Steve Rolles
@SteveTransform
Followers
20,261
Following
1,255
Media
2,505
Statuses
39,887
Senior Policy Analyst for Transform Drug Policy Foundation ( @transformdrugs ), mostly tweeting on drug policy/law reform. Own views etc.
London UK
Joined September 2012
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
jeno
• 467546 Tweets
Meet the Grahams
• 285834 Tweets
#بدر_بن_عبدالمحسن
• 262571 Tweets
Óscar Puente
• 78004 Tweets
Saka
• 54350 Tweets
#ライブ・エール
• 52296 Tweets
Bournemouth
• 42845 Tweets
こどもの日
• 36871 Tweets
サヨナラ
• 32875 Tweets
#霊験お初
• 32090 Tweets
الامير الشاعر
• 27895 Tweets
Havertz
• 21883 Tweets
الفردوس الاعلي
• 20971 Tweets
#ARSBOU
• 19463 Tweets
غاب نور البدر
• 14875 Tweets
Christie
• 13653 Tweets
Ipswich
• 13462 Tweets
アジカン
• 11592 Tweets
📂 Documents
└📁 Drug Policy
└📁 Criminalisation
└📁 Evidence of Efficacy
└⚠️ This folder is empty
15
509
2K
Literally no one ever calls it 'hippy crack' except moronic tabloids
40
69
1K
How ridiculous is the UK's Misuse of Drugs Act?
The maximum prison sentence for sharing magic mushrooms (life) is higher the maximum sentence for genocide (30 years).
#50YearsOfFailure
31
259
979
Dissapointing to hear
@YvetteCooperMP
on Govts drug strategy talking about drug dealers outside schools (a non-issue) & lack of neighbourhood policing (no impact on drug mkts). Pandering to failed populist drug war narratives rather than challenging them
Pls do better
@UKLabour
60
256
981
This is unfair & stupid
Testing for the many performance enhancing drugs, fair enough
But cannabis isnt one of them (although it has medical uses). This is prejudice-laden lifestyle policing, and makes no more sense than alcohol or nicotine testing.
28
178
899
Dear
@michaelgove
littering is *already* illegal
Controlling N2O under the MDA doesn't make littering any more illegal than it already is
A deposit/recycling scheme would deal with the litter issue overnight. But no, lets criminalise half a million young ppl instead!
1/
24
193
853
I'm getting the train to Utrecht in the Netherlands on Thursday for the opening of the world's first MDMA shop.
THREAD 🧵
1/
15
136
749
This kind of 'get tough' posturing and sloganeering, entirely devoid of meaningful thought, analysis and vision, neatly captures much of whats wrong with UK drug policy.
What does 'roll up county lines' mean?
And do you really need military drums to show how tough you are?
Last week, Home Secretary
@patel4witham
joined
@MerseyPolice
and
@BTP
as they carried out a county lines operation in
#Liverpool
.
99
59
211
28
161
604
8
120
566
This is some of the design work for the hard hitting
#decriminalize
campaign, from the brilliant
@tryggere
(The Association for Safer Drug Policies) in Norway - showing the terrible human cost of criminalising people who use drugs
1/
6
237
566
Asahi beer has paid the
#Olympics
£80,000,000 to be top tier brand sponsor.
Sha'carri is denied her crowning career moment for using a drug because its performance enhancing (its not), illegal (not where she used it), & unhealthy (er, alcohol?)
#LetShaCarriRun
14
192
546
We need to legally regulate ALL drugs*, not just cannabis & psychedelics.
*yes, including those scary ones you saw on the news
....in fact, ESPECIALLY those ones.
17
113
531
THREAD🧵
What the hell is 'scromiting'?
After this
@EveSimmns
tweet went nuclear I had a few calls about it - so did a bit of research, since, id never encountered the term in 20years or so of cannabis policy work....
1/
25
159
520
"After more than 50 years of war on drugs, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema wants to regulate the market for cocaine, ecstasy & other drugs. Repression does not work"
Editorial in the Dutch Financial Daily, following last weeks' conference on regulation …
10
196
520
“Drugs are horrific. There is nothing recreational about them. I have never taken them and will be incredibly tough on anyone who does.”
@RishiSunak
#hypocrite
33
70
497
Ministers from Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Malta met this week to discuss legal regulation of cannabis markets for non-medical adult use
This is HUGE deal. Here's why:
THREAD 🧵 1/
.
@SamTanson
a
@LenertPaulette
haten en Echange iwwer d'Reglementéierung vun net medezineschem Cannabis mat Experten aus Däitschland, Holland a Malta. "T'ass Zäit fir eng nei Approche, dofir brauche mir den Dialog mat Länner an Institutiounen déi en ähnleche Constat gemaach hunn"
3
18
56
14
198
500
👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿
👉🏿👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👉🏼👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👉🏼LEGALISE 👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👉🏼 DRUGS👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👉🏼👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👈🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👉🏽👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👈🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👉🏾👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👈🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👆🏾👈🏿
👉🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👈🏿
7
135
501
This is a major breakthrough in the UK drug reform debate - congrats to
@scotgov
for a report that is both bold and carefully considered.
There will be predictably childish/dismissive responses from Westminster - but like it or not, this is a Govt report, and its a big deal🙏
BREAKING: New
@Scotgov
report calls for:
🔵Decrim of personal drug possession
🔵A roadmap to explore legal regulation of drugs
🔵Expansion of harm reduction & treatment to address drug death crisis
& Calls for Westminster to change laws to allow it
1/
16
189
387
43
233
496
This isnt a cannabis death - its a poisoning death, and a direct consequence of prohibition.
11
97
482
The police presence at
#420
I Hyde park today seemed almost apologetic.
I'm surprised they didn't add (SORRY - ITS NOT OUR FAULT) underneath this message
1/
13
59
486
@EricaJSandberg
@SF_DPH
Harm reduction *is* medical care.
People will go into rehab when they're ready - if forced it rarely works. Harm reduction provision provides a point of regular contact with medical professionals and a gateway to recovery services when appropriate.
6
12
472
Prohibition creates the incentives for organised crime group involvement in the illegal mkt, fueling exploitation and violence.
Blaming cannabis users, while denying access to homegrow or legally regulated supply (associated with zero child murders) is shameless buck-passing
1/
27
125
472
I'm in Berlin today for the German Govt cannabis legalisation consultation process expert hearings - opened this morning by the minister of health; making the pragmatic case for responsible legal regulation - and identifying the various public health challenges....
1/
12
104
452
The
@Telegraph
continues its descent from serious paper to complete joke. That this non-story made the editorial cut (a pathetic attempt to kick the EU) is actually quite tragic.
62
171
401
New scientific research proving the link between cannabis use and violence
13
100
390
I have coronavirus symptoms - flu-y aches, fever, hacking cough - & been told (by phone) I have it, & must self isolate.
But no test means no certainty (that I will have immunity) & I'm also not part of the +ve data set
How do we model / plan the response without proper data?
83
56
340
Not clear how seriously to take this report - it's hard to believe
@SuellaBraverman
would be stupid enough to actually try this, but it's the kind of performative punitive politics a cornered populist might resort to.
But I can't see actually happening - quick thread
1/
43
99
338
1. This is a HUGE DEAL
All 31 UN agencies - including the
@WHO
@UNHumanRights
@UNDP
and - at long last -
@UNODC
- have adopted a common position directing member states to end criminalisation of people who use drugs
The Chief Executives Board of the UN, representing 31 UN agencies, including
@UNODC
, has adopted a common position recommending decriminalisation of possession and use of drugs.
Read the Transform blog/briefing :
9
158
175
6
206
333
This is what the first post-prohibition legal cannabis in the EU looks like! Sold *today* in the Netherlands🎉🇳🇱
I like the plain packaging (hopefully sustainable) even if we seem destined to be stuck with stupid strain names for eternity 😭
HT
@cannaindustrie
for the pic
24
93
336
We have issues with all kinds of litter
Alcohol, energy drink & tobacco litter is a *far bigger* problem than nitrous oxide (& yes, often involving groups of ppl 'loitering' in public parks)
But no-one's suggesting collective punishment for anyone possessing those products
1/
10
92
328
Devastating news.
Attempts to prevent the execution of Tangaraju Suppiah for cannabis offences (by family, activists, NGOs, various Govts, & the UN) have failed.
A few hours ago he was murdered by hanging, by the barbaric & shameless
@govsingapore
1/
32
127
292
New polling shows a big majority in the UK believe criminalising drugs is ineffective & should be dealt with as a health issue
Political leaders still way behind the public on this
@Keir_Starmer
@BorisJohnson
@pritipatel
@kitmalthouse
HT
@VoltefaceHub
19
73
288
I've been asked how Malta's new law is different from Spain, the Netherlands & Portugal - and, in that context why people saying it is the first EU country to 'legalise' cannabis
So here's a THREAD to explain - with apologies in advance for length/dullness
1/
14
91
278
*ITS OFFICIAL*
The new German Government coalition has confirmed today they will regulate adult use non-med cannabis, enhance harm reduction & allow drug checking
The 'coalition treaty' is online now. Its 177 pages, and in German obv, but here it is! 👇
4
70
274
Sebastian Steudtner — a German pro surfer — has broken the world record surfing a wave over 115 feet tall at Nazare, Portugal.
Looks quite risky to me. We should probably jail him to put a stop to this sort of thing.
24
58
264
BREAKING GOOD NEWS!:
Iceland will open its 1st supervised drug consumption facility / overdose prevention center in Jan 2022! A mobile facility run by the Red Cross.
Here's the announcement (in Icelandic of course!)
@PeteKrykant_OPC
@Drug_Science
@HRInews
@MartinTransform
7
69
263
Interesting to learn that Rishi “Drugs are horrific,There is nothing recreational about them. I have never taken them and I will be incredibly tough on anyone who does” Sunak is an investor in two pubs.
Our anti-drugs Prime Minister *actually sells drugs*
HT
@TheNewImpostor
18
95
264
@ChrisBaynes1
@johannhari101
@chrislhayes
Decriminalisation usually refers to ending criminal sanctions for posession of small amounts for personal use (which is what Portugal did).
Legalisation is moving to legally regulated production and supply. Which has only happened with cannabis thus far (& not in Portugal)
1
15
249
Here is new Australian PM
@AlboMP
on drug law reform in 1999
"We are a society that is full of contradictions. Some drugs are legally sanctioned and others are outlawed. To say that the reason for this is to do with public health and safety is a nonsense."
1/
12
73
259
Im always amazed to stumble across fields of opium poppies in the UK
Here, as far as the eye can see, near Winchester, yesterday
All 100% legal for use as opioid medicines (inc. diamorphine aka heroin)
Puts our international interdiction/ eradication efforts in perspective
14
81
251
No
@ImogenWK
the jury (the science jury) isn't out - it's delivered its verdict; the evidence shows that while not risk free, vaping is vastly safer than smoked tobacco.
Please learn about the concept of
#HarmReduction
16
41
257
Always a lovely feeling to open a box of your new book and see the fruits of several years work!
Free online publication date is April 19th - but you can buy a print copy *now* from (discounted till the end of the week)
1/
12
41
246
Reclassifying cannabis as a Class A drug ‘flies in the face of all evidence and reason’
I'm pleased
@niamhrelease
and I had an opportunity to respond to this Ill considered conservative PCC proposal in the
@Telegraph
1/
29
79
241
Desperately sad news that Russell Newcombe has died.
Educator, campaigner, harm reduction trailblazer, psychonaut, and an endlessly fascinating, generous and lovely human - He will be terribly missed. RIP 😔
1/
18
61
237
Legalising cocaine would stem drug violence, Belgian criminologist
@tomDecorte1
suggests (correctly)
17
64
234
A legally regulated opium mkt being proposed as a form of harm reduction in India (its cheap, users actually like it, & its smoked, so much harder to OD on than injecting)
I always thought this was good idea with much wider international possibilities
10
67
233
Is this the worst argument against legalisation ever?
Minnesota State Sen. John Jasinski (R) argues against legalizing marijuana because it will result in early retirement for drug-sniffing dogs: "The police dog discussion ... that's a big issue."
4K
3K
12K
24
36
228
@metpoliceuk
@gmhales
Concerns 'people were going to disrupt the event'?
Do we have a precrime unit now?
9
17
222
Luxembourg have just legalised cannabis!
I didn't anticipate them being first, but then I didn't see Uruguay coming either. But my questionable rune reading skills aside - this is GOOD NEWS. The North American wave has finally reached EU shores.
10
97
212
Shock revelation in the Daily Mail that ancient humans, dating back over 10000 years, were taking a range of depressant, stimulant and halucinogenic drugs -
Coming next week: OMG THEY STILL ARE!
20
72
211
AMAZING FACT:
According to the UN, the UK (where medical cannabis is still banned as it has 'no medical use') is now the WORLDS LARGEST PRODUCER *and* EXPORTER OF MEDICAL CANNABIS
95 tonnes in 2016 (45% of global total)
see p.43-44
HT
@tblickman
14
246
206
THREAD:
Portugal ended the criminalisation of personal possession for all drugs 20 years ago
It wasn’t the first country to do so & many have done so since. But its perhaps the most famous.
Our new briefing reviews what’s actually happened since 2001
1/
6
127
217
I want to be supportive of
@WHO
(they've done a lot of good work on tobacco/alcohol/drugs historically), but their position on vaping is inexplicable & deeply irresponsible; unscientific scaremongering, preferencing smoked tobacco, & abandoning harm reduction pragmatism.
11
72
223
This one of the compelling poster campaigns promoting harm reduction and drug law reform from our friends and colleagues in Norway -
@tryggere
, the Assoiation for Safer Drug Policies..
1/
7
77
218
Good to see some intelligent discussions on cocaine regulation now taking place in Europe (previously almost exclusively in Colombia)
Interesting to see how UN conventions will be negotiated (maybe, like cannabis, with a scientific trial 'exemption'?)
1/
10
57
213
Stumbled across this vast field of legal opium poppy near Winchester today, cultivated for the pharma industry, incl heroin (which UK is the world biggest legal manufacturer of)
Absurd we still have troops risking their lives eradicating identical opium poppies in Afghanistan
17
75
214
The Italian supreme court just effectively legalised home growing of cannabis for personal use.
The Italian Supreme Court ruling said that "it is not a crime if the cultivation of minimal quantities (of marijuana) takes place in a domestic form, for exclusively personal use".
2
41
105
9
81
205
PM contenders & max prison sentences for confessed crimes:
Johnson/Gove
COCAINE > 7yrs
Stewart
OPIUM > 7yrs
Raab/Hunt/Leadsome
CANNABIS > 5yrs
....
Criminal records > 0
Total prison time > 0
Hypocrits who back criminalisation of other pple who use drugs
> ALL OF THEM
14
90
202
By no means reflective of all police sentiment- but grim & depressing that any police would think it clever to publicly revel in suffering like this.
22
31
211
To quote
@RishiSunak
“Drugs are horrific,There is nothing recreational about them. I have never taken them and I will be incredibly tough on anyone who does.”
Yet here he is, again, actively promoting a drug responsible for 9600 annual deaths in the UK
#hypocrisy
Whether it’s vital repairs to your local theatre or keeping the door open at the local pub we’re levelling up communities across the UK.
We’ve announced that 45 more projects will receive the cash they need to stay open – creating opportunities and boosting local economies.
1K
93
437
17
55
213
@10DowningStreet
littering is already illegal
Criminalising 1000s of young people for N20 possession doesnt make littering any more illegal
Did you consider that a deposit-based recycling scheme might actually work, whereas mass crimainlisation will just make social & health harms worse?
3
11
201
@fifarahman
No. There's been a catastrophic failing on testing & contact tracing
They're only testing ppl in hospitals, & now some NHS staff.
No public testing on request, let alone outreach
If you want to get tested you basically have to be a Minister, a Royal, Idris Elba, or a Tiger
2
59
199
Recent
@scotgov
calls for decriminalisation of drug possession have provoked a tediously predictable uptick in attempts to discredit Portugal's famous 2001 decrim reforms, (with echoes of similar recent efforts in Ireland & the USA)
It's worth digging into this a bit
THREAD🧵1/
6
84
196
Drug-nerd twitter- if you had to recommend one or two books (or long reads) on the history of the 'war on drugs' (including that phrase specifically) what would they be?
1/
91
23
192
Welcome to have the high commissioner for Human rights
@UNHumanRights
addressing the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs for the first time:
'if drugs can destroy lives, the same is true if drug policies'
1/
8
57
194
Ideally all drugs should be regulated.
But if this is inevitably going to be a sequenced, incremental process -
We should REGULATE THE DRUGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREATEST HARMS FIRST.
12
41
189
Strangely relieved to not have a home secretary, even in only for a few hours
In my entire politically-aware adult life, they have *all* been awful (on drugs, but also more generally)
& there's a competitive tabloid ratchet effect; they actually seem to get incrementally worse
9
25
186
As use of illegal cannabis, cocaine, benzos are all rising (& drug related deaths reach new records) look at what we are achieving with smoking (with the biggest fall amongst young people)
... through sensible regulation, public health education, and NOT CRIMINALISING ANYONE.
1/
4
43
187
Here's
@kierstarmer
posing for a photo-op surrounded by barrels of whiskey
Starmer supports criminalisation of people who use other drugs - but is happy to promote this particularly deadly one
There are 21,000 alcohol-related deaths a year in England alone
14
67
186
More than 99% of psychedelics use is recreational
But recreational psychedelic use seems to occupy less than 1% of public discourse
Some drug users get more psychedelic renaissance than others
We urgently need a rebalancing away from privileged voices and corporate interests
8
30
182
Hi
@jasperhamill
Please don't refer to people who use cannabis as 'potheads' in a news report. Its lazy & stigmatising
Also, why do you refer to cannabis as marijuana, pot, weed, reefer AND cannabis in the same report? Its cannabis - just call it that
13
29
169
THREAD🧵
A fascinating new technical report on the 'effects of cannabis legalization' was publsihed this month.
It was commissioned by the German Govt to inform their cannabis reforms (in part as a repsonse to opposition backlash)
Read here👇
1/
8
73
175
Good to see
@SadiqKhan
is seriously considering drug law reform, & an expert commission is (if balanced & genuinely independent) is a sensible way forward.
12
39
174
THREAD🧵
Luxembourg's Govt-appointed working group on non medical cannabis has finally published its proposals, including:
🟢Decrim of possession (3g), & homegrow (4plants)
🟢A rationed (30g month. 5g day) residents-only retail mkt (operating as a fixed-term research 'pilot')
1/
6
63
168
Bragging about drug seizures is familar police territory even if supply side enforcement has little or no impact on availability and use.
But bragging about smashing in doors and *not* finding drugs is a new one on me.
14
31
175
Today/tommorow is the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) thematic session on the implementation of international drug policy commitments.
Im scheduled as one of the civil society contributers this afternoon....
What's it all about?
THREAD🧵
1/
9
55
176
Opposition to harm reduction is often framed as opposition to 'enabling' - but I struggle to see this logic as anything other than wanting to use pain and death as a form of deterrence, and 'sending the right message'.
Its sado-moralism
11
43
168
Malta's proposed new cannabis law:
👉 decriminalises personal possession of up to 7grams
👉 allows up to 4 plants for personal cultivation
👉 allows registered cannabis associations (cannabis social clubs model)
5
60
171
A growing majority support cannabis legalisation in the UK - now 52% support to 32% opposed.
Party leaders will soon wake up to the idea that drug reform is a political asset not a liability.
8
43
162
💥Great to see Germany's lower house approve the cannabis regulation bill - which will now come into force on April 1st💥
There were concerns it could be derailed (see our linked explainer) but in the end cannabis possession, homegrowing, & social clubs have been legalised🎉
|BREAKING| 🇩🇪💚Germany has voted to legally regulate cannabis for adult use, adding another name to the growing list of countries that have opted to legalise and regulate their cannabis market!
People will be able to access legal cannabis through non-profit membership clubs.
9
85
219
3
41
160
THEY DID IT!
First country in Europe to actually pass it into law.
An unexpected trailblazer like Uruguay, and also like Uruguay showing pragmatism and common sense caution around risks of over commercialisation.
Very well done indeed
@Releafmalta
@OwenBonnici
et al
BREAKING: Malta's parliament just voted to pass its cannabis legalisation Bill into law!
When enacted at the weekend it will be legal to possess, grow your own (up to 4 plants) & establish not for profit cannabis social clubs
CONGRATULATIONS MALTA!
@Releafmalta
@ownbonnici
4
105
311
2
37
156
Ahead of a citizens’ assembly on drugs, poll shows 54% of Irish adults favour legalisation/regulation of cannabis, & 50% support decriminalisation of personal use of all drugs
Public, once again, shown to be way ahead of politicians on drug reform
1/
6
41
158
How it started.... How it's going
(UN drug control 1998-2020)
10
65
150
"Labour’s refusal to commit to decriminalisation is weak: if Britain committed to a sensible, humane approach, it would represent a devastating blow to this most catastrophic of global policies."
Strong call from
@OwenJones84
In the
@guardian
10
34
144
@IanDunt
Its even worse than people imagine. It is additionally incentivising harrassment.
One extremely scary part of the Texas ban is the $10k incentive to become a bounty hunter to go after anyone who ‘assists’ with an abortion—including Uber drivers & clergy. The harm this’ll cause in lower income communities is severe.
Abortion access is always about race & class.
64
3K
9K
2
41
150
THREAD
Stopping the production of Afghan opium/heroin coming to the UK was one of the key justifications given by Tony Blair 20yrs ago for supporting the coalition military intervention in Afghanistan post 9/11
Aside from any other outcomes, hows that worked out?
1/
12
70
150
Thailand set to remove cannabis from its controlled drugs law; effectively decriminalising posession - as part of a push to reduce incarceration and expand medical uses of the plant
1/
4
30
145
Odd: you announced a consultation on this, pretty much everyone (inc most police), said it wld be expensive & pointless (esp. re cannabis), the response to the consultation hasnt been published, & here you are announcing it anyway
BTW, what budgets will it be funded from?
💊 Crackdown on drugs.
We've strengthened police powers to stamp out illegal drugs in our communities by widening drugs testing on criminals.
558
59
437
13
28
148
Cannabis users
Stop sharing joints
Roll your own
Don't share vapes, pipes or bongs either.
Its a bummer, but won't be forever
#COVID19
6
65
148
Switzerland council of states votes to legalise & regulate cannabis in order to control the market & reduce criminal market "for better youth and consumer protection"
This seems to go beyond previous announcements on municipal pilot mkts.
5
50
142
Drugs should be legalised, regulated, and taxed
It shows how far weve come that the brilliant
@fgodlee
, editor of the
@bmj_latest
is now confident to position one of the world's leading medical journals so clearly.
5
86
143