The next in the series of "Thursday" public forums will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017, at WNMU's Miller Library. This event will take on the controversial topic of drug policy, and is entitled: "Illicit" Drugs: Decriminalization, Legalization, or Continued Prohibition?

The panel of experts who will lead the discussion will include Dr. Damon Bullock, WNMU Professor of Criminal Justice, Dr. Shawn White, WNMU Professor of Chemistry, New Mexico State Representative Bill McCamley (D-Las Cruces), Michael Narvaez, Jr. (Western alum), and Deputy Sheriff Mike Burns, Grant Co. Sheriff's Dept. There will be no moderator this time; the panel will interact more directly with the audience.

"This will be a very meaty, very important forum," County Democratic Party Chair Frances Vasquez asserted. "We all know about the ravages of drugs among our youth and in our society in general. And we see the lives wrecked and public budgets drained by the policy of mass incarceration initiated in the 1980's. Should New Mexico decriminalize drug possession? What about marijuana legalization? Should we have private for-profit prisons? Some say we should treat addiction as a disease. What can we as citizens do? Where should New Mexico come out on these big questions? Come to the forum and start working on the answers."

As usual with this Public Forum series, the Grant County Democratic Party and WNMU's MEChA student association and Miller Library are sponsoring the event. Refreshments will be served after the forum.

For more information, contact the Grant County Democratic Party at 654-6060 or email
‭grantcountydemocrats@gmail.com.

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