Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-registered charity that produces evidence-based policy research and practical guides on drug regulation, advocates for replacing prohibition with legal regulation, and campaigns through the 'Anyone's Child' family network targeting UK and international policymakers and the public.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Transform Drug Policy Foundation does
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-registered charity (no. 1100518) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bristol, operating with 17 employees. Its core function is policy advocacy and research: the foundation educates policymakers, parliamentarians, and the public that drug use should be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal matter, and develops evidence-based regulatory frameworks to replace prohibition. The foundation's intellectual output is its primary product — practical guides including 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' (now in its 3rd edition) and 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide', economic analyses such as the 2025 'High Returns' report estimating up to £1.5 billion annually for the UK Treasury from cannabis legalisation, and thematic reports including 'The Misuse of Drugs Act: Counting the Costs'. These publications are distributed as free PDF downloads globally and as print editions through an Ecwid storefront, with key works translated into Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese through partner federations.
The foundation operates the 'Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control' campaign — an international network of families affected by current drug laws — and maintains a digital advocacy tool for contacting UK MPs. Senior Policy Analyst Steve Rolles holds ECOSOC special consultative status at the UN, enabling direct civil society statements at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. The foundation engages with peer organizations including the International Drug Policy Consortium, Transnational Institute, WOLA, and the Global Commission on Drug Policy, and its policy frameworks have directly informed legislative proposals such as Colombia's 2020 Senate bill on coca and cocaine regulation.
Transform's revenue model is donation-dependent: it is a registered charity funded through voluntary public donations, modest print publication sales, and campaign-specific crowdfunding (e.g., the 'Legalise UK Cannabis' JustGiving fundraiser). It serves a horizontal audience spanning UK and international policymakers, academics, civil society NGOs, and the general public — rather than a single paying customer segment.
Transform Drug Policy Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Transform Drug Policy Foundation
- Legal name
- Transform Drug Policy Foundation
- Website
- https://transformdrugs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-registered charity that produces evidence-based policy research and practical guides on drug regulation, advocates for replacing prohibition with legal regulation, and campaigns through the 'Anyone's Child' family network targeting UK and international policymakers and the public.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Transform Drug Policy Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drug Policy Advocacy and Research
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)
Keywords
Where Transform Drug Policy Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Transform Drug Policy Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable donations: The organization is a registered UK charity (no. 1100518) that relies on public donations to fund its work. The website features a prominent donate button and the organization explicitly states 'We want all of our publications to be available for free, but they are not free to produce' and requests donations from those who find resources useful.
- Publication sales: Publications including 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' and 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide' are available for purchase in print format through their online shop (transformdrugs.ecwid.com), while PDF versions are available for free download.
- Campaign fundraising: The organization runs specific campaign fundraisers such as the 'Legalise UK Cannabis' crowdfunder on JustGiving to support particular advocacy initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free PDF publications |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Print edition publications |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-supported access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Transform Drug Policy Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-registered charity that publishes evidence-based policy guides on drug regulation (notably 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' and 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide'), runs the Anyone's Child family advocacy campaign, and engages directly with UK policymakers and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to advocate replacing prohibition with health-based legal regulation of drug markets.
Product overview
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-based registered charity that educates the public and policymakers on drug policy reform. Rather than a traditional technology product, its offerings consist of advocacy campaigns, policy publications, and digital tools. The organization publishes practical regulatory guides (How to Regulate Cannabis, How to Regulate Stimulants), runs the Anyone's Child campaign for family advocacy, maintains a blog and resource library, and provides tools for public engagement such as MP contact functionality. These products serve to advance drug policy reform toward health-based approaches and legal regulation of drug markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Anyone's Child: International network of families whose lives have been affected by current drug laws, campaigning for legal control and regulation of drug markets to save lives and better protect young people.
Products and services
- How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide
- How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide
- High Returns: The Economic Benefits of UK Cannabis Legalisation
- Anyone's Child Campaign
- Email Your MP Digital Advocacy Tool
Quantifiable outcome
- Estimated £1.5 billion annual net benefit for UK Treasury from cannabis legalisation under state monopoly model
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Transform Drug Policy Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Transform Drug Policy Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug ControlcoreAnyone's Child is Transform's flagship campaign - an international network of families whose lives have been 'wrecked by current drug laws' and are now campaigning to change them. The families campaign together 'for the legal control and regulation of the drug market to save lives and better protect our young people.' The campaign operates through anyoneschild.org as a distinct but affiliated initiative.
- Groupement Romand d'Études des Addictions (GREA)minorSwiss organization that led the coalition supporting the French translation of Transform's 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide'. GREA coordinated with other French-speaking organizations to publish the French edition to inform reform debates across the French-speaking world.
- Fédération Addiction (France)minorFrench federation of addiction specialists that partnered with Transform and other organizations to support the French translation and publication of the stimulant regulation guide.
- Fédération bruxelloise des institutions spécialisées en matière de drogues et addictions (féda bxl, Belgium)minorBelgian federation of specialized drug and addiction institutions that collaborated on the French edition of the stimulant regulation guide.
- Association des intervenants en dépendance du Québec (AIDQ, Canada)minorQuebec association of addiction intervention professionals that partnered on the French edition of the stimulant regulation guide to inform debates across French-speaking North America.
- Colombian SenateminorTransform's 2020 book 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide' informed Colombia's groundbreaking Bill to regulate coca leaf and cocaine, specifically referenced in the three-tiered regulatory system proposed in Senate. Transform's policy framework directly influenced this historic legislative proposal.
- Transnational Institute (TNI)minorTNI is referenced as a key partner in cannabis policy reform discussions. Transform participated in joint seminars with TNI, WOLA, and GDPO on cannabis regulation and EU/UN law. Both organizations advocate for drug policy reform based on public health and human rights.
- Global Commission on Drug PolicyminorTransform is aligned with the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which has been 'clear since its formation in 2011 that the status quo is untenable and reform is urgently needed.' Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark, Commission Chair, wrote a foreword praising Transform's stimulant regulation guide.
- International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)minorIDPC is referenced as a key civil society network in drug policy reform. IDPC's Executive Director Ann Fordham commented on UN cannabis rescheduling alongside Transform's Steve Rolles. IDPC published 'The UNGASS decade in review' report referenced by Transform.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Transform Drug Policy Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America): Research and advocacy organization influencing policy on Latin America. Co-organizes drug regulation seminars with Transform and TNI, particularly relevant given Colombia's adoption of Transform's stimulant regulation framework.
- Drug Policy Alliance: The largest US-based drug policy reform organization, advocating legalization and regulation through research, advocacy, and coalition-building. Direct peer given the parallel focus on evidence-based regulatory frameworks and similar nonprofit, donation-funded model.
- Release: UK-based charity providing expert drugs advice and advocating for drug law reform. A close UK-focused peer competing for the same Westminster policy influence and UK public attention as Transform.
- Harm Reduction International: Leading NGO promoting harm reduction approaches to drug policy globally. Overlaps with Transform on the policy framing that drug use should be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal matter.
- Transnational Institute (TNI): International research and advocacy institute focused on drug policy reform among other issues. Joint seminars with Transform on cannabis regulation indicate closely aligned advocacy positions and overlapping policy outputs.
- International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC): Global network of 190+ NGOs advocating drug policy reform grounded in human rights, public health, and development. Listed as a Transform partner, but functions as a direct peer in international CND engagement and civil society statements.
Broad incumbents
- Global Commission on Drug Policy: High-level commission of former heads of state and policymakers driving international drug policy reform. Operates in the same advocacy space as Transform but with significantly higher-profile political backing and broader global remit.
- European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA): EU agency providing evidence-based data on drug markets and policy. Broader incumbent that informs the same policy debates Transform engages in but with official institutional standing rather than advocacy posture.
Regional players
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Canadian national body providing evidence on substance use policy. Comparable in producing research-backed policy recommendations but primarily focused on the Canadian regulatory context post-legalization.
Emerging players
- Students for Sensible Drug Policy: Youth-led grassroots network advocating drug policy reform on campuses globally. Smaller and more mobilizing-focused than Transform, but addresses the same policy reform space through a generational angle.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Transform Drug Policy Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceTransform Drug Policy Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transform Drug Policy Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Transform Drug Policy Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transform Drug Policy Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transform Drug Policy Foundation
What does Transform Drug Policy Foundation do?
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK-registered charity that publishes evidence-based policy guides on drug regulation (notably 'How to Regulate Cannabis: A Practical Guide' and 'How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide'), runs the Anyone's Child family advocacy campaign, and engages directly with UK policymakers and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to advocate replacing prohibition with health-based legal regulation of drug markets.
Is Transform Drug Policy Foundation a public or private company?
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Transform Drug Policy Foundation founded?
Transform Drug Policy Foundation was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Transform Drug Policy Foundation based?
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Transform Drug Policy Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable donations are the primary driver. The others are publication sales and campaign fundraising.
Who are Transform Drug Policy Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), Drug Policy Alliance, Release, Harm Reduction International, Transnational Institute (TNI) and International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Broad incumbents are Global Commission on Drug Policy and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is listed as a regional player. Students for Sensible Drug Policy is listed as an emerging player.
Does Transform Drug Policy Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transform Drug Policy Foundation.
What industry is Transform Drug Policy Foundation in?
Transform Drug Policy Foundation's product category is Drug Policy Advocacy and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAE, Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8300.