Human rights and drug policy

In the last ten years, the UN drug control conventions have gone from being interpreted in light of a drug-free ideal, and prohibition as a sensible venture, to accepting realities on the ground and the intention to protect the health and welfare of mankind. Building upon this shift, the problematic relationship between drug policy and constitutional principles is getting more attention, and nations are increasingly relying on rights reasoning to justify a regulation of drug markets.
Books in this department document this shift and the extent to which drug prohibition is incompatible with principles of autonomy, equality, proportionality, and a presumption of liberty.

These are the principles behind human rights reasoning, and our literature shows how Western governments have failed to respond to the biggest human rights issue of our time.