June, 2010
Mr. Marco Di Paolo, a multiple sclerosis sufferer from the town of Sulmona, went to court to have access to medical marijuana. The judge ruled that, under certain circumstances, the Local Health Authority is obliged to provide marijuana for medical purposes.
On 23rd June, the Bombay High Court admitted a petition challenging the constitutionality of Section 31 A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) that prescribes a mandatory death sentence for certain drug offences upon subsequent conviction.
As the United Nations brings worldwide attention to problems related to illicit drugs, we call for a new approach.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, stresses the importance to "Think Health, Not Drugs". He calls for the adoption of measures that reduce the harmful effects of drug use’ as a crucial part of the battle to combat HIV/AIDS, along with a social and economic development approach in drug-growing regions.
The Open Society Institute seeks a full-time senior program officer in its New York office for the International Harm Reduction Development Program (IHRD).