Drug Policy Action

OREGON, MEASURE 110 (BALLOT INITIATIVE)THIS PAST YEAR, DRUG POLICY ACTION'S TOP PRIORITY CAMPAIGN WAS AIMED AT DECRIMINALIZING POSSESSION OF ALL DRUGS FOR PERSONAL USE IN OREGON WHILE EXPANDING THE STATE'S DRUG TREATMENT AND HEALTH SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.THE CRIMINALIZATION OF PERSONAL DRUG USE IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH THE U.S. DRUG WAR STANDS. SIMPLE DRUG POSSESSION IS BY FAR THE MOST ARRESTED OFFENSE IN THE COUNTRY, WITH 1.42 MILLION ARRESTS IN 2018 ALONE, COMPARED TO 231,000 ARRESTS FOR SALES, TRAFFICKING, AND MANUFACTURING. AN ARREST, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T RESULT IN A CONVICTION, CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND MORE. AND, AS ALWAYS WITH THE DRUG WAR, ARRESTS ARE RACIALLY TARGETED, WITH A PARTICULARLY DEVASTATING IMPACT ON GENERATIONS OF BLACK, BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.THE OVEREMPHASIS ON CRIMINALIZATION HAS DISTORTED SYSTEMS OF CARE FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, CONTRIBUTING TO AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO NEED AND WANT THEM. THE DRAMATIC RISE IN OVERDOSE IN RECENT YEARS IS ROOTED IN CRIMINALIZATION, WHICH DRIVES DRUG USE UNDERGROUND AND MAKES IT LESS LIKELY PEOPLE WILL ACCESS HELP. MOREOVER, MANY OF THE AVAILABLE SERVICES RELY ON SURVEILLANCE AND COERCION, FUNCTIONING LESS AS COMPASSIONATE PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS AND MORE AS PUNITIVE CRIMINAL LEGAL CONTROLS.DRUG POLICY ACTION SPEARHEADED A GROUNDBREAKING BALLOT INITIATIVE IN OREGON THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, DECRIMINALIZED POSSESSION OF ALL DRUGS FOR PERSONAL USE. THIS INITIATIVE FUNDAMENTALLY SHIFTED OREGON'S RESPONSE TO DRUG USE, DISRUPTING THE MOST ARRESTED OFFENSE IN THE COUNTRY, AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW. SUBSEQUENT VICTORY IN OREGON IN NOVEMBER 2020 DEMONSTRATED THAT EFFECTIVE, COMPASSIONATE ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST, PROSECUTION, AND INCARCERATION ARE POLITICALLY VIABLE.OUR POLICY MODEL SEEKS TO DISMANTLE THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENT THAT HAS LONG BEEN AT THE CORE OF THE DRUG WAR WHILE BUILDING A NEW WAY OF RESPONDING TO PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS. IT IS BASED IN EXTENSIVE POLICY AND PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH, AS WELL AS 20+ YEARS OF OUR DUAL EXPERTISE IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS. SPECIFICALLY, THE OREGON INITIATIVE PROPOSED TO DO THE FOLLOWING: 1) ELIMINATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR DRUG POSSESSION FOR PERSONAL USE AND DECREASE OTHER PENALTIES.2) INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND HARM REDUCTION SERVICES, INCLUDING HOUSING, AND ESTABLISH TREATMENT CENTERS.3) FUND SERVICES PRIMARILY WITH TAX REVENUE FROM LEGAL MARIJUANA, UPWARD OF $100 MILLION PER YEAR.

LOBBYING ACTIVITIES:IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PRINCIPLE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING SOCIAL WELFARE THROUGH INFLUENCING POLICY AND LEGISLATION, DRUG POLICY ACTION LOBBIES FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE THEM TO SPONSOR, PROMOTE AND/OR SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVE LAWS RELATED TO DRUGS AND DRUG USE.