For more than a decade in California, DPA has sponsored some of the nation’s most progressive drug policy reforms, including initiatives that legalized medical marijuana (Prop. 215 in 1996) and created the largest treatment-instead-of-incarceration program in the country (Prop. 36 in 2000). For more on our past successes, click here.

Our two state offices—San Francisco and Los Angeles—and our national Office of Legal Affairs in Berkeley continue to be instrumental in the success of many of California’s drug policy reforms. For a “Who’s Who” of DPA California staff, click here.

Taxing and regulating marijuana. With a devastating economic downturn and increasing violence associated with criminal drug syndicates, DPA believes it is time for an honest debate about our marijuana laws – and about changing them. We are a leading advocate of efforts to regulate marijuana in California (such as Assembly member Tom Ammiano’s AB 390) and to highlight the wasteful, punitive, racist effects of marijuana prohibition. [More]

Expanding access to sterile syringes. DPA is dedicated to expanding access to sterile syringes in order to help prevent blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C among injection drug users, their sexual partners, and their children. In 2009/10, we are working hard to develop and promote legislation that would address California’s patchwork access to this no-cost, life-saving option.

Preventing overdose deaths. Overdose deaths in California are on the rise, and DPA is working to promote effective prevention efforts. We are developing legislation in California that would address the new reality that prescription opioids – such as Vicodin®, OxyContin® and methadone – account for an increasingly large number of preventable overdose deaths.
 
Advocating for access to addiction treatment. Even as budget cuts slash into the range of social services, DPA is working with graduates of Proposition 36, California’s treatment-instead-of-incarceration program, to advocate for the continued funding of and access to addiction treatment in the community.

Pushing for criminal justice reform. California’s criminal justice system is broken and DPA is dedicated to identifying and promoting solutions. There are still 30,000 drug offenders in California’s prisons and countless more cycling through jails, and on parole and probation. DPA believes that the solution to the state’s prison overcrowding crisis includes reform of our drug laws – and expanded access to addiction treatment.

Get Involved

• Sign up to receive California action alerts.
• Check out DPA's 2009 Advocacy Toolkit for tips on how to be effective.
• Contact a DPA office near you (San Francisco and Los Angeles).