Our pledge 1. Strengthen a global movement: We aim to connect existing networks worldwide, bringing together visionaries to foster a revolution in drug policy. 2. Charting the course with scientific evidence: Our path forward will be illuminated by a thoroughly crafted research agenda, driven by facts and grounded in data. 3. Harvest global knowledge: We commit to learning from the best practices of cities, communities and

nations worldwide, turning these lessons into tools for change. 4. Embrace courageous decisionmaking: Recognizing that progress demands bold steps, we are prepared to venture beyond the familiar, making informed choices to navigate pioneering policies.

Our resolve We are a coalition of innovators committed to meaningful change, dedicated to protecting our communities and upholding the rule of law against criminal threats. Our goal is to shape drug policies that are grounded in evidence, empathy and effectiveness. United, we strive to bring hope and humanity to the forefront of the global fight against drug-related challenges. Mayor Femke Halsema, City of Amsterdam Mayor Alec von Graffenried, City of Bern Claudia Lopez, Former Mayor of Bogotá Mayor Philippe Close, City of Brussels LEAP Nederland Jellinek Transnational Institute Gjalt-Jorn Peters, Open Universiteit International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) Mainline Poppi Drug Museum Amsterdam Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Etienne Fontan, Veterans Action Council Instituto RIA Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network Drug Policy Network South East Europe Steve Rolles, Transform Drug Policy Foundation Stichting Legalize Han van der Maas, Professor University of Amsterdam Association for Humane Drug Policy Norway Kenan de Leeuw, Psychologist at Jellinek Kaj Hollemans, KH Legal Advice Damián Zaitch, Utrecht University Allan Casey, Glasgow City Council Reinout W. Wiers, Ph.D, Universiteit van Amsterdam Belangenvereniging Druggebruikers MDHG Ronald Roothans, Physician

Piet Broenland, Ikigai Counseling Rik Crutzen, Professor of Behaviour Change & Technology Maastricht University Myriam Pelkmans, DBcs Juridisch Advies Correlation-European Harm Reduction Network Steps Non Profit Društvo AREAL Washington Office on Latin America Fields of Green for ALL Forum Drugs Mediterranean–FAAAT Wim van den Brink, MD PhD, Prof of Addiction Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Mark Jacobsen, Rookies Youth RISE International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS) Paroles Autour de la Santé (Guadeloupe) Paroles Autour de la Santé et de l’Environnement (Côte d’Ivoire) Javier Sagredo, Research Fellow, Research Center on Global Governance - CIGG, University of Salamanca Louis Letellier de St-Just, Lawyer in Health Law Adriaan Bronkhorst, Drugs Peace Institute L'Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec PeerNUPS Eurasian harm reduction association (EHRA) John Sinclair Foundation Corporación Acción Técnica Social (Colombia) Metzineres Hayley Murray MSc, ChemicalYouth Researcher & Project Manager Giovanni Pintaldi Hans Dupont, Specialismeleider Mondriaan Preventie/Verslavingskunde Nederland Michiel van Elk, Associate Professor, Leiden University Positive Voice Greece Estefanía Ciro Rodríguez, Centro de Pensamiento desde la Amazonia colombiana AlaOrillaDelRío Frits Spangenberg, sociologist and founder of

Motivaction/Glocalities social research, Amsterdam NGO Estonian Association of People Using Psychotropic Substances "LUNEST" em. Dr. Juris Lorenz Boellinger, Faculty of Law, Bremen University AIDS Action Europe CASO – Consumers Associated Survive Organized Rui Miguel Coimbra Morais, psychologist and member of the board of Consumers Associated Survive Organized (CASO), Portugal

Ethan Nadelmann, founder and former executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), director Ann Fordham Tony Duffin, Ana Liffey Drug Project (Ireland) Educators for Sensible Drug Policy (EFSDP) Drug Policy Alliance La Testeria