The Great Reformation

Bridget Algiere

Have you ever smoked a joint? Sniffed a line? Popped a pill that wasn't prescribed to you? Although the honest answer many would give to at least one of those questions is "Yes," you wouldn't know it by the unforgiving laws our country has against these drugs and others. Thankfully, the Drug Policy Alliance is fighting for drug policies that are "based on science, compassion, health and human rights." While they don't claim to have all of the answers (unlike our government), they realize that a war on drugs based more on fear than fact does more harm than good. Their International Drug Policy Reform Conference, the primary gathering for people and profesionals who believe that our current methods are detrimental to society, promises the opportunity to learn more about drug policy and strategize for reform. Taking place December 5-8 this year in the tragically beautiful city of New Orleans, the conference agenda covers a wide range of issues, including drug testing, treatment and sentencing reform, alternatives to prohibition, the science and spirituality of entheogens with regard to current law, and other thought and action-provoking seminars.

If you feel our nation's policies have failed to address the real issues behind drug use and abuse, or if you would like to broaden your understanding of the many problems currently surrounding drug policy here and around the world, look to the DPA's website. Hopefully, if enough of us show that we can no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of non-violent people, our government will act upon our desire to have a more legitimate and humanitarian justice system.

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