Cosmic #31 – Ethan Nadelmann

The Dynamics of Legalization vs. the War on Drugs

How addicted are we to sugar? coffee? salt?

How come some psychoactive substances are heavily criminalized and some others are widely encouraged through capitalistic market dynamics and enabling policies?

Sugar’s not a drug! or is it? does it kill?

Over the last few years, the debate on cannabis legalization and other drug policies gained momentum. Politicians became increasingly interested in bringing extra tax revenue and taking steps towards ending the war on drugs (maybe that one is an overstatement…). Most of us are navigating the debate with opinions and fears formed by the narratives that have been effectively disseminated by those in power since the Nixon era, when the war on drugs was identified as a strategic way to stigmatize minorities, and as an opportunity to exert racism in a more subtle way across the political discourse.

I am going to need some help! This week, we have the privilege to be joined by Ethan Nadelmann, known as a high-profile critic and commentator on U.S. and international drug control policies. Described by Rolling Stone as “the driving force for the legalization of marijuana in America”, Ethan is a powerful speaker and helped me wrap my head around what’s been going on in the space. Most importantly for Cosmic, he helped me grasp and analyze the dynamics of change in a field that is touching so many other social emergencies.

He also shares precious changemaker wisdom. Don’t miss it!

Looking forward to receiving your thoughts at hello@becosmic.org.

Dance, do more, be cosmic. 🕺💫💫

Camille.

Links related to the discussion:

• A historic moment: “America’s public enemy n°1 is drug abuse” Nixon
  Ethan‘s first book: Cops Across Borders: The Internationalization of U.S. Criminal Law Enforcement
• Thorvald Stoltenberg, a remarkable figure in Norwegian’s debate on Drug policy
• IDPC – a network of advocacy for drug policy reform all around the world.
• Drug Policy Alliance – The organization Ethan founded.
• The history of mass incarceration – by Brennan Center for Justice

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