Are Psychedelic Patents Ethical?
As the revolutionary therapeutic potential of psychedelics resurfaces in popular consciousness, pharmaceutical companies are scrambling for patents over psychedelic compounds and therapies.
Want To Put An End To Human Trafficking? Reform Drug Policy.
There are unimaginable amounts of money to be made through covertly manufacturing and transporting drugs. When that takes place in the shadows, outside civilised society and free of law and order, it inevitably results in brutality and tragedy.
Volteface News
New Initiative Aims To Improve The Medical Cannabis Industry By Putting Patients First
Volteface is today launching a new initiative that aims to improve the medical cannabis industry by giving patients a voice, and the chance to shape their future care. Partnering with Maple Tree Consultants, we have launched Patients First, a scheme which will pay medical cannabis patients for participating in professionally facilitated focus groups. Patients … Continued
New Head of Public Affairs Joins The Team
We are delighted to announce that Jay Jackson has joined Volteface as Head of Public Affairs. He will be leading on political engagement, bringing his intimate understanding of politics to the role, as well as contributing written content and ensuring that Volteface continues to be a hub of unique and engaging ideas and political strategy. … Continued
The New Leaf: Beyond Brexit, Countering Covid
The New Leaf Opportunities campaign has highlighted the economic benefits, innovations and investment opportunities that medical cannabis and CBD can bring to the UK. It has also focused on how celebrating this will lead to a more vibrant cannabis sector. This report has honed in on the opportunities that medical cannabis and CBD bring … Continued
Patient Access
Have We Eliminated Stigma Surrounding Ketamine-Assisted Treatment?
Ketamine is beginning to be used as a treatment for mental health conditions such as depression and addiction and although research is progressing, societal stigma has been a significant barrier. This has limited access to funding, in turn limiting clinical research and a desire to engage in this area. Research has shown that public … Continued
Spotlight on Women in the Medical Cannabis Sector: Interview with Elisabetta Faenza
Throughout this week we have been spotlighting the women in the medical cannabis sector. We have had the opportunity to catch up with some of our fantastic old friends, as well as get to know some new and inspiring women, who are true trailblazers in the sector. To conclude this exciting week we got … Continued
Spotlight on Women in medical cannabis: Interview with Monique Ellis
For the latest in our series spotlighting women in the medical cannabis industry, we spoke to Monique Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder of CHILAM. During our chat, we spoke about Monique, her journey into the sector, the work she does at CHILAM, and how her background in tech has prepared her for working in this predominantly male … Continued
Multimedia
All Good Points: Stealth Legalisation
In another busy week for cannabis reformers, George and Paul discuss a shift how cannabis reform is creeping up in the UK, but not in the ways that has been expected. Watch to find out more! All Good Points is a weekly round up show, co-hosted by Hanway Associates and Volteface.
All Good Points – CannaStop 15/2/2021
In another busy week for cannabis Paul & George discuss all the major talking points including: Kanabo & MGC Pharma make history Cannabis stocks fluctuate wildly US Launch Cannabis Council Much, much more
All Good Points – Xmas Special
The All Good Points hosts Paul & George wrap up 2020 with our final episode of the year. On the agenda is: encouraging news for patients in Ireland, an enormous cannabis company merger in Canada, potential Bermudan reform & much, much more! Check it out – like, subscribe and comment! If you think … Continued
Long Reads
Rethinking Heroin
I am an opioid user, or a former one anyhow. Contrary to the cliche, I’m not addicted. I never felt trapped or enslaved by my drug use. I never did anything I regretted to get high. I never shared needles – the sole time I shared a cooker due to interpersonal pressure, I promptly … Continued
Why is British Drug Policy so Disjointed?
In early January, as the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced a tentative degree of policy experimentation by piloting, in three boroughs, a diversion scheme whereby young people in possession of small amounts of cannabis would be offered counselling and support instead of arrest, the Metropolitan Police were out in Shoreditch conducting their own … Continued
On Queerness & Drugs
The queer community and illicit drug users are inextricably linked: Both are subjected to similar politicisation of private practices, both are disproportionately aggravated by social harms, and are both fighting stigma and shame for the assurance of rights that should be fundamental. Drug use plays an outsized, if not wholly unsurprising part in the experience of … Continued
General Advocacy
The Media’s War on Cannabis
According to a report published by the World Association of Newspapers World Press Trends, more than half the world’s adult population read a newspaper – a number that surpasses all internet users across the globe. More than 2.5 billion read print newspapers, while more than 600 million get their news digital form. That’s a … Continued
Poacher Turned Gamekeeper: Why We Must Recruit Drug Dealers into Legal Markets
Illicit market operators are perfect candidates to recruit into recreational cannabis markets, representing an opportunity to place social justice at the core of the industry. Global momentum for regulatory change when it comes to cannabis is building. Even authoritarian regimes such as Thailand are embracing medicinal cannabis programs, whilst legal recreational markets emerge in … Continued
Don’t Listen To The Alarmists – Legalisation Doesn’t Lead To More Young People Using Drugs
Much to the chagrin of ‘project fear’ prohibitionists, yet another study has found that legalising cannabis has no effect whatsoever on the number of young people who use it. Published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the study looked at state-level cannabis prohibition laws between 1999 and 2017, and found no association between cannabis legalisation … Continued
Cannabis, CBD & Hemp
Opinion: Cannabis Requires an Interdisciplinary Approach
I started working at Volteface just over a year ago now, during a bizarrely unprecedented time. What I would have liked to be a front-facing position in the advocacy space, suddenly had to be performed from my bedroom, in the gloom and isolation of lockdown hibernation. My experience stood in stark contrast to the … Continued
All Good Points: Germany goes legal, the Taliban trolls and UK drug strategy
In this episode Paul, Katya and George break down all the big talking points over the past month in the world of cannabis and drug reform. Topics covered: Germany legalises cannabis, the UK drug strategy, the Taliban troll the world, Malta facing resistance to reform, wider European update and Mice eating cannabis?! Enjoy the … Continued
CBD, ‘Snake Oil’ or Life-Changing?
This week Volteface examines the emerging and seemingly booming CBD industry. In this piece we had the opportunity to discuss the topic with Paul Moore, patient advocate and Chief Executive Officer at Green Machine CBD. Moore discussed the vast potential applications and benefits that the CBD business offers to both the UK and Europe. … Continued