Culture Series: The War on Drugs in DC

In 1989, Washington, DC, was an epicenter for the crack epidemic. Elected officials, including then-President George H.W. Bush, politicized the city's struggles to further misguided and punitive policies that were implemented by Nixon's "war on drugs." For decades, these policies unjustly targeted Black and Brown Americans, and DC was no exception. 

Today, the reverberations of the drug war are still felt by generations of Washingtonians who saw sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends locked away for drug offenses. The cycles of incarceration unraveled the fabric that binds families together and changed the life trajectory of those who found themselves in the crosshairs of the law. 

In 2024, we see a new era of progressive drug policies and restorative justice that includes cannabis legalization. As advocates grapple with new industry and legislation, many are left wondering what it means to end the "war on drugs." From ending incarceration and creating paths for re-entry to opportunities in new industries and the chance to build wealth, what does it mean for DC residents to say, "the drug war is over"? 

Join HumanitiesDC and guest curator Caroline Phillips, Founder and Executive Producer of the National Cannabis Festival, for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on this bold question in the upcoming Culture Series.

ASL Interpretation will be provided.

More About the Curator: Caroline Phillips specializes in conceptualizing, strategizing and executing political campaigns, non-profit initiatives, live events and marketing experiences. In 2014, Caroline founded The High Street LLC, a public relations and event production company with the mission of cultivating projects and ideas that leverage business and advocacy for social good. In 2016, Caroline launched the National Cannabis Festival (NCF) in Washington, D.C. and in 2018 she expanded the program to include the National Cannabis Policy Summit (NCPS) and Four20 Month. Going into year 7, NCF is now the largest ticketed cannabis gathering on the east coast and NCPS is the only nationally televised cannabis conference in the United States. Caroline is a native Washingtonian. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, completed post-graduate studies at Howard University and received her Master’s degree from Georgetown University. 

Please note: RSVPs are not required for entry, and entry is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. We appreciate your donations, but please note that if the event reaches capacity, donations will not be refundable.

For reasonable accommodation requests regarding access and inclusion, please contact Jimmy Watkins ([email protected]) no later than five business days before the start of this event.

Host or Publisher HumanitiesDC