meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

12. The Godfather of Drugs: Ethan Nadelmann, Inside Marijuana Reform, The History of the Opioid Epidemic, Love and Ayahuasca

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

Daily News, Veteran, News, Politics, News Commentary, National Security

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2019

⏱️ 91 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

aae12This is Angry Americans on drugs. Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) explores the roller coaster history of the drug reform movement and the rapidly-changing landscape of drug policy with the visionary leader Rolling Stone describes as “the driving force for the legalization of marijuana in America.” As the Presidential candidates and the national political landscape on drugs shift by the day, Ethan Nadelmann (@EthanNadelmann) has been called America’s real Drug Czar. He is the mastermind behind the biggest changes to drug policy in US history. A Harvard PhD and the son of a rabbi, Ethan founded the groundbreaking Drug Policy Alliance (‪@DrugPolicyOrg) in 1994 and was a lead architect behind 30 years of reform to include California’s historic Prop 47 referendum—which in 2014 reduced drug possession for personal use to a misdemeanor. This defining political victory proved to be the first domino to fall in a string of historic national legal changes and unleashed a wave of legalization of marijuana in 10 states across America—with inevitably more to come. Ethan has advised Presidents and Presidential candidates—and shares the fascinating inside story of building the early days of the drug reform movement, and of building powerful (and unlikely) political coalitions uniting conservative icon William F Buckley and liberal icon George Soros. With New Jersey, New York and others debating legalization right now, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. As with every episode of Angry Americans, it delivers the 4 I’s: integrity, information, impact and inspiration. Rieckhoff pushes, probes and challenges. He breaks down the latest on a potential war with Iran, the shocking resignation of Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan and the historic NBA Finals ending. And Rieckhoff continues to be among those national leaders leading the charge with his fellow First Responders to pass the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund extension in Washington. It’s the latest episode of the groundbreaking political and social podcast that is sparking conversation nationwide and has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, the Associated Press and Variety. Listen now and step inside the innovative and entertaining show that takes you behind media, politics and change-making at the highest levels. This episode of Angry Americans is supported by our friends at Oscar Mike. Oscar Mike (@WeAreOscarMike) is the exclusive provider of the awesomely comfortable Angry Americans t-shirts worn by Paul Rieckhoff, Ron Perlman, Rachel Maddow and other recent guests and fans of the show worldwide. And for behind-the-scenes videos from this episode and exclusive video content featuring Wes Moore, Rachel Maddow, Tom Collicio, Sarah Jessica Parker and other recent guests, visit AngryAmericans.us. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention. Angry Americans is connecting, uniting and empowering people of all backgrounds nationwide and is powered by Righteous Media. Join the movement now. Watch the Conversation: https://youtu.be/6udEFHFowaY

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to Angry Americans.

0:17.6

Welcome to episode 12.

0:20.0

We have now produced our first dozen.

0:23.5

Well, all right, all right.

0:25.3

Twelve down, many to go.

0:27.3

I'm your host, Paul Reichoff.

0:29.4

It's another wild week in America, which is our new normal now.

0:34.3

The 2020 election is in high gear.

0:37.4

Trump is doing big rallies again. The Democrats are

0:40.6

eating their own again, and it's kind of an upside down world. A Canadian team is the best

0:46.9

team in the world at basketball. An American team is the best team in the world at hockey.

0:53.0

And maybe the best team in the world in women's soccer is American too.

0:58.3

But it's wild out there.

1:00.0

And every week we're going to explore our great American experiment

1:03.5

and ask hard questions of our political leaders and therefore our government.

1:09.8

Mark Twain famously said,

1:12.2

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time,

1:15.2

and your government, when it deserves it.

1:18.3

And right now, our government doesn't deserve it.

1:21.8

And that's what's got me angry this week,

1:23.7

and I think should have all Americans angry too.

1:26.6

If you're not angry, you're not paying attention.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Righteous Media | Bleav, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Righteous Media | Bleav and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.