Soqdet

V.A.C. Roundtable with Justin Strekal. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ar3BcnNxC/?mibextid=wwXIfr&direct_share_include_copy=1&fb_entity_type=newsfeed

“We are thrilled to join the World Health Organization (WHO) GOARN network, especially during a time when federal public health guidance is becoming less consistent. Colorado is taking action to ensure our doctors, scientists, and public health experts are connected to useful, evidence-based information from around the world. Disease does not stop at borders, and this partnership helps ensure Colorado is better prepared to protect people and respond quickly to emerging threats.“
- Gov. Polis

Justin Strekal is an experienced organizer and advocate. His wide-ranging policy reform expertise includes issues such as ma*****na, campaign finance, tax, and wage fairness. From 2016-2021, Justin was the federal lobbyist for the National Organization for the Reform of Ma*****na Laws (NORML), the nation’s largest and longest-running ma*****na advocacy group. Prior to joining NORML, Justin served as a legislative aide in the Virginia State Senate, where he drafted the first ma*****na reform legislation introduced in the chamber, a precursor to the Commonwealth legalizing ma*****na in 2021. In addition to his policy reform efforts, Justin has more than a decade of electoral campaign experience, managing federal, state, and local races across the country.

A week at the Vienna headquarters of the War on Drugs
D. BERGMAN (VOC)
March 18, 2026
https://lnkd.in/dbSrdncc
People crying at a side event about CBD cannabis
At one of those side events, about CBD-rich medicinal cannabis, Forrest Hurd spoke about his son Silas, who has a rare form of epilepsy. Hurd is a member of the Veterans Action Council, which organized the meeting with support from MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) and ENCOD, among others.

Hurd showed footage of his son, who had up to 2,000 epileptic seizures a year, until he started using cannabis. Harlequin, to be precise, is a CBD-rich cultivar developed by Californian grower Wade Laughter. Laughter passed away on June 4, 2025, at the age of 72.

The side event was conceived as a tribute to this extraordinary man, Etienne Fontan of the Veterans Action Council said at the end of the emotional meeting.

I don’t think I have ever seen so many people cry at a CND side event. The images of the effect cannabis can have on severely ill children resonated with everyone. As did the realization that so many people, young and old, have no or poor access to this medicine.

Compassion
The words of grower Wade Laughter, from a video shortly before his death, also made a strong impression:

I have thought a lot about what compassion actually is. And I think that compassion is a verb, an action word. You can feel empathy for someone else’s situation, and that is something beautiful. That is how our heart grows, how our understanding grows of who we are and where we stand in the world. But compassion comes into play when you do something about the suffering of another. Yes, compassion is a verb.

The side event about CBD-rich cannabis can be viewed HERE (first 15 minutes without sound, then with). You can find the website for the exhibition ‘1976-2026 – The French/Dutch Paradox in the Global Drug War’ HERE.

A substantial part of the 31-member ENCOD delegation, with activists from the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Canada, the US, South Africa, and Brazil.

Happy Spring 🪷

Here is the video of our Official Side Event at the U.N. from today: (audio starts at 14:40 due to technical difficulties)

https://youtu.be/W1mmnSyJqvg?si=kBT-1OEcZ21zE-9y

CBD-Rich Cannabis - Policy and Patient Experience

Organized by the Veterans Action Council, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies with the support of the DRCNet Foundation, the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies (ENCOD), Fields of Green for ALL NPC, the Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and the Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access

Since 1996, U.S. states have developed programs allowing patient access to cannabis for medical and scientific use. Within these systems, pioneering cultivators identified CBD-rich varieties, including Harlequin. This side event will examine policy developments, patient experiences with Harlequin, and the INCB’s 2023 position encouraging member states to facilitate access to CBD-rich cannabis medicinal products.

It will also address how treaty-aligned regulatory frameworks can support sensible oversight that protects patients through consumer protections, including quality standards, labeling, and transparency. Patients and caregivers will share their lived experiences while honoring those who dedicated their lives to achieving the best possible patient outcomes.

We would like to thank our speakers and our special uests from the United States Monica Senter and Forrest Hurd, along with Dr. Pavel Pachta.

I graciously had the chance early this morning to ask a question to Prof. Sevil Atasoy, President of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) at the United Nations’ 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) on behalf of the Veterans Action Council.

12 March (Thursday), 12:15–13:15
Informal Dialogue with the INCB President
Location: BR-D Platform: MS Teams

Lesley Fries: Question 16:
“Regulated cannabis and psychedelic access for Veterans have shown to demonstrably reduce su***de risk, opioid dependence, and improve quality of life. Given
the INCB’s treaty mandate to support medical and scientific use of controlled substances, how does the Board intend to support Member States looking to expand regulated access?”

Submitted by: Veterans Action Council

UN TV 📺 live stream of the 69th Commission on Narcotic Drugs

And so it begins.. an early rise and shine 🌞 for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime’s 69th Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. Check out the UN TV via their website. Schedule>>>> https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/civilsociety/cnd-2026-events-for-civil-society.html