Project Index - Community Initiatives
- College Initiatives
As many drug policy reform activists are discovering, the highest and most direct
level of democracy
often takes place at the lowest levels of government. This is reflected in the
many successful municipal audits and initiatives that have taken place over the last few
years. From Seattle's I-75, to Oakland's Measure Z, to Syracuse's Plan B, these
important local actions can expose and erode the faulty presumptions that underpin
the war on drugs, and they often resonate well beyond their geographical boundaries.
Although each municipality has a different social and bureaucratic make-up, we
believe that future initiatives can benefit from reviewing the tactics of those
that have successfully passed before them. It is with this in mind that DrugSense
has developed the "Community Audits and Initiatives" webpage.
Here you will find a) the exact wording of many of the nation's most successful
local drug policy audits and municipal medical cannabis and personal possession
de-prioritization initiatives; b) much of the research used to justify a shifting
of drug policy enforcement priorities; c) links to related press coverage;
and d) lists of supportive organizations.
Since the implementation of either a local ballot initiative or drug enforcement
audit will differ from city-to-city and from state-to-state, DrugSense
strongly recommends that any individual or organization wishing to initiate
such a project should begin by contacting an experienced local lawyer, as well
as the many drug policy reform organizations that might supply advice,
information, and perhaps even funding.
This is an ongoing DrugSense project; if your municipality has passed or
initiated progressive drug policy reform measures and you'd like to make this
information available to other like-minded reformers, please contact Philippe
Lucas at: phil@drugsense.org; we'd be happy to include your town, city or
county on this website.
| Community Audits and Initiatives Project - Summary Table |
| Name |
Location |
Date |
Purpose |
Status |
| Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Priority Policy Ordinance |
Fayetteville, Arkansas |
November 4, 2008 |
Require Fayetteville police and prosecutor to treat adult marijuana possession offenses as their lowest priority. |
Passed, 66% |
| Measure JJ |
Berkeley, California |
November 4, 2008 |
MMJ dispensary zoning and MJ possession limit adjustment |
Passed, 62% |
| Ballot Question 1 |
Hawaii County, Hawaii |
November 4, 2008 |
Requires adult marijuana possession laws to be the lowest priority for local law enforcement. |
Passed, 58% |
| Public Policy Question 4 |
Massachusetts Districts 1, 6, 13 and 21 |
November 4, 2008 |
Directs the district's state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use. |
Passed,
> 70% |
| Question 100 |
Denver, CO (City and County) |
November 7, 2007 |
Make the adult use of cannabis the lowest law-enforcement priority. |
Passed, 57% |
| Hailey Industrial Hemp Act |
Hailey, ID |
November 6, 2007 |
Legalize industrial use of hemp, a marijuana byproduct consisting of the fibrous stems. |
Passed, 55% |
| Hailey Lowest Police Priority Act |
Hailey, ID |
November 6, 2007 |
Make investigation of adult marijuana use the city's lowest law enforcement priority. |
Passed, 51% |
| Hailey Medical Marijuana Act |
Hailey, ID |
November 6, 2007 |
Legalize medical use of marijuana. |
Passed, 54% |
| Hailey Cannabis Regulation and Revenue Ordinance |
Hailey, ID |
November 6, 2007 |
Require that the city regulate sales and use of cannabis, a scientific name for marijuana, and would allow the city to tax the substance. |
Failed, 54% |
| Flint Code Amendment-Medical Marihuana |
Flint, MI |
February 27, 2007 |
Give legal protection to patients with serious medical conditions who obtain some small measure of relief from the symptoms of their illness through the use of the naturally occurring medicinal herb, cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, under the supervision of a medical professional. |
Passed, 62% |
| Cannabis as Low Police Priority |
Eureka Springs, AR |
November 7, 2006 |
Directs local law enforcement to issue a summons in lieu of a criminal arrest for adults found to be in possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and or marijuana paraphernalia. |
Passed, 62% |
| Initiative 2, Alter Law Enforcement Priorities |
Missoula County, MT |
November 7, 2006 |
Make adult marijuana offenses the lowest priority and instead focus first and foremost on violent crimes that threaten lives and property. |
Passed, 53% |
| Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance |
Santa Barbara, CA |
November 7, 2006 |
Make marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for adult personal use, the city's lowest police priority. |
Passed, 65% |
| Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance |
Santa Cruz, CA |
November 7, 2006 |
Make investigations, citations, arrests, property seizures, and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses the City of Santa Cruz's lowest law enforcement priority. |
Passed, 64% |
| Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance |
Santa Monica, CA |
November 7, 2006 |
Make marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for adult personal use, the city's lowest police priority. |
Passed, 65% |
| Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Initiative |
Niles, MI |
November 7, 2006 |
Investigating, arresting and prosecuting adults who use or possess small quantities of marijuana in private should be considered the lowest priority of City Police and Attorney. |
Did not make 2006 ballot |
| Ferndale Medical Marijuana Ordinance |
Ferndale, MI |
November 8, 2005 |
Remove all criminal penalties under local law for marijuana used by patients with the recommendation of their physician |
Passed, 61% |
| Traverse City Medical Marijuana Ordinance |
Traverse City, MI |
November 8, 2005 |
Possession, delivery or use of marijuana by a medical patient to be the "lowest law enforcement priority of the city." |
Passed, 63% |
| Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative |
Denver, CO |
November 2005 |
Make the use and possession of less then one ounce of marijuana non-punishable under Denver city ordinances for adults 21 and older. |
Passed, 54% |
| Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana Ordinance |
Ann Arbor, MI |
November 2, 2004 |
Amended city charter to exempt users who can prove they are using marijuana with the recommendation of a
qualified health professional from fines or prosecution by Ann Arbor police officers. |
Passed, 74% |
| Massachusetts Initiatives |
Massachusetts |
November 2004 |
Initiatives to demonstrate support for the decriminalization of cannabis use by responsible adults, medical cannabis and the taxation and regulation of cannabis. |
Ongoing |
| Measure Z |
Oakland, CA |
November 2004 |
MJ arrests lowest priority |
Passed, 65.2% |
| Detroit Medical Marijuana Ordinance |
Detroit, MI |
August 4, 2004 |
Amended the Detroit city criminal code so that local criminal penalties
no longer apply to any individual possessing or using marijuana or related paraphernalia
under the direction of a physician or other licensed health professional. |
Passed, 59% |
| I-75 |
Seattle, WA |
September 2003 |
MJ arrests lowest priority/
Protects Med MJ patients |
Passed, 58% |
| "Plan B" |
Syracuse, NY |
December 2003 |
Audit WOD Expenditures |
Ongoing |
| Additional Resources |
Taking the Initiative;
A Reformer's Guide to Direct Democracy
By Tim Beck, Executive Director of Michigan NORML
|
|
"Illicit Drugs: Burden and Policy"; The Hartford Drug Policy Conference
|
|
KCBA Drug Policy Project (Seattle, WA)
|
D E T A I L E D D E S C R I P T I O N S
Fayetteville, Arkansas: Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Priority Policy Ordinance
Results: Passed by 66% of population on November 4th, 2008.
Require Fayetteville police and prosecutor to treat adult marijuana possession offenses as their lowest priority.
Further, the measure requires the city clerk to send an annual letter to state and federal legislators,
governor, and president stating: "The citizens of Fayetteville have passed an initiative to de-prioritize
adult marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for personal use, and request that the federal
and Arkansas state governments take immediate steps to enact similar laws." This duty shall be carried out
until state and federal laws are changed accordingly.
Full Text: http://sensiblefayetteville.com/full-initiative-text.php
Website: http://sensiblefayetteville.com
Press: http://sensiblefayetteville.com/in-the-media.php
Contact Info:
Ryan Denham-Campaign Director
E-mail: ryan@sensiblefayetteville.com
Ph: (479) 685-4348
Jacob Holloway-Field Organizer
E-mail: jdhollow@uark.edu
Ph: (870) 926-3628
Berkeley, California: Measure JJ
Results: Passed 62-38 on November 4th, 2008.
Expands the non-residential zones where dispensaries can locate, creates an oversight
commission to create standards and determine whether relocating or future operators are in compliance,
issues zoning certificates, and brings Berkeley marijuana possession limits in line with recent court
rulings determining that such limits are unconstitutional in the state.
Full Text: "Shall the City's ordinances be amended to eliminate limits on medical
marijuana possessed by patients or caregivers; establish a peer review group for medical marijuana collectives
to police themselves; and permit medical marijuana dispensaries as a matter of right under the zoning ordinance
rather than through a use permit subject to a public hearing?"
Website: http://yesonjj.com/
Press: http://yesonjj.com/?page_id=62
Contact Info: info@yesonjj.com, 510-277-0455
Hawaii County, Hawaii: Ballot Question 1
Results: Passed 58-42% on November4th, 2008
Requires adult marijuana possession laws to be the lowest priority for local law enforcement.
Full Text: http://hawaii.gov/elections/factsheets/fsbo134.pdf
Website: http://www.mpp.org/states/hawaii/
Press: http://www.mpp.org/news/in-the-news/?state=HI
Contact Info: www.mpp.org
Massachusetts Public Policy Question 4: Districts 1, 6, 13 and 21
Results:
Passed with 74% of the vote in the 1st District: Towns of Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, and Townsend.
Passed with 71% of the vote in the 6th District: Towns of Hanson, Pembroke, precincts 2,3,4,5 of Duxbury, precinct 2 of Halifax.
Passed with 73% of the vote in the 13th District: Towns of Medfield, Needham, and precincts 1 and 2 of Dover.
Passed with 71% of the vote in the 21st District: Towns of Bedford, Burlington, precinct 3 of Wilmington.
Question 4 directs the district's state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use.
Full Text: "Shall the State Representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients, with their doctor's written recommendation, to possess and grow small amounts of marijuana for their personal medical use?"
Website: http://www.dpfma.org/
Contact Info: Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts
info@dpfma.org, (617) 776 - 8344
MassCann/NORML:
P.O. Box 266
Georgetown, MA 01833-0366
Phone: 781-944-2266
Denver, CO: Question 100
On November 6th, 2007, 57% of Denver voters agreed to make the adult use of cannabis the lowest law-enforcement priority.
Initiative Language:
"Shall the voters for the City and County of Denver adopt an ordinance to the Denver Revised Municipal Code that would make the private use and possession of marijuana by persons 21 years of age and older the City's lowest law-enforcement priority?"
Further details available at: http://saferdenver.saferchoice.org/
Contacts:
Citizens for a Safer Colorado
P.O Box 40332
Denver, Colorado 80204
Phone: 303-861-0033
Fax: 303-861-0915
mail@saferchoice.org
Press on Question 100:
Denver Post: November 6, 2007
Denver ABC Affiliate: November 7, 2007
Hailey, Idaho: Lowest Police Priority, Medical Marijuana, and Industrial Hemp Acts
On November 6, 2007, Hailey voters passed three initiatives called The Hailey Industrial Hemp Act, The Hailey Lowest Police Priority Act and The Hailey Medical Marijuana Act:
1) The Hailey Medical Marijuana Act is a marijuana medical initiative passed by a vote of 687-581.
2) The Hailey Lowest Police Priority Act is an initiative that makes adult cannabis possession the lowest police priority. It passed by a margin of 637-601.
3) The Hailey Industrial Hemp Act is an industrial hemp measure that passed by 683-565.
A fourth initiative would have mandated the city to regulate and tax marijuana sales and to establish a Community Oversight Committee to iron out the details for legalization, but it failed 573-674.
Contacts:
Ryan Davidson, Chairman of The Liberty Lobby of Idaho
121 East 36th Street
Garden City, Idaho 83714
Phone: 208-353-8157
Press on the Hailey Initiatives:
Idaho Mountain Express: November 7, 2007
Sun Valley Online: November 23, 2007
Flint, MI Flint Code Amendment-Medical Marihuana
Supported by 62% of voters, the Flint Compassionate Care Medical Marijuana Initiative passed on Februray 27th, 2007 gives legal protection to patients with serious medical conditions who obtain relief from the symptoms of their illness through the use of cannabis under the supervision of a medical professional.
Links:
Eureka Springs, AR "Cannabis as Low Police Priority" Initiative
Voters in the Arkansas community of Eureka Springs
passed this initiative with 62% of the vote on November 7, 2006 to 'deprioritize' cannabis
possession. City election officials confirmed in August that a municipal initiative
that seeks to decriminalize minor marijuana possession offenses would appear on
the fall municipal ballot. The proposal directs local law enforcement to issue
a summons in lieu of a criminal arrest for adults found to be in possession of
up to one ounce of cannabis and or marijuana paraphernalia.
Links:
Missoula County, MT Initiative 2
An Initiative to Alter Law Enforcement Priorities and Make Adult Marijuana Offenses the
Lowest Law Enforcement Priority in Missoula County
Voters in Missoula passed Initiative 2 on November 7, 2006 with
53% of the vote. I-2
directs local police to make the enforcement of minor pot violations their
lowest priority, and appoints a community oversight committee to
ensure that the police are obeying the voters' mandate.
"We want to make our community safer, and we believe law enforcement agencies spend too much time and money on adult marijuana issues as compared to more serious crimes that threaten people's lives and property," states the initiative's backers, Missoula Citizens for Responsible Crime Policy. "[The] 30-plus years of current marijuana policies haven't worked. It's time to talk about alternatives and smarter use of taxpayer dollars."
Links:
Santa Barbara Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance
The Santa Barbara Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy
Ordinance passed with 65% of the vote on November 7, 2006. This initiative makes marijuana
offenses, where the marijuana was intended for adult personal use, the city's
lowest police priority - allowing police to focus on serious and violent crime.
The initiative was filed by Sensible Santa Barbara.
Links:
Santa Cruz Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance
According to a recent Santa Cruz, California poll,
more than 80% of city voters agree that the Drug War is a failure and adults
who use marijuana should not be criminalized.
On May 25th, the Santa Cruz City Clerk officially announced
that an initiative to make adult marijuana offenses the Santa Cruz police
department's lowest priority has qualified for the November ballot!!!
Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy submitted over 6,000
signatures in April, well more than the minimum 3,423 required to put a
measure to a vote. On November 7, 2006, voters passed this initiative with 64% of the vote.
The initiative:
- Makes investigations, citations, arrests, property seizures, and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses the City of Santa Cruz's lowest law enforcement priority;
- Enables the city to save tax dollars and police resources so that they can spend them fighting violent and serious crime;
- Establishes a city policy supporting changes in state and federal laws that call for taxation and regulation for adult use of marijuana.
Links:
Full Text of Initiative: www.taxandregulate.org/~santacruz/Fulltext.htm
Website for Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy: www.sensiblesantacruz.org
FAQs: www.sensiblesantacruz.org/initiative.htm
Contact information for Santa Cruz Citizens for Sensible Marijuana Policy:
info@sensiblesantacruz.org
831-457-2358
Santa Monica Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Policy Ordinance
On May 24th, 2006 Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy
filed 8,395 signatures, nearly 3,000 more than the 5,580 needed to place the
measure on the November ballot. On November 7, voters passed the initiative with 65% of the vote.
The ordinance makes marijuana offenses, where cannabis
is intended for adult personal use, the lowest police priority, and by doing so
would free up police resources to focus on violent and serious crime, instead of
arresting and jailing non-violent cannabis users.
Links:
Website Archive for Santa Monicans for Sensible Marijuana Policy:
http://www.taxandregulate.org/santamonica_archive/
Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Initiative (Niles, MI)
August 2006: Unfortunately, this initiative did not make the November 7, 2006 ballot due to lack of signatures.
The Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Ballot Initiative is expected to appear on the Nov 7, 2006 ballot in the City of Niles. It will ask the voters of the City to stipulate that investigating, arresting and prosecuting adults who use or possess small quantities of marijuana in private should be considered the lowest priority of City Police and Attorney.
This initiative only affects adult (19 yrs and older) behavior in private that does not create a public nuisance. It would still be unlawful to sell marijuana, possess more than one and one tenth ounce (1.1) of marijuana (about the amount of tobacco found in a pack of cigarettes), use marijuana in public or drive under the influence of marijuana. It would also still be illegal for anyone less than 19 yrs old to use and possess marijuana anywhere, public or private, under any circumstances.
Links:
Ferndale Medical Marijuana Ordinance
On Tuesday, November 8th, 2005, Ferndale voters came out strongly in support of Proposal D, which removed all criminal penalties under local law for marijuana used by patients with the recommendation of their physician.
The unofficial final results are 61%-39% in favor of Proposal D, with 1894 votes in favor and 1222 votes opposed.
Links:
Traverse City Medical Marijuana Ordinance
Michigan's Coalition for Compassionate Care's Proposal 3, which makes physician-supported medical cannabis use the lowest possible priority for Traverse City police, was passed on Nov. 8thth, 2005. Voters approved the new city ordinance by a margin of 1,594 to 925, with 63% casting ballots in favor. The measure doesn't legalize marijuana possession but calls for the possession, delivery or use of marijuana by a medical patient to be the "lowest law enforcement priority of the city."
Coalition for Compassionate Care website: http://compassionatemi.org/
Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative:
The Denver Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative (passed by
54% of voters in November 2005) makes the personal use of one ounce or less of cannabis
legal in the city of Denver (despite state and federal laws that still prohibit it's possession and use).
Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is a non-profit organization based in
Denver, Colorado. SAFER began in January 2005 in response to the fatal student
alcohol overdoses that occurred on Colorado college campuses during the 2004-2005 school years.
SAFER envisions a society in which the private adult possession and use of marijuana
is treated in the same or similar manner as the private adult possession and use
of alcohol. Thus, SAFER's mission is to educate the public about the harms of alcohol
compared to the much safer-yet illegal-drug: marijuana.
Useful links to the SAFER initiative:
Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana Ordinance
Ann Arbor's Proposal C, which was approved by 74% of voters on Nov. 2nd, 2004, amended section 16.2 of the city's municipal charter in support of medical cannabis users. Primarily, it amended section (b) to create an exception and an affirmative defense for medical cannabis. The passing of Prop. C also changed the wording of a portion of section (b) which pertains to cannabis offenses in general, substituting "not less than $100.00 for the third or subsequent offense" with simply "$100.00 for the third or subsequent offense."
Massachusetts Cannabis Policy Reform Initiatives:
Since the federal election of 2000, the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition and the Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts have put forth 36 non-binding ballot initiatives to gage and demonstrate support for the decriminalization of cannabis use by responsible adults, medical cannabis and the taxation and regulation of cannabis. Every single one of these initiatives has passed, and the total vote count is 2 to 1 in favour of progressive cannabis reform.
In addition MassCann/NORML have supported the introduction of legislation that would decriminalize the responsible adult use of cannabis in the Massachusetts legislature.
To see that actual wording of the Senate and House bill, please go to:
Measure Z: Oakland, California:
Criminalizing cannabis (marijuana) has unfairly imprisoned thousands of non-violent offenders, including a disproportionate number of people of color. It's time to tax and regulate the supply.
Measure Z allows Oakland police to focus their time and resources on fighting violent crime and reducing the murder rate, instead of wasting their time on adult non-violent marijuana offenses.
Detroit Medical Marijuana Ordinance
On Tuesday, August 4th 2004 voters in Detroit, Michigan approved the Detroit Medical
Marijuana Act. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, 59 percent of voters were in favor of Proposition "M",
which amends the Detroit city criminal code so that local criminal penalties no longer apply to any individual
possessing or using marijuana or related paraphernalia under the direction of a physician or other
licensed health professional.
King County Bar Association Drug Policy Project:
The King County Bar Association is leading a high-level partnership of lawyers,
doctors, pharmacists and other professionals in Washington to find more effective
ways to reduce the harm and costs of drug abuse, and of the "War on Drugs" itself.
What began over four years ago as a transitory study of current drug laws has evolved
into a comprehensive, long-term effort to bring about meaningful reform of drug
policy on many levels. The principal objectives of this effort are: reductions in
crime and public disorder; improvement of the public health; better protection of
children; and wiser use of scarce public resources.
I-75: Seattle, Washington:
In September 2003, I-75 passed with 58% of the voters casting a YES vote.
The Seattle citizens know that arresting adults for marijuana possession is a waste of valuable law enforcement resources.
This ordinance makes marijuana intended for adult personal use the lowest law enforcement
priority in Seattle thereby saving scarce public resources and enabling police and prosecutors to
concentrate on serious and violent crime.
I-75 also protects the rights of medical marijuana users. In 1998,
Seattle voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to protect people
whose physicians recommend medicinal marijuana to treat certain
serious illnesses. Yet, medical marijuana patients are
still in danger of arrest, prosecution and forfeiture of their homes
and other property - even though they use marijuana to
treat symptoms of cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS. I-75
helps protect all medical marijuana patients who suffer from life threatening illnesses.
"Plan B": Syracuse, New York:
With former Syracuse City Auditor Minch Lewis, Syracuse Police Inspector Mike Kerwin, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and the Post Standard all calling recently for a reviewing of our drug policy comes a truly unique opportunity to change the image of the city. The Federal and State government's drug polices force Syracuse to enforce laws that not only cost the city millions of dollars each year, but are totally ineffective at either reducing illegal drug use or making our streets safer. So what can Syracuse do about it?
The problem facing cities like Syracuse in their attempts to change is that federal and state laws trump local laws. There are, however, some things that can be done. A series of hearings were held by the Finance Committee of the Common Council to look into what changes the city could make that would improve things here without running afoul of state and federal laws. These hearings were a way of gathering specific information to assist the Council in its legislative function.
There are many things, all perfectly within the law, some of which other cities have done, that could reduce the harms incurred under the current policy. New policies that would ease tensions between the police and the communities they police. Policies that would free up limited police resources to focus on violent crime making our streets safer without additional expense. Policies that would put abandoned properties back on the tax roles and improve neighborhoods, improve our schools, and attract business to the city. Experts testifying at these hearings outlined these alternatives in order to see which could be implemented here, and what the benefits would be.
The following is useful information supplied by ReconsiDer (www.reconsider.org) on the Syracuse "Plan B" auditor's investigation and recommendations, including:
O T H E R R E S O U R C E S
Taking the Initiative;
A Reformer's Guide to Direct Democracy
By Tim Beck, Executive Director of Michigan NORML
Tim Beck's "Taking the Initiative; A Reformer's Guide to
Direct Democracy" is a comprehensive examination of the opportunities and challenges
presented by community-based drug policy reform initiatives. Written by the Executive
Director of Michigan NORML, this overview of the seven municipal and state
substance-related initiatives which were attempted in Michigan between 2001 and
2005 is a must-read for anyone group or individual wising to tread into the
murky waters of community-based social reform.
Contact Tim Beck and MI-NORML:
First National Building
660 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1141
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 881-8995
Michigan NORML Website
Taking the Initiative;A Reformer's Guide to Direct Democracy (pdf file)
Taking the Initiative;A Reformer's Guide to Direct Democracy (html file)
"Illicit Drugs: Burden and Policy"; The Hartford Drug Policy Conference
The conference "Illicit Drugs: Burden and Policy" was sponsored by the City of Hartford and underwritten by the Aetna Foundation. It was held at Trinity College on October 21st and 22nd 2005, and provided a unique opportunity for multiple stakeholders to begin a dialogue around the problem of drugs in the city of Hartford. Law enforcement officers on a local, state, and national level met with advocates of change as well as ordinary citizens. Participants reflected on the implications of illicit drug use, the 'drug war' and societal needs for treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and re-integration of illicit drug users into useful and self gratifying roles.
Conference White Paper - This White Paper is an executive summary of the landmark
two-day conference on drug policy sponsored by the city of Hartford.
Press on Hartford conference:
Drug Treatment, Legality Backed (Hartford Courant: October 23, 2005)
Drug Summit Takes On Issue Of Legalization (Hartford Courant: October 22, 2005)
Conference Seeks Answers To Drugs (Hartford Courant: October 15, 2005)
Op-ed by Robert L. Painter, M.D.,
Minority Leader, Hartford Court of Common Council
(Hartford Courant: October 12, 2005)
DRCNet: Drug War, Endless Violence -- Hartford Looks for a New Way 9/23/05
Contact info for Hartford Conference:
Cliff Thornton, Efficacy
PO Box 1234
860 657 8438
Hartford, CT 06143
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