Virgin's Branson to Address War on Drugs

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, the English business magnate and founder of Virgin Group, will visit Washington Wednesday to discuss the global war on drugs. He'll talk about the current state of affairs left behind by what he says is the failed war on drugs. Subtopics will include the negative impacts of the costly war, and the setbacks on the fight against drug addiction and substance abuse. There will be a special screening of the groundbreaking documentary, "Breaking the Taboo,” narrated by Academy Award Winner Morgan Freeman. The film calls for an honest and open debate about drug laws, encouraging viewers to break the taboo on a subject that has been ignored for too long. For more on the panel and "Breaking the Taboo," follow the jump. The 50-minute doc uncovers the UN sanctioned war on drugs, charting its origins and devastating impact on countries like the USA, Colombia and Russia. Featuring prominent statesmen such as Presidents Clinton and Carter, the film follows The Global Commission on Drug Policy on a mission to break the political taboo and expose the biggest failure of global policy in the last 50 years. Sir Richard will take questions after the film. Following the screening and Q&A will be a panel discussion on the opportunities to help drug offenders get on the right path and reduce the burden that drug convictions place on American prison systems. The panel will feature Branson, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI], Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance and A.T. Wall, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. According to Sir Richard, “The timing of this event in Washington DC couldn’t be better. It’s time to refocus our resources by investing in people addicted to drugs, looking towards a more humane approach for treatment, and changing existing laws not just in the United States but around the world. I am thrilled to join Senator Whitehouse for this discussion.” For the documentary's website, click here. For the documentary's trailer, click here. Note to readers: Members of the media who wish to attend the event can email Nicolla Hewitt Communications at NH@NicollaHewitt.com.

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Virgin's Branson to Address War on Drugs

Drey Dailey

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Drey Dailey