This report examines in detail how governments can take control of currently illegal drug markets through responsible regulation, and provides a practical roadmap that tackles the real implications and recognizes the difficulties of transitioning from illegal to legally regulated drug markets.

The present report aims to analyze the most common perceptions and fears, contrast them with available evidence on drugs and the people who use them, and provides recommendations on changes that must be enacted to support reforms toward more effective drug policies.

Building on past reports, the Global Commission on Drug Policy issues recommendations for more effective and human rights-based drug policies, in particular ending all penalties for drug use and possession and providing alternatives to punishment for all low-level, non-violent actors in the drug trade.