Broad Coalition of Civil Rights, Immigration and Drug Policy Groups Release Principles for Federal Marijuana Reform

WASHINGTON, DC, July 9, 2019 – A broad coalition of 11 national groups has joined forces to create the Marijuana Justice Coalition to advocate for federal marijuana reform through a racial justice lens. The new coalition includes ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NORML, Drug Policy Alliance, Center for American Progress, and more. 

Today the group released a set of principles for federal marijuana reform, encouraging Congress to include criminal justice reforms and promote diversity as members develop legislation. The coalition launch is timed to coincide with “Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform” – the first ever hearing in Congress to contemplate an overhaul of federal marijuana laws, which will take place on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Below is a statement from Queen Adesuyi, Policy Coordinator at Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs:

“This coalition was formed with the goal of reforming federal marijuana laws, but doing so in a way that gives back to the communities most impacted by the war on drugs. Black and brown people have been traumatized by our racist marijuana laws and, as the federal government embraces reform, our groups will make sure that any proposal will repair the damage done to those communities.”