D.P.F.H. Statement
		April, 1998 The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i was formed in 1993 (as the Hawai'i Drug Policy Options Group) by concerned citizens seeking to open the discussion of alternatives to current drug policy. A consensus is emerging in our nation that efforts to use the criminal justice system to discourage drug abuse are not working; yet for too long discussion about alternative approaches has been hampered by myths, misinformation, and an absence of intelligent debate. The mission of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i (D.P.F.H.) is to provide a forum for such debate. Our aim is to examine existing and alternative policies regarding legal and illegal drugs with the goal of improving the effectiveness of our drug policies while reducing their economic, human and social costs. Our Board of Directors includes individuals from the fields of social science, law, pharmacology, public administration, political science, medicine, and public health. The members of the Board have widely divergent political views, but have found common ground in their concern about the issues surrounding drug policy. While D.P.F.H. believes that changes are needed, it takes no stance as to the precise nature of those changes. Our hope is that the information and expert opinion we provide will increase both the level and the intellectual quality of the debate. The public and policy makers can then decide for themselves whether change is warranted and what changes would be most desirable for Hawai'i. D.P.F.H. activities include public forums, featuring local, national, and international drug policy experts; sponsorship of conferences and training workshops; screening of films and videos, maintenance of a reference library on drug policy; an active media presence including submission of op-ed pieces and participation on radio and television shows; a speakers' bureau available to address civic groups and others on a variety of topics; and publication of a quarterly newsletter. Some of the issues we've focused on have been: the "ice"-violence connection, the impact of decriminalization of marijuana in California, the impacts of the War on Drugs, Dutch drug control policy, medical use of marijuana, methadone maintenance, and harm reduction as a treatment modality. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i has obtained 501 (c)(3) status as a non-profit educational organization from the IRS. In the past we've relied solely on small grants obtained from national foundations under the aegis of the University of Hawai'i Social Science Research Institute. As we begin our fourth year, and as resources at the University become increasingly strained, we have converted to a community-based membership organization. Board Members of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i   Donald M. Topping, Ph.D., President Pamela Lichty, M.P.H., Vice President Paul Groesbeck, Esq., Treasurer Lynette Cruz, M.A. John W. Cutting, M.D. Karen Umemoto, Ph.D Richard S. Miller, Esq. George Read, Ph.D. William Wenner, M.D. Jeff Crawford, Ph.D.
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