Nation

Described by Rolling Stone as “the point man” for drug policy reform efforts, Ethan Nadelmann is widely regarded as the outstanding proponent of drug policy reform both in the United States and internationally. Since 2003, the Drug Policy Alliance has been working in Alabama for sensible, cost-effective drug policy reforms that will improve public health and public safety. Mr. Nadelmann will be in attendance at the 13th National TASC Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. The conference brings together treatment, behavioral health, recovery and reentry oriented groups that seek to advance the cause of offender reentry and individual case management on the national level.

Nadelmann will be available for interviews, and can address issues specific to Alabama as well national concerns, including:

• The prison overcrowding crisis: Alabama has one of the most overcrowded prison systems in the country, currently operating at nearly 200% over-capacity. The state is wasting money by locking up people who shouldn’t be incarcerated. Recently in Mobile, a man was sentenced to 30-years in prison for a $20 sale of marijuana.
• Wrong-headed approaches to substance abuse are driving prison population growth. The use of incarceration for offenses that are directly tied to substance abuse contributes significantly to Alabama’s overcrowding crisis. Among the ten leading prison-commitment offenses, 53% are of substance related. More people are incarcerated for marijuana possession than for first and second degree assault combined.
• Treatment instead of incarceration. Diversion from incarceration into community-based treatment is a cost-effective and proven way of combating drug addiction and reducing drug-related crime. Non-violent drug offenses make up over 30% of all felony convictions in AL.
• Patients’ Rights: Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana. Let doctors, not bureaucrats, decide what treatments are best for patients.

Nadelmann is the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation’s leading drug policy reform organization, and advocates for drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. In 1994, Nadelmann founded the Lindesmith Center, a drug policy institute. In 2000, the growing Center merged with another organization to form the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

Mr. Nadelmann received his B.A., J.D., and Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard as well as a Masters’ degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and taught at Princeton University for seven years. Nadelmann’s writings have appeared in numerous publications such as Science, Rolling Stone, and National Review, and he has appeared on TV and radio programs including ABC’s Nightline, a Ted Koppel Special Report, NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS’s 48 Hours, CBS Morning News, and Larry King Live.