DRUG POLICY TO BE EYED IN L.B.

LONG BEACH - The latest legal efforts against medical marijuana, and
the media's recent focus on methamphetamine, are among the key topics
to be discussed at the 2005 International Drug Policy Reform
Conference beginning today in Long Beach.

The three-day conference is being sponsored by the New York-based
Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates legalizing medical marijuana
and is seeking a change in the way the United States deals with drug addicts.

The alliance says the "war on drugs" is racist, has been detrimental
in the fight against HIV and AIDS and helped contribute to the
exploding population at U.S. prisons.

"Building a Movement for Reason, Compassion and Justice" is the theme
behind this year's conference at The Westin Hotel in downtown Long Beach.

Alliance leaders advocate new drug policies based on science,
compassion, health and human rights.

A morning session today will focus on the latest news in pot policy,
marijuana research, consumer advocacy and decriminalization and
legalization initiatives.

Cannabis law reform experts will "debunk" the latest myths by the
federal government about marijuana use, conference organizers said.

The conference today and on Saturday will study the methamphetamine
problem, analyzing what's been called "the new crack" by the media,
and discussing the myths and facts behind the latest research and
interventions against the drug.

Other topics for the conference include steroids and performance
enhancers, the regulation and the ethics of using them in sports,
society and medicine; the war on drugs and its failure from the
perspective of former police and judicial officials; discussing drugs
with parents from a young person's perspective; and marijuana's role
in the entertainment business.

For more information on the conference and the alliance, visit
(http://www.drugpolicy.org)www.drugpolicy.org.