Watson Coleman, Bush Announce Drug Policy Reform Act Reintroduction
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2023) — Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) released a joint statement on the 52nd Anniversary of the War on Drugs announcing the reintroduction of the Drug Policy Reform Act:
“52 years ago, President Richard Nixon initiated a violent, racist campaign against Black and brown communities in this country. From the start, the War on Drugs has been about suppressing the voices and lives of the marginalized, not about health or safety.
“Unfortunately, our society continues to perpetuate the discredited War on Drugs now. Over a million people are arrested annually for drug related offenses. Yet overdose deaths and substance use disorders remain at shockingly high rates.
“Admitting mistakes is never easy, but lives are at stake. It’s long past time to recognize the substance use crisis as a public health issue and ensure proper redress and structural solutions rooted in equity and public health. That’s why we are proud to announce that we will soon be re-introducing the Drug Policy Reform Act, which would decriminalize all drugs, shift regulatory authority over drug policy to the Department of Health and Human Services, expunge and seal records, and make investments in health-centered approaches to substance use.
“We will continue to advocate for this vital legislation in Congress, and we urge the Biden Administration to take every possible step within its power towards a public health approach to drug policy. We must transform federal drug policy in our country, protect Black and brown communities, and save lives.”
In 2021, Congresswomen Watson Coleman and Bush introduced the Drug Policy Reform Act which would, among other changes, decriminalize all drugs, shift regulatory authority over drug policy to the Department of Health and Human Services, expunge and seal records, and make investments in health-centered approaches to substance use.
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