Last time I checked, Martin Sheen was an actor, not a policy expert. But that hasn’t stopped him from asking our elected officials to oppose Prop. 5. In a letter last week, Mr. Sheen urged our representatives in Sacramento to ignore all of the state’s public health advocates and side with him.

He’s asking a lot: the state’s leading addiction treatment and mental health groups all support Prop. 5.

I am disappointed that Mr. Sheen, a person who has struggled with addiction himself for years, is opposed to Prop. 5 — a measure that would significantly expand funding for drug treatment and drug courts, and focus resources on the underlying problems faced by so many nonviolent offenders in this state. For sure, Mr. Sheen has endured tough, personal experiences that have left him with strong views on addiction. His experience and perspective deserve respect; but they do not define good state policy.

He says Prop. 5 won’t help. He is wrong now—just like he was wrong back in 2000.

In 2000, Mr. Sheen opposed Proposition 36, the state’s ground-breaking treatment-not-incarceration law, claiming that it wouldn’t help people struggling with addiction. Voters disagreed, approving Prop. 36 with a 61 percent landslide. Since then, 84,000 people have completed Prop. 36 drug treatment. Without Prop. 36, most of them would never have been offered any help. At the same time, Prop. 36 has already saved taxpayers almost $2 billion.

Each and every Prop. 36 graduate has better life prospects, especially in terms of family and employment. I have the privilege of working with many Prop. 36 graduates and other people in long-term recovery from alcohol and other drug problems. I partner with people in recovery to fight for something we are all passionate about: ending addiction and increasing resources to achieve that goal. That is why so many people in recovery support Prop. 5. 

Prop. 5 builds on the success of Prop. 36, making treatment available to more nonviolent offenders and, for the first time, to young people in California. By increasing funding to treatment, Prop. 5 will help more people and save more taxpayer dollars.

Martin Sheen has his perspective. But even though he’s a Hollywood star, his vote won’t count any more than yours or mine will on November 4th. Remember to vote Yes on 5!

Sincerely,

Margaret Dooley-Sammuli
Deputy Campaign Manager, Yes on 5
Deputy State Director, Southern California
Drug Policy Alliance Network