Pubdate: Fri, 08 May 2015
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2015 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Richard N. Velotta

LOST WAR ON DRUGS

Investors See Opportunity in Decriminalization, Treatment

Richard Branson has brought his war on the war on drugs to Las Vegas. 
Branson, the charismatic founder of the Virgin Group, was a panelist 
at a session debating U.S. drug policy at the Starbridge Capital 
Alternatives Conference, a high-level investment event that brings in 
top names in business, government and politics to discuss issues 
leading to wise investment decisions.

Among the big names at the four-day conference at Bellagio that ends 
today were former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke; energy entrepreneur T. 
Boone Pickens; retired CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus; political 
operatives James Carville and Karl Rove; actor Michael J. Fox; 
retired tennis professional Andre Agassi; and billionaire 
entrepreneuradventurer Branson, who produced a documentary "Breaking 
the Taboo" on drug addiction.

Branson was joined on the panel by David Marlon, co-founder of 
Solutions Recovery, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Las 
Vegas, and George Papandreou, former prime minister of Greece.

There was little debate from the panel. Participants and many of 
those who posed questions to panelists were unified in opposition to 
existing U.S. drug policy, urging an end to the war on drugs by 
decriminalizing the use of illicit drugs.

Calling the nation's war on drugs "an unmitigated disaster," Branson 
and the documentary film, shot partly at Marlon's facility, took the 
position that resources would be better used in treating drug addicts 
and keeping them with their families than spending more on drug 
enforcement agencies, courts and prisons.

"I've been in business for about 50 years and the war on drugs has 
been going for at least 50 years," Branson said. "If one of my 
businesses had failed as miserably as the war on drugs has failed, I 
would have closed it down 49 years ago."

Papandreou said countries could deliver a huge blow against drug 
cartels by removing the high profit motive by refocusing the strategy 
of how it addresses drug use.

How can that be accomplished? Branson and Marlon suggested that it 
would best be done through public education as well educating 
political leaders to change their mindsets on how to tackle the problem.

"Politicians need to be educated and helped on this issue," Branson 
said. "It might have to be pretty direct, say something like, 'Would 
you want your children or grandchildren to be sent to prison or do 
you want them to be helped?'"

Branson, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, has 
visited several countries and has praised Portugal for its rejection 
of the war on drugs for a decriminalization approach.

Marlon said his rehabilitation center treats addictive behavior and 
it advocates abstinence from drug use in addition to the 
decriminalization philosophy.

Panelists said the public is starting to embrace new drug policies as 
evidenced by about half the United States having medical marijuana 
laws on their books and a few either legalizing recreational use of 
marijuana or considering it.

The hall, filled to capacity for the panel and the film screening, 
paused to applaud the Nevada Legislature's passage of the so-called 
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act earlier this week.

The bill, expected to be signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval, 
provides protection to those who make calls for help in an overdose emergency.

Nevada is the fourth-leading state for drug overdose mortality rates.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom