Washington, D.C. – In response to President Biden’s pre-released State of the Union outline detailing increased crack downs on fentanyl-related substances, Maritza Perez Medina, Director of the Office of Federal Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement: “We are glad to see President Biden continue to call for increased access to evidence-based […]
Continuation of Failed Drug War Criminal Responses and Absence of Overdose Prevention Centers Run Counter to Hochul’s Commitments to Reducing Overdose Deaths in New York New York, NY – In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State priorities she announced today, Toni Smith-Thompson, Director of the New York State Office for the Drug […]
Washington, D.C. – Today’s passage of the federal omnibus package is the latest indication of Congress’ failure to effectively address the overdose crisis. While the package includes additional funding for overdose prevention activities and passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, it also includes another two-year extension of the Trump-era temporary scheduling of fentanyl-related […]
Washington, D.C. – In response to President Biden today announcing that he will pardon all simple federal marijuana possession charges and urge Governors to take similar actions at the state level, Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement: “We are thrilled to see President Biden holding true to his commitment […]
Los Angeles, CA – Governor Newsom signed AB 2195 the Alternate Plea Act, a first-in-the-nation proposal that will allow prosecutors to offer a public nuisance plea to individuals facing a drug conviction in appropriate cases at the prosecutor’s own discretion. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). The public nuisance plea will carry […]
By Signing SB 1338, Governor Newsom Signals His Favor of Forced, Court-Mandated Treatment of People with Substance Use Disorders and Other Behavioral Health Challenges Over Evidence-based Public Health Solutions Los Angeles, CA – September 15, 2022 – Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed SB 1338, The CARE Act, into law. The CARE Act aims to create a […]
Portland, OR – According to a new poll released by Data for Progress, a strong majority of voters continue to support Measure 110—the voter approved ballot referendum that made Oregon the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize drug possession and greatly expand addiction services—by a +22-point margin, nearly two years after its passage. Majority […]
Portland, OR – Today, Oregon decisionmakers approved the remainder of $302 million for addiction services made available by Measure 110—the voter approved ballot measure that made Oregon the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs and greatly expand addiction services through redirected marijuana tax revenue–for the 2021-23 biennium. The […]
Los Angeles, CA – Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 57, a bill to pilot overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland. The bill was authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by the Drug Policy Alliance—along with other co-sponsoring organizations, including the California Society of Additional Medicine (CSAM), […]
Administration Must Strengthen EO & Work with Congress to Advance Amir Locke End Deadly No-Knock Warrants Act (H.R. 6877) and the Demilitarizing Local Law Enforcement Act of 2021 (H.R. 3227) Washington, D.C.–In response to President Biden today, on the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s horrific killing at the hands of police, signing an executive order […]
