Dear Supporter,

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization of people who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good.

In our vision of tomorrow, people are not punished simply for what they put into their bodies but only for harm done to others.  We fight for drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights. Our work spans issues from medical marijuana to youth drug education.  We work to ensure that our nation’s drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of nonviolent people, especially people of color.

Our Goals

We do not believe that there is an ultimate solution to our drug problems, but we do believe that there are steps that can and should be taken soon to reduce the harms associated with both drug use and our failed policies. These include:

• Eliminate criminal penalties for marijuana, except those involving distribution of drugs to children.
• Fight for legally accessible marijuana for medical purposes.
• Curtail drug testing not related to detecting impairment.
• Facilitate effective, reality-based drug education and end support for ineffective programs.
• Redirect government drug control priorities from criminal justice and interdiction to public health and education.
• Stop racially discriminatory drug policies and draconian enforcement tactics.
• Support sensible harm reduction measures, including syringe access to reduce HIV/AIDS,
  hepatitis and other infectious diseases, and access to naloxone to prevent fatal overdoses.
• Make methadone maintenance and other effective drug treatment more accessible and available.
• Remove obstacles for treating chronic pain and terminal disease with opioid and other medications.
• Repeal mandatory-minimum sentencing for nonviolent drug offenses and end incarceration for
  simple drug possession.
• End discrimination against people with past drug abuse problems or offenses.
• Cease asset forfeiture abuses.
• Restore constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Promote debate on all drug policy options, including various models of legalization and
  regulation.

This statement of objectives and issues should not be regarded as comprehensive, but rather as suggested components of a drug policy based not upon fear, prejudice and punitive prohibitions but rather science, compassion, health and human rights. You can read our vision/mission here.

Projects

• Safety First: A Reality Approach to Teens and Drugs
• New Mexico Drug Policy Project
• Proposition 36 (California)
• HelpStopAids
• International Harm Reduction Development (IHRD)

History

DPA formed in 2000 when The Lindesmith Center, an activist drug policy think-tank established by myself in 1994, merged with the Drug Policy Foundation, a membership and grantmaking organization established in 1987.  Today, we have eight offices, 46 staff, 26,000 dues-paying members, over 100,000 online subscribers, and a growing track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels.

I hope you will consider becoming a member of DPA, signing up to receive important messages via email, or taking action for reform.

Sincerely,

Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance