Pubdate: Sat, 19 Sep 2009
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)
Copyright: 2009 The Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Contact:  http://bozemandailychronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1686
Author: Daniel Person, Chronicle Staff Writer
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?179 (Nadelmann, Ethan)

DRUG REFORM ADVOCATE SAYS TIDES ARE TURNING

A leading advocate for an overhaul of America's drug policy said he 
is seeing major shifts in how politicians are viewing illegal substances.

"This is the first time I feel like I have the wind at my back and 
not in my face," said Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the 
Drug Policy Alliance and a man Rolling Stone Magazine called the 
national "point man" for the movement to end the drug war.

Nadelmann is in Bozeman to speak at two events today, including 
"Cannabis at the Capitol Comes to Bozeman," an event put on by 
medical marijuana support group Patients and Families United.

Nadelmann said the most dramatic shifts in policy are occurring on 
the state level, with many state governments n run by a generation 
more familiar with illegal drugs and facing major budget woes n 
rethinking their drug policy.

It's a movement underscored by events like Montana voter's 
overwhelming support for medicinal marijuana - which was approved by 
citizen initiatives in 2004 n and the recent assertion by California 
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that "it's time for a debate" on 
whether pot should be legalized and taxed.

Advertisement "A lot of battles we've been fighting for a long time 
we're winning now," he said. "I've been on television more this year 
than I have the past five years."

Nadelmann's talk tonight will focus on President Barack Obama's 
approach to drug policy, which Nadelmann said is shifting the nation 
toward policy his group advocates.

Broadly, the Drug Policy Alliance advocates laws that address drugs 
from a health standpoint rather than law enforcement.

While the Obama administration is far from making some of the most 
radical reforms Nadelmann pushes for n like legalizing marijuana n 
Nadelmann said there are signs Obama is "pointing (drug policy) in a 
new direct direction."

Obama has vowed to get rid of the discrepancy between jail sentences 
given to people convicted of selling or possessing crack cocaine n 
which is more prevalent in poor communities - and powder cocaine, a 
more expensive drug. He has also advocated getting rid of the ban on 
federal dollars going to needle exchange programs n which aims to 
prevent intravenous drug users from transferring diseases but is 
criticized for buying paraphernalia for addicts with taxpayer money.

In Congress, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., wants to form a commission to 
investigate the drug war.

"It's like turning around an ocean. It takes a long time to get the 
ship moving in a different direction," he said.

Tom Daubert of Patients and Families United said that education about 
medical marijuana in the state is his group's biggest push at this point.

The group, which is a support group for medical marijuana and pain 
patients, held a Cannabis at the Capitol event during the legislative 
session featuring fragrant marijuana plants in the state capitol's 
rotunda. Daubert said tonight's event would have two marijuana plants 
on display. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake