The Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation
www.drugpolicy.org / www.dpf.org
Us Election 2000: Results
*Election Yields Largest-Ever Repudiation of Nation's War on Drugs*
Millions in Five States Choose Treatment vs. Jail for Non-Violent Offenders, Medical Use of Marijuana, and Reform of
Drug-Related Asset Forfeiture Laws
On Tuesday, November 7, millions of Americans sent a clear message that they have lost faith in the nation's war on
drugs. In five states,
voters decided in favor of major change regarding treatment instead of prison for non-violent offenders; medical
marijuana for patients when recommended by a doctor; and civil asset forfeiture law reform.
"The public is way ahead of the politicians when it comes to embracing sensible drug polices," said Ethan Nadelmann,
Executive Director of The Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation. "Americans are tired of wasting billions of
dollars on a drug war that is not working, especially when clear, pragmatic alternatives exist."
Proposition 36 in California is the most significant drug policy reform passed to date. It was endorsed on Tuesday by
61% of voters in California - a higher percentage than Al Gore received in the state. According to a California
Legislative Analyst report, this initiative could result in up to 24,000 nonviolent offenders and 12,000 parole
violators being diverted to drug treatment instead of jail every year, saving taxpayers more than $200 million.
"The net impact of Proposition 36 in California may well exceed the impact of drug courts throughout the entire
country," said Nadelmann.
Proposition 36 allocates $120 million per year for a wide range of drug treatment options, including job and literacy
training, and family counseling.
"This is the single most significant reversal in the trend towards incarcerating drug users," said Bill Zimmerman,
Executive Director of the Campaign for New Drug Policies, which coordinated six drug policy initiative campaigns this
year. "Hopefully California will be the first of many states to pass this common sense drug policy."
In Nevada and Colorado, voters passed initiatives to make marijuana legally available for medical purposes. A
confidential registry will be
created in each of these states for patients with certain illnesses to receive credentials immunizing them from
marijuana possession and cultivation laws.
Nevada and Colorado now join six other states where voters have also made marijuana available for medical purposes,
including Alaska, Arizona, California, Maine, Oregon and Washington. (Hawaii also passed a similar measure through the
legislative process this year.) Patients in these states are now using marijuana with the full cooperation of state
officials, despite periodic attempts by the federal government to interfere. Ample evidence now exists that proves
marijuana's medicinal benefits to patients with AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis, among other diseases.
"Despite the overwhelming will of the people and the ample evidence proving marijuana's medicinal benefits, the federal
government refuses to budge on this issue," said Zimmerman. "This is just one reason people feel the drug war has gone
too far."
In Oregon and Utah, voters overwhelmingly approved ballot initiatives to curtail the asset forfeiture abuses by police
and prosecutors. Many innocent citizens, never convicted or even accused of crimes, have been victimized by seizures
based solely on the suspicions of law enforcement
officers. Now, however, based on the new initiatives, police and prosecutors will be required to prove by clear and
convincing evidence that seized property was in fact involved in a crime.
Moreover, whereas seized assets were previously retained by law enforcement agents - with predictably distorting
consequences on their priorities and motivations - the new measures require that proceeds go to public education or drug
treatment.
"The future of drug policy reform over the next few years will be at the state and local levels, where people are
searching for pragmatic solutions to local drug problems," said Nadelmann. "The White House and the new Congress should
stay tuned."