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Drug Policy Alliance marks 10 years in California |
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Written by Isaac Skelton
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Thursday, 24 August 2006 |
Expanding medi cannabis nationally, defending Prop. 36 here
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) was formed when the Lindesmith Center and Drug Policy Foundation merged to form the nation's leading organization working to end the Drug War. It envisions new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights, and a just society in which the fears, prejudice and punitive prohibitions of today are no more.
In August the organization celebrated 10 years of its California office under the directorship of Marsha Rosenbaum. In its first year here, DPA backed the successful Prop 215. In recent months it has worked on saving Prop 36 drug treatment programs while it has been active on the medical marijuana issue in other states.
DPA helps advance medical marijuana reform in four states
In Alabama, where a 2004 poll revealed 70-plus percent support for legalizing medical marijuana, DPA is working closely with the highly respected Representative Laura Hall, to advance medical marijuana legislation. In March, Governor Robert Riley signed new sentencing guidelines into law (for which DPA lobbied heavily) that will significantly reduce Alabama's remarkably high rate of incarceration for marijuana possession offenses.
 New Jersey delegation - DPA's NJ Director Roseanne Scotti, Montel Williams, Dr John Morgan (holding hat), Gerry McGrath and Don McGrath, the parents of patient Sean McGrath, lobbied the legislature for safe access. - Photo courtesy of DPA. For more info see:drugpolicy.org/docUploads/NJMedMJ_SeansStory.pdf
A poll released by DPA showed 86 percent in New Jersey support medical marijuana generally and 71 percent support a specific medical marijuana bill. State Senator Nicholas Scutari, a legislator who is also a prosecutor, introduced the bill. The Senate Health Committee held hearings in early June, at which DPA arranged for Montel Williams and other experts to testify. The media response was excellent. Montel Williams and Roseanne Scotti, director of DPA New Jersey, also met with Governor John Corzine, who expressed his support for this bill, which has bipartisan support in the State Assembly.
The DPA worked tirelessly with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on a medical marijuana bill during the state's one-month long legislative session in February. Notwithstanding overwhelming support in both houses of the legislature, the bill failed to get to his desk. Governor Richardson has committed to supporting the bill again in the early 2007 session.
Oakland judge blocks incarceration for relapse
Meanwhile, California's Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1137 into law July 12, making a number of contentious changes to the state's treatment-not-incarceration law, Prop 36. The DPA and California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) immediately sued to block the law's implementation.
Prop 36 was passed overwhelmingly by 61 percent of California voters in 2000, and has since saved the state over $1.3 billion while helping more than 60,000 people with drug convictions receive treatment and lead productive lives. SB 1137 attempts to radically rewrite Prop. 36 allowing judges to incarcerate nonviolent drug offenders actively engaged in treatment who relapse or otherwise violate probation. The bill's passage-by politicians and lobbyists in back room dealings-not only guts this hugely successful treatment program but also threatens the state's entire democratic initiative process.
Within hours of the Governor's signature, DPA, CSAM and Cliff Gardner, the official ballot proponent of Prop. 36, filed a complaint in Alameda County Superior Court to strike down SB 1137 as unconstitutional. DPA legal affairs director Daniel Abrahamson said, “Rather than veto SB 1137, the Governor opted to engage in a legal battle over what he knows is an unconstitutional law.”
A Superior Court judge entered a temporary restraining order (TRO) July 13 stopping SB 1137 from taking effect. In issuing the TRO, Judge Winifred Smith found that DPA and CSAM have a “substantial likelihood of success” in proving the changes to Prop. 36 are unconstitutional. According to the court, “Plaintiffs have demonstrated that serious irreparable harm will occur unless a status quo injunction is granted.”
“Plaintiffs have demonstrated that serious irreparable harm will occur unless a status quo injunction is granted.” 
The judge's order prevents any implementation or enforcement of SB 1137. Abrahamson called the order “one big step in striking down” the law. “Jail sanctions will not be an option,” he said. “If we find or hear about any jail sanctions, we will be back in court immediately seeking an order of contempt.”
The DPA offers email and print newsletters and updates, as well as Safety First drug education materials for schools, parents and educators. To learn more about the group, to donate or to sign up for local or electronic activism and regular email updates, visit drugpolicy.org or send an email to
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Isaac Skelton |
| About the author: |
| Isaac Skelton is director of publications for the Drug Policy Alliance. | |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 25 August 2006 )
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