Baltimore Conference, City Officials Call for Sweeping New Drug Strategy.

The war on drugs has fundamentally failed to control urban problems related to illicit substances, ans cities must be the laboratories of change in drug policy, because national governments worldwide are still dominated by advocates of continuing and expanding drug prohibition.

That was the message delivered by officials and representatives from 42 cities in 19 countries, at the conclusion of the First Conference of the International Network of Cities on Drug Policy, in Baltimore Nov. 16-17. Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke co-hosted the conference with the Drug Policy Foundation.

Other key points of agreement expressed in a statement by the conference delegates:

Harm reduction programs in key European and Australian cities were featured throughout the conference program and endorsed by most delegates.

The delegates favorably discussed both the Resolution for a Federal Commision on Drug Policy (widely known as the Hoover Resolution) and the Frankfurt Resolution, though no signing ceremony for either document was held.

Many delegates vowed to encourage the formation of special task forces in their cities to re-examine their drug policies and craft new approaches.

Cities participating in the conference will become charter members of the new International Network of Cities on Drug Policy. The network will provide a means of communication between network cities and will publicize new policies to other cities.