"A coalition of activists, including civil rights and faith groups, gathered at the Washington, DC Council building on October 21. They launched a campaign that calls on elected officials to decriminalize drug possession. It comes at a critical moment, after the city endured its worst year on record for drug overdose deaths. DPA is partnering on the campaign with HIPS, a local advocacy and harm organization serving drug users and sex workers. “We are dedicated to continuing D.C.’s fight for every person’s right to live a healthy, self-determined life free from stigma, violence, criminalization, and oppression,” said a HIPS representative. #DecrimPovertyDC would decriminalize all drugs for personal use. It would convene a special commission to determine personal-use thresholds for each category of drugs. But the campaign’s proposals would go further, by creating one or several 24/7 harm reduction centers in the city, to serve people who use drugs with sterile syringes, naloxone and other supplies that promote health and save lives. The center would include an overdose prevention site, also known as a safe consumption site (SCS), where people can use drugs with trained staff and naloxone on hand."
https://filtermag.org/decriminalize-drugs-washington-dc/