Last updated on: 6/1/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

Ethan Nadelmann, JD, PhD Biography

Title:
Executive Director of Drug Policy Alliance
Position:
Pro to the question "Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"
Reasoning:

“It [the 1999 IOM report] shows that marijuana is not a gateway drug that leads to other drugs, that medical use won’t increase illegal use and that the risks of marijuana are well within the bounds of tolerable risks.”

Mar. 1999
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with MDs, PhDs, JDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to medical marijuana. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to medical marijuana issues.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance (formerly The Lindesmith Center)
  • Co-Editor, Psychoactive Drugs & Harm Reduction: From Faith to Science
  • Founder, The Lindesmith Center, a drug policy and research institute, 1994
  • Professor, Politics and Public Affairs, Princeton University, 1987-1994
  • Chair, Princeton Working Group on the Future of Drug Use, 1987-1994
Education:
  • PhD, Political Science, Harvard University
  • JD, Harvard University
  • MA, International Relations, London School of Economics
  • BA, Political Science, Harvard University
Other:
  • Twitter handle: @ethannadelmann
  • Performed a TED Talk titled “Why We Need to End the War on Drugs” in Oct. 2014
  • Significant organizational funding for Drug Policy Alliance/The Lindesmith Center comes from George Soros