Drug War Debate Bleg

B. H. Obama.

How about former drug czar (under Clinton), Barry McCaffrey? There's a good chance he lives in the DC area.

Ethan nadelmann is based in ny, but maybe he'd make the trip

maybe bill bennett

I was also going to suggest Bill Bennett.

Be careful - I once heard Bill Bennet on the radio. The guy has a perfect radio voice that's even better than Arnold Kling's. You might be outmatched.

Ed Meese

The ideal opponent is a smart, civil, high-status prohibitionist

I'd go with smart rather than high-profile.

I have seen two of these academics vs. high-profile debates and neither worked well.

High-status (usually politicians) means that your success holding your position is based on how persuasive you are to the general electorate rather than building a solid, logical argument.

Also, people's whose jobs depend on maintaining those positions *cannot* be seen as acknowledging any weakness in any aspect of their position. It would be a "career-limiting move".

You end up with two sides essentially having two completely separate debates against non-existent opponents judged by two entirely different criteria.

Both weren't much fun to watch.

Stephen Baldwin?

Lis Wiehl, former prosecutor, is convinced at the top of her voice that marijuana is a gateway drug.

This is the "meat' of the post:

Kevin Sabet

Cully Stimson or Ray Walser of the Heritage Foundation. They are the policy analysts for the drug war there.

http://www.heritage.org/issues/legal/crime/war-on-drugs

How about Nancy Reagan? Though i suppose she will just say no...

thank you, thank you. ill be here till may 2012.

"smart [...] prohibitionist"

...oxymoron?

Stephen Smith beat me to the punch with the optimal comment

Check the speaker's bureau of one of the major drug cartels.

I suggest recruiting the devil ...