Today, Friday 10 December 2021 is International Human Rights Day. Over the years we have often been asked the question: “What is the connection between Cannabis legalisation and Human Rights – surely it is a stretch to connect the two, considering all the very grave threats to our Human Rights across the world?”

Fields of Green for ALL’s answer has always been the same: Issues around Cannabis legalisation and the barriers to constitutionally sound law reform mirror most, if not all, issues faced in upholding our Human Rights internationally.

Our biggest challenge remains the police and the continued criminalisation of our use, cultivation and trade in Cannabis. The continued war on people who use drugs is a global catastrophe and it is our obligation as activists to keep abreast of the conversation for change. We highly recommend this webinar recording: Who Polices the Police? produced by Open Society Foundation.

Evidence-based and inclusive regulations, the reduction of stigma through the education of our lawmakers around both the facts about the plant and it’s connection to one of the most basic of our Human Rights: The right to cognitive liberty.

We have shared this quote many, many times over the years…

If we look at our 10 Crisis Points in Cannabis Legalisation in South Africa, we can expand on each one in terms of how, if not resolved, our governments will continue to deny us our rights.

Here in South Africa we will continue to fight for our rights from at home in terms of our Bill of Rights and world class SA Constitution, all the way up to our rights under international laws and treaties. 

The Fields of Green for ALL Team will spend International Human Rights Day tuned into the Reconvened 64th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs beaming in from Vienna and, in the evening, we’ll join colleagues online from the New York NGO Committee to speak about Human Rights and Drug Policy across the United Nations.

Leave the dry Drug Policy stuff to us but please give a thought to this auspicious day and watch this eye-opening interview with Prof Carl Hart – Drug Use for Grown Ups. In an ideal world, the revered Prof Hart should be the captain of the ship at the UN!

Onward and never give up!