Drug Policy urges sisterhood members to call for a redefinition of drug policy from a criminal justice to a medical and social paradigm and to advocate medical and social solutions, including; funding research and providing drug rehabilitation and mental health programs, as well as providing education and counseling to reduce the demand for illegal drugs and the abuse of legal drugs.

RECOMMENDED SISTERHOOD PROGRAMMING AND ACTION

• Circulate information about the issue either through your electronic or print newsletters.  The three following articles on the Drug Policy Alliance website can provide important background for you and your members:

What's Wrong With the Drug War? 

Harm Reduction: A Public Health Strategy 

Treatment vs. Incarceration

•  Hold a panel program on viewing drug use and abuse as medical and social problems.  Invite your rabbi, speakers from local rehabilitation programs as well as representatives of your local ACLU. The mission of the group, Law Enforcement Against Drug Prohibition, LEAP, includes talking to people about policy reform. To arrange for a LEAP speaker, contact the Operations Manager, Mike Smithson, at or (315) 243-5844. 

• Advocate addressing drug use and abuse as public health concerns.

• Respond with action as urged by WRJ alerts.

• As you explore the Drug Policy Alliance, ACLU and LEAP websites you will see   various action alerts on this issue. These will usually call for electronic action – an easy way to take the WRJ stand on the issue.

• Canadian sisterhoods can become informed and take action regularly with just a click of the mouse. Dr. Susan Boyd, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University, in partnership with the Beyond Prohibition Coalition, sends a weekly letter to the Prime Minister critical of mandatory minimum sentences for growing marijuana, reduced funding for harm reduction and increased funding for police enforcement.