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{{Short description|American non-profit advocacy-organization}}
{{Short description|American non-profit advocacy organization}}
{{Primary sources|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{infobox organization/Wikidata | fetchwikidata=ALL}}
{{infobox organization/Wikidata | fetchwikidata=ALL|image=Drug Policy Alliance logo.png}}


The '''Drug Policy Alliance''' ('''DPA''') is a [[New York, New York|New York City]]–based [[nonprofit organization]] that seeks to advance policies that “reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies” <ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://drugpolicy.org/about-us|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Drug Policy Alliance|language=en}}</ref> The organization prioritizes reducing the role of criminalization in drug policy, advocating for the legal regulation of marijuana, and promoting health-centered drug policies. DPA has been led by executive director Kassandra Frederique since September 2020.
The '''Drug Policy Alliance''' ('''DPA''') is a [[New York, New York|New York City]]–based [[nonprofit organization]] that seeks to advance policies that "reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies".<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://drugpolicy.org/about-us|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Drug Policy Alliance|language=en|archive-date=September 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904215820/http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The organization prioritizes reducing the role of criminalization in drug policy, advocating for the legal regulation of marijuana, and promoting health-centered drug policies.
[[File:Kassandra Frederique on The Laura Flanders Show.jpg|right|thumb|Kassandra Frederique on ''[[The Laura Flanders Show]]'' in 2019]]

==Overview==
The Drug Policy Alliance was formed when the [[Drug Policy Foundation]] and the [[Lindesmith Center]] merged in July 2000. Lindesmith Center founder [[Ethan Nadelmann]] served as its first Executive Director.

Broadcast journalist [[Walter Cronkite]] spoke out against the [[War on Drugs]] in support of the Drug Policy Alliance. He appeared in advertisements on behalf of the organization and wrote a fundraising letter, which was also published in ''[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]''.
In the letter, Cronkite wrote: "Today, our nation is fighting two wars: one abroad and one at home. While the war in Iraq is in the headlines, the other war is still being fought on our own streets. Its casualties are the wasted lives of our own citizens. I am speaking of the war on drugs. And I cannot help but wonder how many more lives, and how much more money, will be wasted before another [[Robert McNamara]] admits what is plain for all to see: the war on drugs is a failure."<ref name = "Telling the Truth About the War on Drugs">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/walter-cronkite/telling-the-truth-about-t_b_16605.html
| title = Stop the drug war now, more than ever
| date = March 1, 2006
| author = Cronkite, Walter
| work = Huffington Post
| access-date = September 13, 2011
}}</ref>


==History==
The Drug Policy Alliance was formed when the [[Drug Policy Foundation]] and the [[Lindesmith Center]] merged in July 2000. Lindesmith Center founder. [[Ethan Nadelmann]] served as its first Executive Director. From October 2017, it was led by [[Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno]].<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2017 |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |title=Meet DPA's New Executive Director, Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno |author=Derek Rosenfeld |url=https://drugpolicy.org/blog/meet-dpas-new-executive-director-maria-mcfarland-sanchez-moreno |access-date=2024-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019014415/https://drugpolicy.org/blog/meet-dpas-new-executive-director-maria-mcfarland-sanchez-moreno |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since September 2020, it has been led by executive director [[Kassandra Frederique]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schiller |first=Melissa |title=Drug Policy Alliance Board Announces Kassandra Frederique as Next Executive Director |url=https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/drug-policy-alliance-board-announces-next-executive-director/ |work=Cannabis Business Times}}</ref>
==Main issues==
==Main issues==
[[File:Harm reduction conference 2012 - 8201928066.jpg|thumb|right|DPA booth at a 2012 conference]]

===Cannabis===
DPA believes that [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] should be legalized and regulated for adult use and for medicinal purposes. DPA believes marijuana should be removed from the criminal legal system and regulated responsibly with equity, social justice, and community reinvestment at the core.{{cn|date=March 2022}}


===Drug war===
===Drug war===
DPA believes that the War on Drugs in America has failed. They present the argument that the United States has spent billions of dollars on making the country drug-free, but many illicit drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and many others, are more potent and prevalent than ever before.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/drugwar/|title=Drug Policy Alliance {{!}} Guiding Drug Law Reform & Advocacy|website=www.drugpolicy.org|access-date=2016-04-12}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends|title=Nationwide Trends|last=Abuse|first=National Institute on Drug|website=www.drugabuse.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2015/07/13/marijuana-prohibition-and-the-war-on-drugs-have-utterly-failed|title=What Have We Been Smoking?|last=Crawford|first=Alejandro|date=2015-07-13|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/in-rethinking-the-war-on-drugs-start-with-the-numbers.html|title=Numbers Tell of Failure in the War on Drugs|last=Porter|first=Eduardo|date=2012-07-03|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>
DPA believes that the [[War on drugs]] in America has failed. They present the argument that the United States has spent billions of dollars on making the country drug-free, but many illicit drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and many others, are more potent and prevalent than ever before.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends|title=Nationwide Trends|last=Abuse|first=National Institute on Drug|website=www.drugabuse.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2015/07/13/marijuana-prohibition-and-the-war-on-drugs-have-utterly-failed|title=What Have We Been Smoking?|last=Crawford|first=Alejandro|date=2015-07-13|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/in-rethinking-the-war-on-drugs-start-with-the-numbers.html|title=Numbers Tell of Failure in the War on Drugs|last=Porter|first=Eduardo|date=2012-07-03|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>

===Overdose===
DPA believes the growing numbers of deaths due to drug overdose<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates|title=Overdose Death Rates|last=Abuse|first=National Institute on Drug|website=www.drugabuse.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> should be dealt with as a medical rather than a criminal issue. They present drug decriminalization, methadone and buprenorphine access, naloxone access, overdose prevention centers, drug checking, and Good Samaritan laws as their solutions.<ref>Drug Policy Alliance [http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/overdose/ "Preventing Overdose"]</ref>

===Parents, teens, and drugs===
DPA believes that young people need access to credible information regarding decisions and information on drugs. They believe that open and honest dialogue is the key, and with this idea started the Safety First Project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Safety First: Parents, Teens and Drugs |url=https://www.drugpolicy.org/safetyfirst/ |website=drugpolicy.org |access-date=November 12, 2014}}</ref>

===Health approaches===
DPA believes that drug use should be treated as a health issue instead of a criminal issue and advocates for harm reduction and drug decriminalization.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

===Law===
DPA believes that many of the arrests for drug possession conflict with the constitutional rights of Americans.<ref name="drugpolicy.org">Drug Policy Alliance [http://www.drugpolicy.org/reducingharm/ "Reducing Harm: Treatment and Beyond"]</ref> DPA has also provided funding for [[Flex Your Rights]], a nonprofit organization that educates the public about their constitutional rights during police encounters.{{cn|date=March 2022}}


===Communities affected===
===Communities affected===
DPA believes that the war on drugs does not affect all of the American population the same way, and that some communities are disproportionately affected.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bowling|first1=Ben|last2=Phillips|first2=Coretta|date=2007-11-01|title=Disproportionate and Discriminatory: Reviewing the Evidence on Police Stop and Search|journal=The Modern Law Review|language=en|volume=70|issue=6|pages=936–961|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2230.2007.00671.x|s2cid=23235460|issn=1468-2230}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/drug-war-new-jim-crow|title=The Drug War is the New Jim Crow|website=American Civil Liberties Union|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>
DPA believes that the war on drugs does not affect all of the American population the same way, and that some communities are disproportionately affected.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bowling|first1=Ben|last2=Phillips|first2=Coretta|date=2007-11-01|title=Disproportionate and Discriminatory: Reviewing the Evidence on Police Stop and Search|journal=The Modern Law Review|language=en|volume=70|issue=6|pages=936–961|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2230.2007.00671.x|s2cid=23235460|issn=1468-2230}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/drug-war-new-jim-crow|title=The Drug War is the New Jim Crow|website=American Civil Liberties Union|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>


⚫
== Results ==
===Drug policy around the world===
DPA states that many countries around the world are approaching their own war on drugs in a different way than the United States does and that many of the countries can lead as examples for many new approaches in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.drugpolicy.org/global/ "Drug Policy Around the World"]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/safe-and-effective-drug-policy-look-dutch|title=For Safe and Effective Drug Policy, Look to the Dutch|website=Open Society Foundations|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>

⚫
==Results==

DPA was a sponsor of California's 1996 landmark medical marijuana law, [[Proposition 215]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/about-us/departments-and-state-offices/california/marijuana-and-golden-state#Medical|title=Marijuana and the Golden State {{!}} Drug Policy Alliance|website=www.drugpolicy.org|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> which made cannabis available to patients as well as reduced criminal penalties for possession. Beginning with California in 1996, DPA has played a role in roughly half of the campaigns that have legalized medical marijuana in the U.S.

DPA played a role in all the campaigns to legalize marijuana for adult use more broadly to date: Colorado and Washington in 2012; Uruguay in 2013; Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., in 2014; California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada in 2016; New Jersey in 2020; and New Mexico and New York in 2021.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

In 2000, DPA helped push California's landmark treatment-not-incarceration law called [[Proposition 36]]. It replaces jail time with substance abuse treatment for first and second time nonviolent drug offenders. More than 84,000 people were removed from jail and graduated from treatment.<ref name="About DPA">Drug Policy Alliance [http://www.drugpolicy.org/about/ "About DPA"]</ref>

DPA has been involved with other drug sentencing reforms including the repeal of New York's Rockefeller drug laws in 2009, the federal Fair Sentencing Act in 2010, Proposition 36 in 2012 which reformed California's Three Strikes Law, Proposition 47 in 2014 which changed some nonviolent offenses like simple drug possession from felonies to misdemeanors in California, bail reform in New Jersey in 2014, and asset forfeiture reforms in California, Florida, and New Mexico in 2015-16.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

In 2006, DPA got the "Blood-Borne Disease Harm Reduction Act" signed into law in New Jersey. It allows up to six cities to establish [[Needle exchange programme|syringe access programs]]. This program is designed to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases such as [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref>{{cite press release
|title=New Jersey Senate to Vote on Bill to Make "Pilot" Sterile Syringe Access Programs Permanent and Provide Funding
|url= http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2012/06/new-jersey-senate-vote-bill-make-pilot-sterile-syringe-access-programs-permanent-and-pr
|agency= Drug Policy Alliance
|date= 2012-06-19
|access-date=2018-12-29}}</ref> DPA also played a role in efforts to make syringes legally available in New York (2000), California (2004) and supported efforts in Connecticut, Illinois, and other states.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

DPA has worked across the country to pass the "911 Good Samaritan Immunity Laws." These laws are to help encourage overdose witnesses to call 911. They reduce drug possession charges for those who seek medical help. DPA led a campaign in New Mexico to pass the law and were successful in 2007.<ref name="About DPA" /> DPA has also helped pass numerous naloxone access laws, including in California and New York to make it available over-the-counter. {{cn|date=March 2022}}

In 2020, DPA's advocacy and political arm, Drug Policy Action, spearheaded the passage of the [[2020 Oregon Ballot Measure 110|Oregon Ballot Measure 110]], which made Oregon the first state in the nation to decriminalize drug possession while significantly expanding access to evidence-informed, culturally-responsive treatment, harm reduction and other health services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-oregon-elections-a7bf2c4477ca38a31bd140848c023061 |title=Oregon 1st in US to soften on hard drugs, 'magic' mushrooms |publisher=AP News |date=2020-11-04 |accessdate=2022-05-11}}</ref>
In 2020, DPA's advocacy and political arm, Drug Policy Action, spearheaded the passage of the [[2020 Oregon Ballot Measure 110|Oregon Ballot Measure 110]], which made Oregon the first state in the nation to decriminalize drug possession while significantly expanding access to evidence-informed, culturally-responsive treatment, harm reduction and other health services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-oregon-elections-a7bf2c4477ca38a31bd140848c023061 |title=Oregon 1st in US to soften on hard drugs, 'magic' mushrooms |publisher=AP News |date=2020-11-04 |accessdate=2022-05-11}}</ref>

==DPA awards==
DPA gives biannual awards at its International Drug Policy Reform Conference to "honor advocates, elected officials and organizations for their courageous work in reforming drug laws.".<ref>DPA, November 4, 2005, [http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrelease/pr110405.cfm Drug Policy Alliance to Hand Out Honors to Leading Advocates and Organizations at Biennial Conference in Long Beach, CA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190337/http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrelease/pr110405.cfm |date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> These include
* [[Edward M. Brecher]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Journalism
* [[Richard Dennis|Richard J. Dennis]] Drugpeace Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Drug Policy Reform
* [[Alfred R. Lindesmith]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Scholarship
* [[Robert C. Randall]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action
* [[Norman Zinberg|Norman E. Zinberg]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Medicine
* H.B. Spear Award for Achievement in the Field of Control and Enforcement
* Justice [[Gerald Le Dain]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Law
* Dr. [[Andrew Weil]] Award for Achievement in the Field of Drug Education

==See also==
==See also==
*[[Arguments for and against drug prohibition]]
*[[Arguments for and against drug prohibition]]
Line 85: Line 24:
*[[Harm reduction]]
*[[Harm reduction]]
*[[Prison reform]]
*[[Prison reform]]
*[[War on Drugs]]


==References==
==References==
Line 92: Line 30:
==External links==
==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.drugpolicy.org/}}
*{{official website|https://www.drugpolicy.org/}}
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?13855-1/morning-edition-radio-show 6 September 1990 rare video of "National Public Radio's Morning Edition" at 01:40:06] of [[John P. Walters]] and opposing views by Arnold Trebach of the Drug Policy Foundation about the "[[War on Drugs]]."
*[https://www.c-span.org/search/?sdate=&edate=&searchtype=Videos&sort=Least+Recent+Event&text=0&personid%5B%5D=6645 Video appearances on C-SPAN]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150826172430/http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/ Global Commission on Drug Policy]
*[http://www.idpc.net The International Drug Policy Consortium]
*[http://www.soros.org/initiatives/drugpolicy Global Drug Policy Program]
*[http://www.safeaccessnow.org Americans for Safe Access]
*[http://www.leap.cc LEAP - Law Enforcement Action Partnership]
*[http://www.norml.org National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws]
*[http://www.mpp.org Marijuana Policy Project]
*[http://www.ssdp.org Students for a Sensible Drug Policy]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111221221717/http://www.sfdrugusersunion.org/ San Francisco Drug Users Union]
*[http://www.beckleyfoundation.org The Beckley Foundation]


{{Cannabis}}
{{Cannabis}}

Latest revision as of 20:28, 6 May 2024

Drug Policy Alliance
Established2000 Edit this on Wikidata (24 years ago)
Legal status501(c)(3) organization Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersNew York City Edit this on Wikidata
CountryUnited States Edit this on Wikidata
Revenue9,738,941 United States dollar (2018) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.drugpolicy.org Edit this on Wikidata

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is a New York City–based nonprofit organization that seeks to advance policies that "reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies".[1] The organization prioritizes reducing the role of criminalization in drug policy, advocating for the legal regulation of marijuana, and promoting health-centered drug policies.

History

[edit]

The Drug Policy Alliance was formed when the Drug Policy Foundation and the Lindesmith Center merged in July 2000. Lindesmith Center founder. Ethan Nadelmann served as its first Executive Director. From October 2017, it was led by Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno.[2] Since September 2020, it has been led by executive director Kassandra Frederique.[3]

Main issues

[edit]
DPA booth at a 2012 conference

Drug war

[edit]

DPA believes that the War on drugs in America has failed. They present the argument that the United States has spent billions of dollars on making the country drug-free, but many illicit drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and many others, are more potent and prevalent than ever before.[4][5][6]

Communities affected

[edit]

DPA believes that the war on drugs does not affect all of the American population the same way, and that some communities are disproportionately affected.[7][8]

Results

[edit]

In 2020, DPA's advocacy and political arm, Drug Policy Action, spearheaded the passage of the Oregon Ballot Measure 110, which made Oregon the first state in the nation to decriminalize drug possession while significantly expanding access to evidence-informed, culturally-responsive treatment, harm reduction and other health services.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "About Us". Drug Policy Alliance. Archived from the original on September 4, 2007. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Derek Rosenfeld (October 4, 2017). "Meet DPA's New Executive Director, Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno". Drug Policy Alliance. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Schiller, Melissa. "Drug Policy Alliance Board Announces Kassandra Frederique as Next Executive Director". Cannabis Business Times.
  4. ^ Abuse, National Institute on Drug. "Nationwide Trends". www.drugabuse.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Crawford, Alejandro (July 13, 2015). "What Have We Been Smoking?". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Porter, Eduardo (July 3, 2012). "Numbers Tell of Failure in the War on Drugs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Bowling, Ben; Phillips, Coretta (November 1, 2007). "Disproportionate and Discriminatory: Reviewing the Evidence on Police Stop and Search". The Modern Law Review. 70 (6): 936–961. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2230.2007.00671.x. ISSN 1468-2230. S2CID 23235460.
  8. ^ "The Drug War is the New Jim Crow". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "Oregon 1st in US to soften on hard drugs, 'magic' mushrooms". AP News. November 4, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
[edit]
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