We are excited to announce the screening of Smart on Drugs, Not War on Drugs, a documentary that tells the story of the human impacts of the current global war on drugs and its effects on incarceration and human rights violations. The film compares drug policies around the world and highlights the importance of harm reduction and smarter drug policies.

You will watch stories from people living in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Lebanon, Portugal, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States, bringing a broader perspective of how these countries are dealing with drug-related policies and offenses. The documentary is part of the “Incarceration Nations: a Global Docuseries”, a 10-episode series of documentary films to educate viewers about global mass incarceration, and highlight the current unjust judicial systems and practices that affect people around the world.

After the screening, we will host a panel discussion to talk about the documentary, drug policy, and incarceration. Join us and bring your comments and questions!

!! After the event, we will host a party at Le Frigo Vert !!

Panelists:

// Prof. Baz Dreisinger //

• Baz is the documentary director and Founding Executive Director of Incarceration Nations Network, a global network that promotes prison reform and justice reimagining worldwide; a Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of NY; and the founder of John Jay's groundbreaking Prison-to-College Pipeline program, which provides university-level education and reentry assistance to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in NY. She is also the author of the book Incarceration Nations: a Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World.

// Prof. Vicki Chartrand //

• Vicki is a Mama and Associate Professor in the Sociology Department at Bishop’s University, Québec, the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki people. She is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa, Criminology Department and founder and director of the Justice Exchange Research Centre (https://justiceexchange.ca/) – a centre for collaborative community justice and accountability. Her research includes penal and carceral politics, modern day colonialism, community justices, and collaborative methodologies. She has over 20 years of experience collaborating with women and children, Indigenous communities, and people in prison.

// Heath D'Alessio //

• Heath (they/them) is a youth mental health activist, public speaker, and person with lived experience of drug use and mental illness. They believe that drug policy is at its core a human rights issues, advocating for better approaches to drug policy that favour public health over criminalization. Heath has been active in policy reform activism and mental health advocacy for over 6 years, representing youth and people with lived experience on advisory committees for cannabis and mental health research, and in policy discussions at the local, federal, and international level.

Agenda

• 6 pm: coffee chat + CSSDP harm reduction and drug education booth

• 6:30 pm: documentary screening

• 7-8 pm: panel discussion

• 8 pm: post-event party at Le Frigo Vertpost-event

Post-Event Party!

• Party at Le Frigo vert, starting at 8pm

• Drinks, music and snacks

• Come chill with us!

• 1440 Mackay Street

This event will be held at Concordia University, located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present, and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.