The war on drugs has been one of the biggest policy failures in American history. With no clear objectives and trillions of dollars spent, the primary outcome of the war on drugs has been to punish the few who use illicit substances.  It has had overwhelming effects on Black and Brown people and the communities they live in.

It is time for residents to take matters into their own hands  and reverse the madness our federal elected officials created. Hence, local municipalities are mounting decriminalization campaigns to stop punishing people for possession and use of drugs. Here at HIPS, our movement is named “Decrim Poverty”.  We took on this challenge to change negative drug policies because criminalization of drug use is a poverty related issue.  

Criminalizing and policing behavioral issues has never worked, but evidence and data proves harm reduction methods do. Drug use isn’t always chaotic, and those who use recreationally should not have their lives destroyed by intrusive laws criminalizing their choices. We need to move away from policing adult decisions and make options available to those who choose to use. In addition to decriminalizing possession and use, we need the following to coincide with this movement to shift away from carceral responses to an evidence based harm reduction and health based approach that give people choices and the autonomy and agency they deserve as consenting adults.

Our objectives include: 

* Make available safer consumption sites

* 24 hour crisis intervention teams

* Reduce the police force and tailor the scope of what they do

* Remove criminal penalties for public intoxication, loitering, and a host of other non violent offenses

* Provide social safety net resources with zero barriers to access

* Make mental health care a priority

* Meaningfully address homelessness 

* Make living wage employment a priority

These are all part of the Vision Zero and Near Act initiatives to have a better DC for all residents, regardless of social or economic status. Please sign on in support of change for the better, to stay informed of the progress, and participate in creating an equitable DC for everyone.