Emerging as the most credible and influential critic of federal drug policies in the capital, our Washington, D.C. office develops and advances federal drug policy reform, educates policymakers on harm reduction principles and builds strategic alliances.

The office exists to challenge the punitive laws that provide the framework for our nation's "War on Drugs". We develop drug reform proposals, lobby federal policy-makers, build political coalitions, and mobilize voters to pressure their representatives. The office has established a network of Congressional staffers interested in reform; testified in front of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in favor of eliminating the crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity and in opposition to raising penalties for Ecstasy; challenged the drug czar’s public policies in the national media; developed an increasingly powerful grassroots network to pressure policy-makers; and worked to make medical marijuana, federal drug sentencing reform, and protection of electronic music national issues.

Staff face three key challenges: (1) to counter the ongoing hostility and extremism of the current administration and their powerful allies in Congress; (2) to track, prioritize and respond efficiently to the large volume of federal legislation affecting drug policy, and (3) to bring state level drug policy reform victories such as ballot initiatives and legislation to bear on Congress.

The Office of National Affair’s primary successes:

• Initiating and overseeing the successful campaign for Measure 62, a "treatment instead of incarceration" initiative, that would save lives and serve as a model for national reform. This measure won 78% of the vote, but was overthrown in court when DC Mayor sought to sue. A motion for reconsideration has been lodged.
• Organizing 'fierce resistance' to the RAVE Act , including getting two of the original co-sponsors of the bill to withdraw their support for the bill, and continuing to campaign against new anti-entertainment bills.
• Challenging the White House’s campaign to compare non-violent drug offenders to terrorists, including taking out a full-page ad in a newspaper read by every politician in Washington, D.C reads (Roll Call) and hosting a groundbreaking "drugs and terrorism" forum attended by over one hundred people. After our work the Drug Czar recently discontinued these ads, admiting that they were costly and ineffective.

Contact Information

Office of National Affairs
925 15th Street, NW
2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202.216.0035 phone
202.216.0803 fax
dc@drugpolicy.org
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