Tweets from the Conference

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Pete

Update: Statement of the day from Uruguay —

#Uruguay rep on #marijuana reform: “we’d rather breach intl #narcotics conventions than intl #humanrights law” #reformconf

Exactly. I’ve long felt that that’s the easiest (and most true) approach to dropping out of the conventions. The simple fact is that the drug war, as conducted under the conventions, is a horrific violation of human rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is supposed to have supremacy over all other U.N. documents and treaties.

The big 2013 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is going on now in Denver.

I wish I could be there (for many reasons), but work prevents me from leaving at this time. Still, I’m enjoying hearing tidbits from the conference on Twitter and Facebook…

Ethan Nadelmann: The International Innovations plenary at 12:15 @ReformConf today is unprecedented, w/ top officials from 4 countries & key rep from NZ

Transform: Czech drugs tsar: Its time to start raising the issue of convention reform at the UN #reformconf

Czech drugs tsar: Russia and China will be the obstacles to convention reform, not the US. US up for discussion at least #reformconf

Release Drugs: Czech Republic in official discussions with US about possible amendment to int conventions – would need int consensus. #reformconf

Reform Conference: Such a powerful group of #parents telling their stories why they’re fighting to end the war on drugs. #ReformConf

Dan Riffle: I miss @KevinSabet and @RafaelONDCP. You’d think if they care about real #drugpolicyreform they’d be at the biggest drug policy #reformconf

Carlene Variyan: In a very sad, but important session at #ReformConf on situation in prisons. Canadian system’s bad, but I’m realizing how much uglier in USA

Maria Villanueva: *Sorry I stopped twitting, I was crying* #ReformConf

#ReformConf “This war, and much of the violence in Mexico, started here in the USA. My son & his friends are victims of it” -Javier #Sicilia

RX MaryJane: Slapped in the face by what the drug war in the US is doing to the people in Latin America. Tragic. #reformconf

Forfeiture Reform: Why has the Drug War gone on so long? Federal grants/asset forfeiture gave law enforcement an investment in prohibition. #reformconf

Anybody else getting interesting reports from the conference?

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9 Responses to Tweets from the Conference

  1. Jean Valjean says:
    October 25, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    yes definitely interesting… anything that sabet and the rest of the us prohibs are ignoring must be very threatening to them…you expect kev to be saying “I can’t hear you” with eyes tight shut and fingers in ears…as the workhouse looms in his miserable future… boohoo

  2. claygooding says:
    October 25, 2013 at 7:20 pm

    Although most marijuana users are peaceful and easy going it is probably intelligent of any paid prohibitionist not to stick their head up at the conference,,there just aren’t that many people that can put up with stupid.

  3. darkcycle says:
    October 25, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    I keep getting people pleading for a floor to sleep on at the convention hotel and pictures of people’s breakfasts. What is wrong with me?

  4. allan says:
    October 26, 2013 at 1:36 am

    #Uruguay rep on #marijuana reform: “we’d rather breach intl #narcotics conventions than intl #humanrights law”

    welcome to the party…

  5. Duncan20903 says:
    October 26, 2013 at 11:58 am

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    Oh no! It looks like poor Mr. Riffle may be coming down with a case of Stockholm syndrome!! The poor man misses getting his ankles bitten by Kev-Kev???

    Oh wait, maybe he’s just saying that he’s a lousy shot? In that case let me offer to treat him to an hour at the firing range. Practice Dan, practice.

  6. DdC says:
    October 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
    great stuff from Ross Bell, from @nzdrug explaining NZ novel psychoactive drug regulation law #reformconf

    Niamh Eastwood ‏@niamhrelease
    Uruguay recognised need for strict legal reg of cannabis – experts @DrugPolicyNews @TransformDrugs @MartinJelsmaTNI advised govt #reformconf

    Ethan Nadelmann ‏@ethannadelmann
    Here’s my opening speech at DPA’s international #reformconf, in Denver. http://youtu.be/lQ5ZAcgZrkc Building a movement for freedom & justice.

    More than 1,000 Meet in Denver to Develop Drug War Exit Strategy
    Oct 23 2013
    International Drug Policy Reform Conference celebrates this year’s unprecedented momentum of the drug policy reform movement.

    Russ Belville ‏@RadicalRuss
    Boyd: Now there is a not crazy argument for some states to legalize in 2014. Alaska and Oregon are going forward #reformconf

    • DdC says:
      October 26, 2013 at 6:42 pm

      https://twitter.com/search?q=%23reformconf

      Ann Fordham ‏@AnnFordham
      #ReformConf Tripti Tandon takes the stage at closing plenary: need to apply human rights to production, trade, supply of drugs. Work to do!

      DPA NY Policy Office ‏@DPA_NY
      Amazing to look around and see the Latin American delegation who has traveled here to share and learn #reformconf

      Sanho Tree ‏@SanhoTree 10m
      Reform Conference 2013 – YouTube http://ow.ly/265prK . Great, instant mini-documentary about the conference by @HCLUDrugReform #reformconf

      TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
      Transforms Lisa Sanchez tells #reformconf closing plenary to look beyond USA to the global reform movement – we’re all in this together
      Expand Collapse

      az4norml ‏@az4norml
      #reformconf closing plenary: If it wasn’t for prohibition, someone selling drugs would be a successful & respected businessman. #truth

      TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
      Reform Conference 2013 – YouTube http://ow.ly/265prK . Great, instant mini-documentary about the conference by @HCLUDrugReform

  7. DdC says:
    October 26, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    Russ Belville ‏@RadicalRuss
    https://twitter.com/RadicalRuss

    Graham Boyd asks Rob Kampia when using SAFER, don’t harangue politicians with alcohol background, tougher to work with in future #reformconf

    No real definitive science on whether marijuana is a substitute for alcohol but @NeillFranklin says cops would rather it was #reformconf

    Rob Kampia: Alcohol industry opposition to SAFER wouldn’t be monolithic, brewers might fight, but we could swing distributors #reformconf

    Where does marijuana go from here? Feds working to ease banking for mj signals first time they’ve… http://instagram.com/p/f8jbexqNs7/

    Pete Holmes: 21 pot shops in Seattle are too few, led to blogs, “city attorney wants more pot shops” #reformconf

    Pete Holmes: Banning collective gardens goes too far, but “collectives of collectives” it’s a legal fiction in Washington #reformconf

  8. Opiophiliac says:
    October 26, 2013 at 8:56 pm

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    It seems that the politicians in Uruguay are ahead of the public on this issue, although after pot is legalized I’m sure the public will come around.

    However, before Uruguay’s pot distributors can (legally) sell anything, the Senate first needs to approve a legalization bill that is coming up to vote later this year. The bill is expected to pass, as Uruguay’s lawmakers generally support drug policy reform. President José Mujica has campaigned for legalization on the grounds that it will dramatically cut cartel violence. And Senate leaders have said they have a “comfortable majority” willing to vote in favor.

    The legislators’ main hurdle is the public, 64% of whom oppose the bill. Many are worried that legalization could open the door for harder drug use and that it could turn the country into a hub for marijuana tourism.

    via Reason

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