Every year, there are more than 1.5 million drug arrests in the United States. More than 80% of these arrests are for possession only. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have already decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and some are exploring the merits of decriminalizing other drugs. The opioid crisis has jump-started the conversation on the best approach to drug use across the country, including in Maryland. While drug decriminalization is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough to protect the rights of people who use drugs and people of color. The conversation about drug legalization needs to be further explored. The so-called "War on Drugs" has been an epic failure and it will take love, determination, vision, and leadership to open people's minds about ending prohibition. America has been conditioned to think prohibition against drugs is protecting our nation without giving much thought to the devastating effects our current criminal justice laws have had on communities of color, the working poor, and those who suffer from medical illnesses
Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the National Coalition for Drug Legalization for a panel event to discuss drug legalization as public health measure and alternative to prohibition and the War on Drugs. Panelists include Bloomberg's own Dr. Susan Sherman and Dr. Saba Rouhani, as well as Dr. Carl Hart from Columbia University, Jacob Rich from Reason Foundation, Michael Galipeau from the Urban Survivors Union and Bill Murphy, attorney at Murphy, Falcon and Murphy. Register here.
Please email keepdrugslegal@gmail.com if you wish to attend virtually.