The scientific and political worlds were transfixed in late 2009 when UK drugs advisor Dr. David Nutt was sacked by Home Secretary Alan Johnson for his controversial views on the harmfulness of different drugs and the lack of evidence behind current drug policy, views first publicized in a Lancet report in 2007.

Declaring the “war on drugs” a failure, a group of prominent former world leaders have asked that decriminalizing marijuana be strongly considered to help curb drug-related violence and social ills.

WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Press Club 'MORNING NEWSMAKER' News Conference Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 10 a.m. National Press Club (Zenger Room) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO ) The Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ANTONIO MARIA COSTA and The Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) GIL KERLIKOWSKE will launch THE 2010 UNODC WORLD DRUG REPORT -------------------------------- The report provides one of the most complete assessments of the international drug problem, with comprehensive information on illicit drugs.

MOSCOW, May 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The international forum "Drug Production in Afghanistan: A Challenge for the International Community" will be held in Moscow on June 9 and 10, 2010, at Russia's initiative. Heads of the key global drug control agencies and leading drug enforcement experts will gather in Moscow for a conference initiated by the Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fa29ad/international_drug) has announced the addition of the "International Drug Control into the 21st Century" report to their offering.