Abstract
Social, political and professional attitudes to drugs are currently going through a phase of change. We are witnessing important debates at the highest global level, whether and how we should change the approach towards drugs and the people who use it.
Even though so far there is no fundamental change in the discourse, more and more rational voices are being heard based on the current interdisciplinary knowledge, which clearly shifts the debates towards more liberal and less repressive attitudes. At the level of some states or municipalities, we can find examples of rational drug regulation both in the process of legalizing cannabis, as well as in the stricter regulation of tobacco and alcohol trades.
An ongoing research of these "laboratories" of rational approach to psychoactive substances shows that there is no place for black scenarios and that the rational regulation may even break down many risks connected to drugs and druguse?. On the other hand, we still see politicians, states and interest groups that still practice the so called war on drugs which is based on dogmas, myths, questionable interests and motives and we see them to fighting against any tendencies of legalization with severe repression.
How are these trends reflected at the local level? How are they advocated, explained and interpreted by the general public? What direct experience do the specific villages, towns, neighbourhoods and streets have with these? How are the local governments, relevant organizations, activist groups, police forces, schools or helping network services dealing with the changing situation of the drug regulation? These are some of the questions the conference will will cover.