DRUG REFORM ADVOCATE SAYS TIDES ARE TURNING

A leading advocate for an overhaul of America's drug policy said he
is seeing major shifts in how politicians are viewing illegal substances.

"This is the first time I feel like I have the wind at my back and
not in my face," said Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the
Drug Policy Alliance and a man Rolling Stone Magazine called the
national "point man" for the movement to end the drug war.

Nadelmann is in Bozeman to speak at two events today, including
"Cannabis at the Capitol Comes to Bozeman," an event put on by
medical marijuana support group Patients and Families United.

Nadelmann said the most dramatic shifts in policy are occurring on
the state level, with many state governments n run by a generation
more familiar with illegal drugs and facing major budget woes n
rethinking their drug policy.

It's a movement underscored by events like Montana voter's
overwhelming support for medicinal marijuana - which was approved by
citizen initiatives in 2004 n and the recent assertion by California
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that "it's time for a debate" on
whether pot should be legalized and taxed.

Advertisement "A lot of battles we've been fighting for a long time
we're winning now," he said. "I've been on television more this year
than I have the past five years."

Nadelmann's talk tonight will focus on President Barack Obama's
approach to drug policy, which Nadelmann said is shifting the nation
toward policy his group advocates.

Broadly, the Drug Policy Alliance advocates laws that address drugs
from a health standpoint rather than law enforcement.

While the Obama administration is far from making some of the most
radical reforms Nadelmann pushes for n like legalizing marijuana n
Nadelmann said there are signs Obama is "pointing (drug policy) in a
new direct direction."

Obama has vowed to get rid of the discrepancy between jail sentences
given to people convicted of selling or possessing crack cocaine n
which is more prevalent in poor communities - and powder cocaine, a
more expensive drug. He has also advocated getting rid of the ban on
federal dollars going to needle exchange programs n which aims to
prevent intravenous drug users from transferring diseases but is
criticized for buying paraphernalia for addicts with taxpayer money.

In Congress, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., wants to form a commission to
investigate the drug war.

"It's like turning around an ocean. It takes a long time to get the
ship moving in a different direction," he said.

Tom Daubert of Patients and Families United said that education about
medical marijuana in the state is his group's biggest push at this point.

The group, which is a support group for medical marijuana and pain
patients, held a Cannabis at the Capitol event during the legislative
session featuring fragrant marijuana plants in the state capitol's
rotunda. Daubert said tonight's event would have two marijuana plants
on display.