Washington DC – EIN 522034867 StoptheDrugWar.org
A project of the Drcnet Foundation

StoptheDrugWar.org works for an end to prohibition (e.g. for some form of “legalization”) and the “drug war” in its current form. We want to replace the illicit drug trade and criminalization with a combination of regulation, health and social programs addressing substances’ risks and harms. We see enforcement as having a role in a better drug policy, but not the central role.

We have this goal, and not solely for marijuana (though involved in marijuana policy) because we believe much of the harm commonly attributed to drugs is really the result of placing drugs in a criminal environment. We believe the global drug war has fueled violence, civil instability, and public health crises, and we see the arrest- and punishment-based policies still prevalent for drugs as unjust.

We also work on partial but important reform efforts that are politically feasible in the shorter term. Some issues we’re involved in include sentencing and policing reform, advocacy for harm reduction practices such as needle exchange and naloxone distribution, demilitarization of US-driven drug policy in Latin America and other regions (including the US border), availability of substances for medical use, and human rights as affected by drug policies.

We are primarily US-based, but involved not only in US federal and state policies, but also foreign policy. We are part of the global community of reform-minded NGOs who advocate in international venues. We are a “niche” organization, in that at any given time we focus our limited budget and staffing on a few programs for which we are able to make a unique or disproportionate impact.

One of our current emphases is international drug policy, including work at the United Nations, as well as a high-profile campaign to stop the brutal drug war killings happening in the Philippines. Our other main program is the Drug War Chronicle newsletter, in its 21st year as of this writing. The Chronicle is the only place to go for comprehensive reporting on all the important developments in the full range of drug war issues.