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    Drug Policy Alliance

    From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 6 min
    Drug Policy Alliance
    DrugPolicyAlliancelogo.png
    Basic facts
    Type:501(c)(3)
    Top official:Richard Burns, Interim Executive Director
    Year founded:2000
    Website:Official website


    The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), also known as the Drug Policy Alliance, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York, N.Y. that actively promotes drug policy reform legislation. According to its website, DPA is an organization that aims to find drug policy alternatives that are "supported by science, compassion, health and human rights."[1]

  • Drug Policy Alliance endorsed and contributed $1.8 million to the Yes on IP 44 campaign, which sponsored Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020).
  • In 2016, Drug Policy Alliance supported Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016) and California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016).

    • Mission and vision[edit]

    According to its website, the Drug Policy Alliance has a mission and vision, which consist of the following:[2]

    • Mission:
    “ Our mission is to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.[3] ”
    • Vision:
    “ The Drug Policy Alliance envisions a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, in which people are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies but only for crimes committed against others, and in which the fears, prejudices and punitive prohibitions of today are no more.[3] ”

    Background[edit]

    The Drug Policy Alliance was formed when a drug policy think-tank called the Lindesmith Center and a drug policy organization called the Drug Policy Foundation merged on July 1, 2000. The Lindesmith Center was founded by DPA's executive director, Ethan Nadelmann, in 1994, and the Drug Policy Foundation was founded by American University Professor Arnold S. Trebach and Attorney Kevin B. Zeese in 1987. According to DPA's website, "the two organizations merged to create the Drug Policy Alliance with the objective of becoming a powerful advocacy organization nationally and internationally." DPA also has an affiliated 501(c)(4) organization called Drug Policy Action. In 2017, Nadelmann retired from his role as executive director, and Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno became the executive director. In January 2020, she stepped down, and Richard Burns was named interim executive director.[4]

    Drug Policy Action[edit]

    See also: Drug Policy Action

    Drug Policy Alliance has a separate 501(c)(4) affiliated program, Drug Policy Action, to support its work. According to its website, the group is "the advocacy and political arm of the Drug Policy Alliance," and its mission consists of the following:[4][5]

    “ A nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization, Drug Policy Action undertakes a wide range of activities including political advocacy permitted by 501(c)(4) organizations. With your support, we work to pass new drug laws and policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights -- and to elect candidates at every level who support these principles.[3] ”

    Political activity[edit]

    Ballot measure activity[edit]

    The following table details Drug Policy Action's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

    Ballot measure support and opposition for Drug Policy Alliance
    Ballot measure Year Position Status
    Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020) 2020 Support[6] Approved
    Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018) 2018 Support  ApprovedaApproved
    California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016) 2016 Support[7]  ApprovedaApproved
    Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016) 2016 Support[8]  ApprovedaApproved
    Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, Issue 7 (2016) 2016 Support[9] Not on the ballot
    California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014) 2014 Support[10] Approveda Approved
    Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014) 2014 Support[11] Approveda Approved
    City of Santa Fe Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (November 2014) 2014 Support[12] Approveda Approved
    California Control, Regulate and Tax Marijuana Initiative (2014) 2014 Support[13] Not on the ballot
    Colorado Definition of "Personhood" Initiative, Amendment 67 (2014) 2014 Opposed[14] Defeatedd Defeated
    Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014) 2014 Support Defeatedd Defeated
    Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014) 2014 Support Approveda Approved
    Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012) 2012 Support[15] Approveda Approved
    California Proposition 19, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010) 2010 Support[16] Defeatedd Defeated
    Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 5 (2009) 2009 Support[17] Approveda Approved
    California Proposition 5 (2008) 2008 Support[18] Defeatedd Defeated

    Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020)[edit]

    See also: Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020)

    The Oregon Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative would establish a drug addiction treatment and recovery program funded by the state's marijuana tax revenue and reclassify certain drug possession violations. Drug Policy Action, the advocacy group for Drug Policy Alliance, has donated $1.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions in support of the initiative.[19]

    Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)[edit]

    See also: Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)

    Missouri Amendment 2 legalized marijuana for medical purposes, imposed a marijuana sales tax at 4 percent, and dedicated tax revenue to healthcare services for veterans. Drug Policy Action, the advocacy group for Drug Policy Alliance, donated $258,000 to the support campaign.[20]

    California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)[edit]

    See also: California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)

    California Proposition 64 legalized recreational marijuana for persons aged 21 years or older under state law and establishing certain sales and cultivation taxes. The support campaign raised $25,066,820.98 in funds, over 12 times more than the $2,077,438.80 the opposition campaign raised. Drug Policy Action, the advocacy group for Drug Policy Alliance, donated $4.5 million in support of the initiative.[21]

    Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)[edit]

    See also: Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)

    Florida Amendment 2 legalized medical marijuana for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician. Drug Policy Action helped draft the initiative and donated to the support campaign.[22]

    Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)[edit]

    See also: Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)

    Oregon Measure 91 legalized recreational marijuana for people ages 21 and older, allowing adults over this age to possess up to eight ounces of "dried" marijuana and up to four plants. Additionally, the measure tasked the Oregon Liquor Control Commission with regulating marijuana sales. Drug Policy Alliance endorsed the measure.[23]

    Leadership[edit]

    Below is a list of the Drug Policy Alliance's board of directors:[24][25]

    • Richard Burns, Interim Executive Director
    • Alejandro Madrazo, (Professor of Law, Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas, Mexico City)
    • Angela Pacheco (Former district attorney, 1st Judicial District, New Mexico)
    • Christine Downton (Former vice chairman and founding partner of Pareto Partners)
    • David C. Lewis, MD (Founding director, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University)
    • Derek Hodel, President (Independent consultant)
    • George Soros (Chairman, Soros Fund Management)
    • Ilona Szabó de Carvalho (Director, Igarape Institute)
    • James E. Ferguson, II (Senior partner, Ferguson, Stein, Chambers Law Offices, Charlotte, North Carolina)
    • Jason Flom (President, Lava Records)
    • Josiah Rich, MD (Professor of medicine and community health, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University)
    • Joy Fishman (Harm Reduction Advocate)
    • Pamela Lichty (President, Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i)
    • Rev. Edwin Sanders, Secretary (Senior servant, Metropolitan Interdenominational Church; coordinator, Religious Leaders for a More Just and Compassionate Drug Policy)

    Finances[edit]

    The following is a breakdown of Drug Policy Alliance's revenues and expenses as submitted to the IRS for the 2011 to 2018 fiscal years:

    Annual revenue and expenses for Drug Policy Alliance, 2011–2018
    Tax YearTotal RevenueTotal Expenses
    2018[26]$25,907,463$14,397,540
    2017[27]$9,738,941$15,606,552
    2016[28]$12,839,328$14,612,498
    2015[29]$10,430,244$13,680,518
    2014[30]$14,295,321$12,485,518
    2013[30]$6,807,670$12,170,919
    2012[31]$9,055,694$11,168,449
    2011[31]$47,135,352$9,883,646

    Recent news[edit]

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Drug Policy Alliance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Drug Policy Alliance - Google News

    Contact[edit]

    Headquarters:New York
    131 West 33rd St., 15th Floor
    New York, NY 10001
    Phone: 212-613-8020
    Fax: 212-613-8021
    E-mail: nyc@drugpolicy.org

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "About Drug Policy Alliance," January 21, 2016
    2. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "Mission and Vision," accessed January 21, 2016
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Drug Policy Alliance, "History," accessed January 22, 2016
    5. ↑ Drug Policy Action, "About Drug Policy Action," accessed January 22, 2016
    6. ↑ The Register Guard, "Dozens of Oregon initiatives still have a chance at November 2020 ballot," December 29, 2019
    7. ↑ California Fair Political Practices Commission, "Pending & Circulating Ballot Measures for November 2016 General Election," accessed June 9, 2016
    8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named finance
    9. ↑ Arkansas Ethics Commission, "Arkansans for Compassionate Care 2016," accessed July 20, 2016
    10. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed April 30, 2014
    11. ↑ National Institute on Money in State Politics, "BALLOT MEASURE 002," accessed January 22, 2016
    12. ↑ News Channel Ten, "Albuquerque ballot measure on marijuana advances," August 19, 2014
    13. ↑ San Jose Mercury News, "Major marijuana legalization measure off the table for 2014," February 18, 2014
    14. ↑ Vote No 67, "Endorsements," accessed August 2, 2016
    15. ↑ National Institute on Money in State Politics, "INITIATIVE 502," accessed August 2, 2016
    16. ↑ National Institute on Money in State Politics, "PROPOSITION 019," accessed August 2, 2016
    17. ↑ Morning Sentinel, "Pot-legalization backers fund Question 5 effort," October 14, 2009
    18. ↑ National Institute on Money in State Politics, "PROPOSITION 005," accessed January 22, 2016
    19. ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "IP 44 Campaign Finance," accessed on March 25, 2020
    20. ↑ Missouri Ethics Commission, "Candidate or Committee Name Search," accessed July 26, 2018
    21. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Power Search Campaign Finance database," accessed February 1, 2017
    22. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "Florida Becomes 1st State in the South to Approve Medical Marijuana," November 7, 2016
    23. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "Measure 91: Regulate, Legalize and Tax Marijuana in Oregon," accessed June 15, 2020
    24. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "Staff and Board," accessed June 12, 2020
    25. ↑ Drug Policy Alliance, "Board of Directors and Honorary Board," accessed June 12, 2020
    26. ↑ Guidestar, "Drug Policy Alliance IRS Form 990 (2018)," accessed May 6, 2020
    27. ↑ Guidestar, "Drug Policy Alliance IRS Form 990 (2017)," accessed April 21, 2020
    28. ↑ GuideStar, "Drug Policy Alliance 990, 2016," accessed April 21, 2020
    29. ↑ GuideStar, "Drug Policy Alliance 990, 2015," accessed April 21, 2020
    30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 GuideStar, "Drug Policy Alliance 990, 2014," accessed August 2, 2016
    31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 GuideStar, "Drug Policy Alliance 990, 2012," accessed August 2, 2016
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