Keynote Speaker
Ethan Nadelmann, PhD
Nadelmann is the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance,
the leading organization in the United States promoting alternatives to
the war on drugs. The Drug Policy Alliance advocates for drug policies
grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights.
Described by Rolling Stone as “the point man” for drug policy reform efforts,
Ethan Nadelmann is widely regarded as the outstanding proponent of
drug policy reform both in the United States and abroad.
Nadelmann was born in New York City and received his BA, JD, and PhD
from Harvard, and a Masters Degree in International Relations from the
London School of Economics. He then taught politics and public affairs at
Princeton University from 1987 to 1994, where his speaking and writings
on drug policy—in publications ranging from Science and Foreign Affairs
to American Heritage and National Review attracted international attention.
He also authored the book, Cops Across Borders, the first scholarly
study of the internationalization of US criminal law enforcement.