The Global Commission on Drug Policy released a report on Thursday arguing the “global war on drugs as failed.” The findings detail how criminalization of drugs and drug users has led to devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. With millions of people involved in the cultivation, production and distribution of illicit drugs to some 250 million users worldwide, the question of what to do next is of grave importance. For suggestions and strategies on how to tackle the issues of illicit drug use and its related crimes, we speak with Tom McLellan, professor at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Tom served as the nation’s deputy Drug Czar and is currently the founding director of the Penn Center for Substance Abuse.
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