In this thought-provoking episode of Exploring Reality Maybe, we sit down with Ethan Nadelmann, often called the “godfather of drug policy reform.” From his early academic years at Princeton to leading global movements that challenged the U.S. war on drugs, Ethan has spent decades reshaping how society views cannabis, psychedelics, and addiction. His work is as much about justice and human rights as it is about science and health.

Ethan shares his journey of questioning prohibitionist policies, the intellectual spark that came from John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty, and how a call from George Soros set him on the path to founding the Lindesmith Center and later the Drug Policy Alliance. He explains the human and systemic costs of mass incarceration and explores the rise of harm reduction as an alternative to criminalization.

We also dive into the global perspective—what the U.S. can learn from Europe, the United Nations, and Latin America about regulating drugs and supporting communities. Ethan unpacks the growing role of psychedelics in mental health, the lessons from tobacco harm reduction, and the political challenges facing reform today.

Finally, we reflect on ego, consciousness, and the delicate balance between personal transformation and collective responsibility. This conversation is a rare look into the mind of someone who has been at the center of one of the most important public health and human rights debates of our time.