Fed Event: Illegal Drug Policy, Tues., 5/4 at UMD

WHO WON THE WAR ON DRUGS? with Kurt L. Schmoke
Hosted by Public Policy Professor Doug Besharov
Tuesday, May 4th from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the Colony Ballroom at the Stamp Student Union

Many believe that the United States’ War on Drugs begun under President Nixon has been a financial and social policy failure. Besides failing to depress addiction rates and prevent drug imports, some argue that the government’s enforcement efforts have indirectly led to a lucrative and often violent black market for drugs, affecting not only the U.S. but many countries around the world. Former Baltimore mayor Kurt L. Schmoke has argued that the War on Drugs increases crime but does not prevent addiction, and that decriminalizing drugs would help, not hurt the country. While acknowledging risks to health and public safety, he has supported “a measured and carefully implemented program of drug decriminalization,” similar to the repeal of Prohibition.

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Light refreshments to follow the program.
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For more information about this event, contact Patrick Tiedemann
at (301)405-4767 or ptiedem1@umd.edu.