Friend,

With the election on Tuesday, if you haven’t already, please create a plan to cast your vote [link removed] and make it count. 

This has been an unprecedented year and this will be an unprecedented election, with vote counting likely taking longer than usual in many places. It is imperative that every vote is counted and we should be prepared for possible delays in results.

Once results are in, we’re hopeful that we’ll have several historic drug policy victories to celebrate. Here are the ballot initiatives we are supporting: 

Oregon Measure: 110 [link removed]
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: [link removed]. 

New Jersey Public Question 1: [link removed]
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: [link removed]
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: [link removed]
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: [link removed]
South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A would legalize marijuana for adult use and Measure 26 would establish a medical marijuana program. Drug Policy Action is proud to support this local effort. Treating marijuana as a criminal 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. Measure 26 would create safe, regulated, and legal access to medical marijuana for patients in South Dakota.

This is a critical election year on many fronts, and we must stay focused on moving drug policy reform forward this November and beyond. 

Together, let’s cast our votes and make our voices heard in the fight to end the war on drugs. 

Sincerely,

Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Action


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