His academic interests initially focused on Middle East politics before he devoted himself to the issue of drug policy and the internationalization of crime law enforcement.

Nadelmann's dissertation, based in part on "hundreds of DEA and foreign drug-enforcement officials" in 19 countries, was subsequently published as "Cops Across Borders: The Internationalization of U.S. Criminal Law Enforcement.

Nadelmann appeared on TV shows including Nightline, where he and Schmoke debated Charles Rangel on drugs, and Larry King Live.

Martin Torgoff wrote in Can't Find my Way Home that "for a brief time, the Princeton Group was the most dynamic de facto drug-reform think tank in the United States.

[9] Seattle's police chief Gil Kerlikowske became the next head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

"[13] As the executive director, Nadelmann takes a public health - rather than a criminal justice - approach to the War on Drugs, advocating for the application of harm reduction principles.

[15] Starting with Proposition 215 in California in 1996, Nadelmann raised the funds and oversaw the campaigns to legalize medical marijuana and lessen penalties for non-violent drug possession charges (e.g.

[17] The three major funders were Peter Lewis, Soros, and John Sperling—the Washington Post calling them "a trio of enormously wealthy businessmen who are united behind one idea: that the war on drugs is a failure.

"[18] In A New Leaf, Alyson Martin and Nushin Rashidan wrote, "[Nadelmann's] skills as a closer complemented his ability to connect very different and very influential individuals who cared about drug policy.

The letter urged Annan "to initiate a truly open and honest dialogue regarding the future of global drug control policies—one in which fear, prejudice and punitive prohibitions yield to common sense, science, public health and human rights.

"[20] The letter was signed by "hundreds of prominent people around the world" according to the New York Times, including Soros, Javier Perez de Cuellar, George P. Shultz, Oscar Arias, Walter Cronkite, Alan Cranston, Claiborne Pell, and Helen Suzman.

[21] He later referenced "a carefully camouflaged, exorbitantly funded, well-heeled elitist group whose ultimate goal is to legalize drug use in the United States," likely referring to the efforts of Nadelmann and Soros.