Drug Policy Alliance

Friend,

We made history when Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize possession of all drugs and expand access to health services after voters passed Measure 110 in November of 2020.

Today marks one year since that law officially took effect in Oregon and early results show it’s already having a positive impact:

More than 16,000 people have already been able to access services from the initial round of funding
60% decrease in the number of people who have been arrested for any drug offense
$302 million in funding has been secured for harm reduction, treatment, housing, and recovery services over the next two years
$270 million is expected to be awarded to community-based organizations throughout the state in the coming months.

These results are only a small fraction of what we’ll ultimately see as the reporting and infrastructure gets fully off the ground. In addition to reducing arrests and increasing access to services, people are no longer saddled with the life-long consequences of drug arrests—such as the denial of housing, employment, public benefits and more—which have been proven to only worsen health outcomes, and instead are able to get the support they need.

Simple drug possession is the most arrested offense in the United States with an arrest every 31 seconds. But Oregon is has shown us there’s another way forward and inspiring other places to follow its lead.

DPA is guiding the fight for drug decriminalization across the country. Our political and advocacy arm, Drug Policy Action, spearheaded the Oregon campaign and we’re supporting similar efforts in states from coast to coast and leading the campaigns to decriminalize drugs in D.C. and at the federal level.

For the first time, a recent poll showed that a majority of Americans support ending drug possession arrests and investing in health services. And last year, we took another historic step by working with Members of Congress to introduce the Drug Policy Reform Act, the first-ever federal drug decriminalization bill.

Momentum is on our side. Help us make the most of it by contacting Congress to demand drug decriminalization nationwide.

Oregon led the way toward ending the cruel and racially-motivated drug policies that have denied our communities the support they need, robbed them of their freedom, and branded people with criminal records that have cheated them of any future opportunities.

But the fight for drug decriminalization in all of our communities continues. With your support, I’m confident we can do it everywhere as we build a world without the drug war.

Sincerely,

Theshia Naidoo
Managing Director, Legal Affairs
Drug Policy Alliance