The bipartisan “war on drugs” has cost hundreds of billions of dollars and produced an incarceration rate that is by far the highest in the world. And yet, the number of American citizens with substance abuse problems has remained remarkably stable over the last 30 years, and illicit drugs remain easy to obtain for those who want them. Public support for the war on drugs has dramatically decreased, but there is less agreement over what polices should replace drug prohibition.
The Baker Institute conference “The War on Drugs Has Failed. Is Legalization the Answer?” began on March 8 with a keynote address by noted travel writer, public television producer and public radio host Rick Steves (view the video above) who spoke on “Travel as a Political Act, with a European Take on America’s War on Marijuana.”
The conference continued the following day, on March 9, with able and respected defenders of current policy, leading advocates for reform and academic researchers discussing and examining key issues regarding the future of the war on drugs. Speakers included Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Pat Lykos, Harris County (Houston) district attorney.