The Global Commission on Drug Policy held its annual plenary meeting from 30 June to 2 July 2025 at Virgin Group Headquarters in London, United Kingdom.

The meeting brought together Commissioners, advisors, and a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from local and national governments, UN agencies and multilateral fora, academia, and civil society organizations. Among them were partners such as Release, Transform Drug Policy Foundation, the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD), and others. Together, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues relevant to the Global Commission’s mandate and the broader field of drug policy reform.

During their time in London, Commissioners also met with representatives of the London Mayor’s Office, the London Assembly, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice.

As part of the meeting, the Global Commission partnered with Chatham House to host a public event entitled “Global drug policy: How to win the war?”. Commissioners Louise Arbour, Juan Manuel Santos, and Ernesto Zedillo shared insights on the prospects for transformative reform in today’s geopolitical and multilateral landscape. The discussion was moderated by Emma Ross, Senior Research Fellow with the Global Health Programme at Chatham House. A recording and transcript of the event are available here.