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The Drug Policy podcast of the Rights Reporter Foundation. Visit https://www.drugreporter.net for news and films from the frontlines of the war on drugs!
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
26 MAY 2026 · At ICPR 2024, we talked to psychologist and psychotherapist Marc B. Aixalà about how so-called “bad trips” can be reframed as difficult but potentially transformative experiences, and the importance of integration in psychedelic therapy. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
20 APR 2026 · Tadeusz Hawrot is the founder of the Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA), a Brussels-based initiative working to prepare Europe for the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into healthcare systems. In this interview, he reflects on the policy landscape, regulatory challenges, and the future of access to these emerging treatments in the EU.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Please Introduce PAREA
06:59 Why Is Europe Lagging Behind the USA in Psychedelic Science?
11:34 Which Psychedelic Substances Have the Greatest Potential to Become Medicines in the EU?
14:00 Is There Potential in National Legislation, Such as in the Czech Republic?
20:20 What Should Be Done About the Grey Areas of Psychedelic Treatment?
26:42 How Can Professionals Be Trained in Psychedelic Treatment? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
17 APR 2026 · With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. We spoke with Anna Dovbakh, Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward.
Chapters:
00:39 EU Drug Strategy Explained
01:54 Real Impact on Member States?
02:44 Civil Society’s Assessment
05:26 Shift Toward Security?
09:24 Cannabis Reform in the EU
11:48 Eastern Europe & Security Focus
15:41 Role of Civil Society
19:35 Military vs Social Spending
22:33 What Should the EU Do Next? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
10 APR 2026 · As Hungary heads toward a pivotal election, the camera turns on two of its most prominent drug policy advocates. In this interview conducted by Arild Knutsen, Drugreporter founders Péter Sárosi and István Gábor Takács reflect on decades of activism—and explain why they are now taking their fight to the streets to challenge an increasingly repressive system.
Chapters:
00:00 Summary
02:14 Introduction
03:07 Who are you?
07:42 Why does video activism matter?
10:21 You’ve been in drug policy for years—how do you keep going?
16:36 What keeps you motivated? What kind of drug policy do you want?
22:46 Do you have a different drug policy position from the people you usually interview?
27:54 You make media, write, and organize protests—what’s happening in Hungary?
46:24 What’s it like coming to the CND and meeting people from more democratic countries?
51:02 What do you think about the 69th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs?
54:06 Why does civil society need to be at the CND? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
31 MAR 2026 · The global drug control system is under growing pressure, as countries experiment with regulation and long-standing assumptions are being challenged. Martin Jelsma, who is stepping down from the Transnational Institute this year after decades of work, has been at the forefront of these debates. In this interview, we discuss the WHO’s coca review, inter se treaty reform, and what these shifts mean for the future of global drug policy.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:45 Martin, how did you get into the field of drug policy?
13:01 Did the UN drug control system learn from its mistakes?
19:15 How do you feel about the EU’s shift toward securitizing drug policy?
24:42 Should the UN drug control system be dismantled or reformed—and what would the ideal approach look like?
33:42 Would your younger self be satisfied or disappointed with today’s drug policy landscape?
35:25 What message do you have for the next generation of drug policy reformers? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
27 MAR 2026 · Ten years after the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs (UNGASS), a new report by the International Drug Policy Consortium takes stock of progress and remaining gaps in global drug policy. We spoke with Marie Nougier about what has changed over the past decade—and what still needs to change.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Your new report looks back at ten years since the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS). How do you assess this decade?
03:11 Does this shift in language filter down to member states?
05:13 What structural reforms are needed at the UN level?
06:54 Do UN agencies communicate better with each other on drug policy?
08:10 Is the UN more welcoming to civil society than before UNGASS?
09:12 How do you see the role of the US in this area?
11:38 Is the EU still one of the most progressive actors?
13:15 What do you think of the EU’s new, more security-oriented strategy?
15:38 What lessons can be learned—and what would you recommend to decision-makers? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
25 MAR 2026 · After 15 years at the helm of the International Drug Policy Consortium, Ann Fordham is stepping down as Executive Director. Under her leadership, IDPC has grown into one of the most influential global networks advocating for drug policies grounded in human rights, public health, and social justice. In this interview, we reflect on IDPC's achievements, ongoing challenges, and what lies ahead.
00:00 Intro
00:40 How was the drug policy debate when you first joined IDPC in 2008, compared to today?
03:26 Can you tell me the story of IDPC and how you came to work there?
07:22 What do you consider the greatest achievements of the last 15 years?
09:19 How hard was it to change the climate of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs from a hostile to a more friendly place?
12:25 Do you feel that UN agencies and member states recognise IDPC's achievements?
14:11 Another effort from civil society was to bring human rights language into the discussions here. Do you think we were successful in doing that?
15:49 Do you have any regrets, or anything you would do differently today?
17:32 After so many years, why did you decide to resign now?
18:50 What message would you send to member states interested in reforming their drug policies? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
23 MAR 2026 · Jeremy Rudy, founder of the Sabba Collective, explains how psychedelic therapy can be integrated into society safely and responsibly — from education to policy.
Jeremy Rudy is the founder and CEO of the Sabba Collective, an organization working at the intersection of science, policy, and culture to support the safe and sustainable integration of psychedelics into society. At the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we spoke about how his work is helping shape a future where these tools are used with integrity and care — including through a university-based psychedelic education program. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
18 MAR 2026 · Pavel Bém is a Czech psychiatrist and former mayor of Prague who now serves as National Drug Policy Coordinator. With decades of experience at the intersection of politics and addiction medicine, he has been a key figure in shaping the Czech Republic’s pragmatic, health-oriented approach to drug policy. We spoke with him in Vienna during the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) about the country’s latest reforms—from cannabis regulation to psychedelic therapy—and what they mean for the future of drug policy in Europe.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Pavel, how do you feel as the newly appointed drug coordinator of the Czech Republic?
03:40 What is kratom, and why is it so popular in the Czech Republic?
13:06 How is the UN responding to kratom regulation?
14:20 What does the new cannabis regulation look like?
18:28 Psilocybin is now allowed in therapy in the Czech Republic—what does it look like?
24:17 How is the drug policy debate at the EU level, and can you influence it? Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
2 FEB 2026 · Senator Jeff Steinborn is the sponsor of the Medical Psilocybin Act in New Mexico, a visionary step toward expanding access to psychedelic therapy. In this conversation, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, he discusses why legislative action was necessary, how to ensure inclusion for marginalized communities, and what benchmarks will define success as New Mexico opens its first healing centers. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
The Drug Policy podcast of the Rights Reporter Foundation. Visit https://www.drugreporter.net for news and films from the frontlines of the war on drugs!
Information
| Author | Rights Reporter Foundation |
| Organization | Rights Reporter Foundation |
| Categories | Politics |
| Website | drogriporter.hu |
| takacsistvangabor@rightsreporter.net |
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