Pubdate: Mon, 07 Nov 2005
Source: Cornell Daily Sun, The (NY Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Cornell Daily Sun, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.cornelldailysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1758
Author: Alex Lebowitz, Sun Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving)
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org
Cited: safety first http://www.safety1st.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?214 (Drug Policy Alliance)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?179 (Nadelmann, Ethan)

SYMPOSIUM EXPLORES WAR ON DRUGS

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, 
presented a passionate speech entitled "Building a Political Movement 
to End the War on Drugs" in the Berger Atrium of Myron Taylor Hall on 
Saturday afternoon. Nadelmann's speech was the keynote address of the 
Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy's symposium, "The Latest 
Developments in the War on Drugs."

In his introduction, Noah Mamber law '06 called Nadelmann the "point 
man for drug policy reform" in the United States. The alliance for 
drug policy reform has been growing because of the connection between 
social libertarians who believe that the government should not 
control what an adult is putting in their own body and conservatives 
who see the roughly $12 billion being spent on keeping the country 
clean of drugs as extravagant. Notable members of the conservative 
establishment such as William F. Buckley, founder of National Review 
magazine, have supported the Drug Policy Alliance.

Nadelmann and the Drug Policy Alliance advocate the decriminalization 
of certain drugs and are pushing for an end to the war on drugs 
because of its racist nature, the detrimental effect on the fight 
against HIV/AIDS and the burgeoning prison population in the United States.

"There are a lot of black and brown kids who are caught up in jail 
because of buying and selling of drugs," Nadelmann said. "But how 
many 'good' white kids go to prestigious colleges and make some money 
by selling drugs?"

African-Americans make up only 12.2 percent of the nation and 13 
percent of drug users in the United States, according to the Drug 
Policy Alliance's website. Nevertheless, 38 percent of those arrested 
and 59 percent convicted for drug related charges are 
African-American. Nadelmann and others have called these statistics 
examples of the "New Jim Crow" facing our nation.

The link between the war on drugs and the spread of HIV and AIDS in 
the United States is related to the usage of sterile syringes. 
Current laws forbid the distribution of these clean syringes, and the 
Drug Policy Alliance argues that this enhances the likelihood of 
sharing contaminated needles.

The speech also brought up the large number of incarcerated Americans.

"Treating drugs as a criminal policy issue instead of a health issue 
has caused major destruction in our country," said Nadelmann. "The 
United States is number one in the world for people incarcerated per 
capita, with 2.2 million people behind bars. 400,000 to 500,000 
people will sleep in jail tonight because of drug charges, more than 
all people incarcerated in all of Western Europe for all crimes."

Roughly 90 percent of the drug offenders in the country have been 
nabbed for only possessing the drug.

Nadelmann also focused on the advantages of the legalization of 
marijuana by comparing it to the legal substances alcohol and 
tobacco. The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution 
outlawed alcohol, but after the major backlash, the 21st Amendment 
repealed it. Instead, alcohol is heavily taxed and its use is 
restricted, for example, to people over 21, and drinking is not 
allowed when driving except in small amounts.

In a poll of the roughly 100 people in the Atrium, only two admitted 
to still smoking cigarettes. Although the number may have in 
actuality been more, Nadelmann claimed that this shows the importance 
of educating the public as to substances.

"Tobacco use has decreased over 40 years, not by criminal 
prohibition, but by regulation through higher taxes and education 
about the health detriments," he explained. "Marijuana should be 
treated the same way."

Marijuana becomes a more hotly-debated topic because of its medical 
benefits. The American Public Health Association has said that 
marijuana has been proven effective in treating nausea, anorexia and 
AIDS wasting.

The legalization of marijuana has been rejected by both the Clinton 
and Bush administrations and by recent rulings in the Supreme Court. 
On the state level though, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, 
Colorado, Nevada, Maine and Washington, D.C. have approved state 
ballot initiatives to legalize medical marijuana.

Nadelmann asserted that it was not the sentiment of the Drug Policy 
Alliance that drugs are good or should be used.

"When talking to our kids we say first, do not do drugs. Second, do 
not do drugs. Third, if you have done or are doing drugs we want you 
to come home safely and learn what these drugs are doing to you. 
Members of the Drug Policy Alliance will always say safety first and 
preach education," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake