Drug Policy Alliance: 2007 International Drug Policy Reform Conference Registration Open!

Join us at the 2007 International Drug Policy Reform Conference at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference begins the evening of Wednesday, December 5, and runs through Saturday, December 8. Register early to get a special rate! The International Drug Policy Reform Conference, hosted by DPA, is the most important gathering of people who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good. It's the only meeting that attempts to connect the dots among the wide range of drug policy issues we face today: everything from syringe access and medical marijuana to state-based reform movements and the impact of drug use on our culture and communities. In our effort to make this event truly movement-oriented, this year we invited five other co-host organizations to join us: the ACLU, the Harm Reduction Coalition, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Together, we will present the most engaging content that reflects our conference theme: Working Toward a New Bottom Line. A new bottom line for drug policy would mean basing success on metrics such as prevention of overdose deaths and increased access to treatment rather than the current measure - numbers of people arrested and incarcerated for drug use. The idea of working toward a new bottom line is particularly relevant in New Orleans, the site of the 2007 conference. Hurricane Katrina laid bare an array of problems, many of which are exacerbated by failed drug war policies. Furthermore, the state of Louisiana comes close to leading the nation in incarcerating people for drug law violations. Although the South remains a region where drug policy reform has yet to take a strong hold, by choosing to have our meeting in New Orleans, we hope to build momentum in an area with the potential to make incredible progress. Members and early-bird registrants enjoy a significant discount off our regular registration rate. For more information, including details about conference programming, travel and lodging, please check out http://kessjones.com/conf07/. We hope to see you in New Orleans!