Kassandra Frederique

Executive Director

Kassandra Frederique is the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), where she leads the organization to reduce the harms of both drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. Under her leadership, DPA works at the intersection of evidence, health, equity, and human rights—advancing a more balanced and effective approach to drug policy that prioritizes safety, public health, and community well-being.

Frederique has guided the organization through some of the most pressing drug policy challenges of our time, including the overdose crisis, the emergence of fentanyl, and public drug use. She has been a consistent voice in promoting results-driven policies that reduce harm while ensuring public safety. Under her leadership, DPA has advanced public health responses to drugs that have contributed to the national U.S. decline of overdose deaths in 2024. A seasoned campaign strategist, Frederique has led innovative initiatives that advance a public health approach to drug policy, with a focus on expanding access to addiction services, reducing harmful enforcement practices, and fostering investments in community-based solutions.

From rural towns to major cities, Frederique has worked to ensure that policies serve those most affected by the harms of the drug war—including Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, as well as those living in poverty. Her leadership has been instrumental in grounding the national drug policy conversation around reparative justice, investment in care, and restitution for these communities. In her previous role as DPA’s New York State Director, Frederique was the architect of the campaign that cut the number of New York City marijuana arrests by more than 99% since 2010, curtailing the city’s infamous reign as the marijuana arrest capital of the country. This work contributed to significant shifts in public safety strategy while opening the door to broader, bipartisan conversations around enforcement reform and responsible marijuana reform.

She has been featured in prominent outlets like The New York Times, MSNBC, USA Today, National Public Radio, and Netflix. She has received numerous awards from elected officials to news outlets to community organizations. Frederique holds an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University and a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.