Drug Policy Alliance is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that advocates for decriminalizing drugs and using identity politics as a basis for addressing drug issues. It advocates for policy that would take funding that is currently spent on enforcing drug laws and use it for social programs instead. ¹

Drug Policy Action is the advocacy arm of Drug Policy Alliance. ²

Background

Formed in 2003, Drug Policy Action is the lobbying and advocacy arm of Drug Policy Alliance. Drug Policy Action advocates and campaigns for policies in ways barred to Drug Policy Alliance under its 501(c)(3) tax designation. ³

Drug Policy Action has led campaigns for legislation that would decriminalize drugs and advocated for using identity politics to determine how to redirect the funding that is used for enforcing drug laws. It advocates for using the funding for things such as health care and welfare as a means for achieving equal outcomes among all racial groups. ^{4 5}

Political Activity

In 2020, Drug Policy Action led a campaign for Oregon Measure 110, which decriminalized illicit drugs under “personal use” quantities. The measure also redirected funds used to enforce and prosecute drug laws and used them for drug abuse programs. ^{6 7} Drug Policy Action spent over $5 million to pass the ballot measure, including in-kind contributions. ⁸

Financials

In 2019, Drug Policy Action reported receiving over $1.9 million in total revenue, $1.7 million of which came in the form of grants and the remaining $150,000 came in investment income. ⁹ It also reported having over $23 million in total assets. ¹⁰

Also in 2019, Drug Policy Action reported spending over $6.5 million in grants and $6.9 million in total expenses. ¹¹ It reported that it gave a $6.5 million to Drug Policy Alliance and a $10,000 grant to the Democratic Party of Georgia. ¹²

1. “About Us.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://drugpolicy.org/about-us.
2. “About Drug Policy Action.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://drugpolicy.org/about-drug-policy-action.
3. “About Drug Policy Action.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://drugpolicy.org/about-drug-policy-action.
4. Jaeger, Kyle. “Oregon’s Drug Decriminalization Initiative Has Created $300 Million in Funding for Treatment and Services.” Marijuana Moment, November 9, 2021. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/oregons-drug-decriminalization-initiative-has-created-300-million-in-funding-for-treatment-and-services/.
5. “About Drug Policy Action.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://drugpolicy.org/about-drug-policy-action.
6. Jaeger, Kyle. “Oregon’s Drug Decriminalization Initiative Has Created $300 Million in Funding for Treatment and Services.” Marijuana Moment, November 9, 2021. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/oregons-drug-decriminalization-initiative-has-created-300-million-in-funding-for-treatment-and-services/.
7. “About Us.” Drug Policy Alliance. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://drugpolicy.org/about-us.
8. “Oregon Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative (2020).” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 7, 2022. https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_Measure_110,_Drug_Decriminalization_and_Addiction_Treatment_Initiative_(2020).
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Drug Policy Action. 2019. Part I, Lines 8-12.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Drug Policy Action. 2019. Part X, line 23.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Drug Policy Action. 2019. Part I, Lines 13-18.
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Drug Policy Action. 2019. Schedule I, Part II.