There are several reasons why harm reduction and drug law reform are slowly gaining the ascendancy over punitive approaches to illicit drugs. First, the scientific debate over harm reduction is now over: it is now widely accepted that harm reduction is effective, safe and cost effective. Second, there is growing acknowledgement that not only has prohibition failed, but the collateral damage from relying on drug law enforcement results in very high health, social and economic costs. Third, the global financial crisis is forcing governments to abandon expensive white elephant programmes and shift funds to more cost-effective interventions. Fourth, Barack Obama is now the third US President in a row known to have consumed cannabis but the first to not only admit using and enjoying the drug but doing so ‘many times’. Fifth, the international problems created by prohibition in countries such as Afghanistan and Mexico have highlighted the huge costs of the unintended consequences of the War on Drugs. Sixth, the increasing availability of computers has created a more level playing field in the debate between supporters of drug law reform and War on Drugs supporters. Finally, there is increasing recognition of the need for drug policy to be based on evidence and respect the human rights of all citizens including drug users.

There are several reasons why harm reduction and drug law reform are slowly gaining the ascendancy over punitive approaches to illicit drugs. First, the scientific debate over harm reduction is now over: it is now widely accepted that harm reduction is effective, safe and cost effective. Second, there is growing acknowledgement that not only has prohibition failed, but the collateral damage from relying on drug law enforcement results in very high health, social and economic costs. Third, the global financial crisis is forcing governments to abandon expensive white elephant programmes and shift funds to more cost-effective interventions. Fourth, Barack Obama is now the third US President in a row known to have consumed cannabis but the first to not only admit using and enjoying the drug but doing so ‘many times’. Fifth, the international problems created by prohibition in countries such as Afghanistan and Mexico have highlighted the huge costs of the unintended consequences of the War on Drugs. Sixth, the increasing availability of computers has created a more level playing field in the debate between supporters of drug law reform and War on Drugs supporters. Finally, there is increasing recognition of the need for drug policy to be based on evidence and respect the human rights of all citizens including drug users.