Mark Weiss

Mark Weiss is the co-producer of openDemocracy's Drug Policy Forum Front Line Report.

He is a Masters student within the School of Law, Birkbeck College, and holds a BA in Politics from Queen Mary, University of London. He has worked with DrugScope as a Policy Assistant, where he conducted research on UK drug law and policy.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 24th 2011

We lead this week's report with news of the disquieting appointment to the ACMD of Dr Raabe, an anti-harm reduction proponent with disturbing views on homosexuality. The Government have traditionally ignored the medical and scientific evidence on this key issue of social policy, and such an appoin

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 24 Jan 2011

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 17th 2011

We lead this week's Report with an HCLU study on the risks related to blood borne and sexually transmitted infections and drug use in the Hungarian prison system, based on interviews with formerly incarcerated injecting drug users. Also in this week's edition, news from Ireland where Sinn Fein hav

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 18 Jan 2011

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 3rd 2011

We lead this weeks report with news that CVS, the largest operator of pharmacies in the United States, agreed to pay the federal government a $75 million fine for narcotics violations, the largest cash money penalty in the 40-year history of the Controlled Substances Act ~ CS & MW

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 8 Jan 2011

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 27th, 2010

We lead this first report of 2011 with a look back at the top stories of last year - a year which saw; the continuation of the Mexican tragedy; the failure to confront widespread Afghani opium production; and a rising clamour for a new paradigm and an end to drug prohibition. We look forward to ke

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 1 Jan 2011

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 20th, 2010

We lead this weeks report with news of a petition to stop the abusive treatment of prisoners in Georgia and support the demands of the Georgia Prisoners Strike.

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 23 Dec 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 13th 2010

This week we lead with news of an horrific abuse of power by undercover narcotics agents which saw the unlawful killing of an innocent 92 year old woman and attempt to cover up the crime. The Report also discusses US prison reform, the new UK Government Drug Strategy with analysis from some of the

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 16 Dec 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 6th 2010

This week, we lead with news of the MAPS Conference, taking place this weekend in Los Angeles and featuring openDemocracy's very own Charles Shaw among a long list of celebrated speakers and artists. This is followed by an inspired article by friend of the Drug Policy Forum, John Sinclair, who dis

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 6 Dec 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 29th 2010

Welcome to the latest Front Line Report - our largest yet - bringing you a collection of stories from across the globe, from national and international news and media outlets and UN agencies. This week we continue our documentary updates from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union's Drug Reporter sit

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 29 Nov 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 22nd 2010

This weeks front line report covers a broad ground, from news of the Subtance Misuse Consortium in the UK working to drive treatment standards up; the relationship between hepitatitis C, substance misuse and health equality; a 20 fold increase in the number of users criminalized in Ukraine; and th

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 23 Nov 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 15th 2010

We lead this week with our very own Charles Shaw, and an eloquent piece written for today's Guardian Society about the "madness" that is the war on drugs, and what US policymakers can learn from their European partners.

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 15 Nov 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 8th 2010

As Charles Shaw's Unheard Voices Project comes to the UK, I am pleased to lead this weeks Front Line Report with news of a what promises to be a truly exciting evening of discussion - 'Who's Addicted to the War on Drugs', a free openDemocracy event, this Tuesday 16th November in King's Cross, Lond

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 10 Nov 2010

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 1st 2010

Charles Shaw is still on the road working on his Unheard Voices Project, so I lead this weeks report with news from the Mid-Term Elections in the United States; and optimism in the wake of the defeat of Proposition 19 in California. Now is a time to consider the great momentum of the campaign, and

By Charles Shaw and Mark Weiss

/ 3 Nov 2010