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Friend,
This is a critical election year and we hope you are registered and ready to make your vote count.
We won’t let our issues or our voices get lost in the turmoil – we must stay focused on advancing drug policy reform this November and beyond.
Drug Policy Action has been heavily involved in the 2020 presidential election cycle, ensuring that all campaigns are aware of what is at stake when it comes to addressing drug policy.
We are also supporting important ballot measures that will legalize medical marijuana Mississippi and legalize marijuana for adult-use in some of the states most harmed by prohibition including in the South and Midwest. And we’re working to pass an historic, first-in-the-nation initiative in Oregon that will eliminate criminal penalties for the personal use and possession of all drugs and expand access to addiction and other health services.
Here are the ballot initiatives we are supporting this November:
Oregon Measure 110
Measure 110 is a groundbreaking all-drug decriminalization and treatment initiative in Oregon. If passed by voters in November, Oregon would become the first state to decriminalize drug possession and would significantly expand access to much-needed evidence-informed, culturally-responsive treatment, harm reduction and other health services through excess marijuana tax revenue. Drug Policy Action is proud to have partnered with Oregonians to draft the measure and qualify it for the ballot. Want to volunteer to pass this historic initiative? Regardless of where you live, you can make a difference and help get out the vote – sign up here to phone bank for Measure 110 this Sunday, October 11.
New Jersey Public Question 1
New Jersey Public Question 1 would legalize marijuana for adults. Drug Policy Action has worked for two decades toward marijuana legalization in New Jersey and we are proud to partner on this campaign. New Jersey is one of the top five states when it comes to the total number of marijuana arrests. Each year, the state wastes over $143 million arresting over 32,000 people on marijuana related charges, the vast majority just for simple possession. Enforcement is disproportionately targeted at Black and Latinx people. If approved, Question 1 would advance racial and social justice, strengthen public health and safety, and foster economic development.
Mississippi Initiative 65
Initiative 65 would legalize medical marijuana in Mississippi. If approved, it would create a safe and legal process for patients to obtain medical marijuana from licensed and regulated treatment centers. It would be a remarkable step forward in one of the U.S. regions that have been hardest hit by the drug war, and may open the door for other reforms in the Deep South. Drug Policy Action has worked on this campaign for several years, partnering with our local allies at every step of the way—from drafting the amendment, to signature gathering, and hopefully soon to victory in November.
Montana CI-118 & I-190
Ballot Initiatives CI-118 and I-190 would legalize marijuana in Montana. Montana has the highest rate of racial disparities in marijuana arrests between Black and white people of any state. CI-118 and I-190 would reduce arrests and provide for resentencing or expungement of past marijuana related convictions. It would also create a responsibly-regulated system to protect consumers, and invest new revenue in veteran services, conservation programs, addiction services, long-term health care, and municipal services.
South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A & Measure 26
South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A would legalize marijuana for adult use and Initiated Measure 26 would establish a medical marijuana program. Drug Policy Action is proud to support this local effort. Treating marijuana as a criminal justice issue has led to thousands of needless arrests. In fact, South Dakota has the highest arrest rate for marijuana possession of any state. If passed, Constitutional Amendment A would legalize and tax marijuana for adults, disrupting arrests and reducing government waste. Initiated Measure 26 would create safe, regulated, and legal access to medical marijuana for patients in South Dakota.
There is a lot at stake for drug policy and so many other issues this year. But we also have a lot of opportunities to advance significant reforms.
With your help, I’m confident we can make our voices heard, pass these crucial ballot initiatives, and take steps toward ending the disastrous drug war.
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Sincerely,
Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Action |
P.S. Friend, as you can see, we’re fighting for significant reform this November, but there’s more to do to end the drug war. And that will take time. It will take energy. And it will take money. Please visit Drug Policy Alliance and make a donation to end this disastrous drug war today.
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