Former Presidents and Noted Experts Debate New Directions in Drug Policy

Former Presidents and Noted Experts Debate New Directions in Drug Policy Despite a worldwide drug control treaty system and decades of massive investments to attack drug production and curtail supplies and consumption, illicit markets and criminal networks have flourished, threatening public health and safety. The Obama administration will unveil its new National Drug Control Strategy next month in the midst of a growing global debate over how to devise more effective and humane drug policies. Join the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), and the Latin American Initiative on Drugs and Democracy for a timely discussion of drug policy dilemmas and innovations, featuring former presidents, current and former high-level drug policy officials, and prominent experts. FEATURED SPEAKERS Fernando Henrique Cardoso: Former President of Brazil and co-president of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, which has called for a "new paradigm leading to safer, more efficient and humane drug policies." Ruth Dreifuss: Former President of Switzerland and pioneer in modernizing policy approaches to addiction treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. João Goulão: Portugal's national drug policy coordinator and Chairman of the Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction. In 2001, Portugal decriminalized the possession and acquisition of drugs for personal consumption. Mike Trace: Chair, International Drug Policy Consortium, and former Deputy Anti-Drug Coordinator, United Kingdom. Moisés Naím: Editor in Chief, Foreign Policy, and author of Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy. Peter Reuter: Professor, School of Public Policy and Department of Criminology, University of Maryland, and co-author of Drug War Heresies: Learning from Other Places, Times and Vices. Presentations will be followed by ample Q&A period. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Kristel Mucino, kmucino@wola.org, 617.584.1713.