War on Drugs

Drug Policy

War on Drugs

Our nation’s misguided and costly "War on Drugs" has undermined civil liberties in many ways — eroding protections against unlawful searches and seizures, imposing overly harsh sentences on individuals, disproportionately impacting communities of color. The ACLU of Washington Drug Policy Project works for policies that treat drug use as a public health concern, not a criminal justice matter, through public education, legislative advocacy, and litigation.

Resources

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Seattle City Council voted down a proposed ordinance that would have added criminalization of drug possession
News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
The Washington State Legislature voted Tuesday to establish harsher criminal penalties for drug possession, marking a huge step backwards in Washington’s fight against the ever-growing public health crises of substance use disorder and the opioid overdose epidemic.
News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Early Wednesday, the Washington House passed E2SSB 5536, a bill that reestablishes criminal penalties for drug possession after the state Supreme Court struck down the prior possession statute as unconstitutional.

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