This year we also saw the Biden Administration take a momentous step toward marijuana reform, announcing it was recommending rescheduling the drug to lessen federal restrictions.

While this change has symbolic value, it would not end marijuana criminalization. Most marijuana conduct would remain illegal under federal law. That’s why we are advocating to deschedule marijuana which is the only way to fully end prohibition and all its harms. We are working with Congress to pass comprehensive legislation — such as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act — that deschedules marijuana to end federal marijuana criminalization and begins to undo the harms caused by decades of racist enforcement of marijuana laws.​​​

We also worked to introduce transformative federal legislation like the RESTORE Act and the Drug Policy Reform Act. The RESTORE ACT would repeal the lifetime ban on people with felony drug convictions from receiving food stamp benefits — a cruel policy that currently denies people critical food assistance for themselves and their families.

The Drug Policy Reform Act would represent a sea change in our nation’s federal drug policy by taking a health-focused approach to drugs instead of one based in criminalization. We are working behind the scenes to have it reintroduced soon.

Together, we took steps toward our shared vision: a world where we can embrace the full humanity of every person, regardless of their drug use. ​​​​​​

But if we want to get there, we have to keep fighting. That’s why the Drug Policy Alliance has set our Giving Tuesday match goal at $15,000. These resources are critical to supporting DPA’s advocacy, lobbying, outreach, education, and more.

Join DPA today and your support will be matched up to $15,000 to help reach our year-end goal!

We have so much work ahead of us in the coming months. But with your help, we can defend the progress we’ve made and continue working toward a more humane drug policy!

P.S. We need your support to reach our match Giving Tuesday goal! Join DPA in honor of Giving Tuesday this year and every dollar you give will be matched up to $15,000 to help us get there.