Mauritius NGOs Demand Drug Policy Reform and Cannabis Report Release

A coalition of non-governmental organisations in Mauritius is pressing the government to reform its anti-drug policy and to publish a report on cannabis that has reportedly been withheld from the public for some time.

The NGOs argue that current drug policy in Mauritius is failing both users and communities, and that an evidence-based approach is urgently needed. Central to their demands is the release of an official report on cannabis, which they say contains findings relevant to public health, law enforcement and potential legislative change.

Mauritius has long maintained strict drug laws under the Dangerous Drugs Act, which criminalises possession, use and trafficking of controlled substances including cannabis. Penalties can be severe, with trafficking offences carrying sentences of up to 60 years in prison. Critics, including public health advocates and legal experts, have for years argued that a purely punitive approach does little to reduce addiction rates or address the social roots of drug dependency.

The organisations pushing for reform include groups working on the front lines of addiction support, harm reduction and rehabilitation. They contend that without transparent access to the government's own research, including the cannabis report, it is impossible to have an informed public debate or to design effective policy responses.

The call for reform comes against a backdrop of persistent drug-related challenges in Mauritius. Synthetic drugs, particularly heroin substitutes, have devastated communities across the island, and cannabis remains widely used despite its illegal status. Civil society groups say the government has the evidence it needs to act but has chosen not to share it.

The cannabis report in question is understood to have been commissioned to examine the potential implications of decriminalisation or regulated use, though its precise recommendations remain unknown because it has not been made public. The NGOs are calling for immediate publication so that policymakers, health professionals and the public can engage with its contents.

What this means: For ordinary Mauritians, this debate touches on how the state deals with drug users, whether as criminals or as people in need of health support. A shift in policy could affect sentencing, access to rehabilitation programmes, police priorities and even the future legal status of cannabis in the country. Until the report is released, however, any reform discussion remains incomplete.

Source: Le Defi Media