The Australian Drug Observatory was established at the Australia National University (ANU) in 2016, as a joint undertaking of the School of Medicine and Psychology and the Research School of Chemistry.

The Observatory is an independent space that advances necessary health-based social reform in drug policy-policy that has traditionally stagnated between political divides.

The first two projects taken on by The Observatory were the creation of educational program for prescribers of medicinal cannabis, and the establishment of a local drug checking service. At the time, both projects were viewed as politically 'high risk' endeavours. Today, those projects are among the Observatory's initiatives that have been identified as being of potentially great benefit to Australian society.

The work of the Observatory so far is a beacon as to how and why we must convert conversations into meaningful drug policy change.

Thank you for fighting for better policy and processes that puts people first. In supporting us in this fight, you reduce harm and save the lives of people all over Australia.