Doctors for Drug Policy Reform Presents:
Celebrating Ten Years of Physician Leadership in Drug Policy Reform
A Tribute to Founder David L. Nathan, MD
Spring 2025 marked a significant milestone for D4DPR: Ten years of advocating for evidence-based and compassionate drug policy reform. When Dr. David L. Nathan founded D4DPR (then Doctors for Cannabis Regulation) in 2016, physician voices were largely absent from the national conversation on drug policy. The idea that doctors should lead on these issues was not guaranteed to gain momentum, but a decade later D4DPR has highlighted the importance of bringing medical expertise and ethical clarity to consequential drug policy debates.
This event took place on April 20, 2026 and can be viewed here and on our YouTube Channel.
This virtual program brought together nationally recognized leaders in drug policy reform to reflect on the journey so far and the road ahead. Speakers explore themes including:
-The ethical responsibility of physicians to engage in public policy.
-The courage required to advance evidence-based positions in politically charged environments.
-Why physician leadership remains essential to meaningful reform.
-The broader public health implications of organizations such as D4DPR.
The evening culminated with reflections from Dr. David L. Nathan on the future of D4DPR and the next chapter of physician-led drug policy reform.
About our Speakers:
-Ethan Nadelmann, JD, PhD is the founder of The Lindesmith Center and the Drug Policy Alliance, as well as serving as a drug policy advisor to a wide range of elected officials across the globe. He is also a D4DPR Honorary Board Member.
-Genester Wilson-King, MD is the founder, medical director, and owner of the Victory Rejuvenation Center (VRC), as well as serving as the president of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC), and the special advisory board for the Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine (ACHEM). She is also a D4DPR Expert and former D4DPR board member.
-David Vaillencourt, MS is the chair of ASTM International's Committee D37 on Cannabis, the CEO and founder of the consulting firm The GMP Collective, and board chair and co-founder of the non-profit S3 Collective.
The program also featured brief recorded reflections from leaders across the reform community including: Michael Smerconish, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Eugene Monroe, Karen O'Keefe, and Darby Beck.
As Doctors for Drug Policy Reform celebrates our 10th anniversary, we offer a limited number of hand-signed broadside prints of our 2016 “Declaration of Principles.” Order yours today and support D4DPR's ongoing commitment to compassionate, evidence-based drug policy reform.
Please consider making a donation to support our next decade of impact.
D4DPR webinars and events are supported by our members and donors, and may be supported with funding from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the Open Society Foundations (OSF), and an unrestricted grant from the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust (HART). Support does not influence D4DPR’s policy positions or educational content.
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