The purpose of the Drug Policy Project (DPP) is to research, identify, and support the elimination of criminal statutes, rules, and procedures that contribute to the increased criminalization of drug use across California. The contribution of punitive drug policies to mass incarceration is well known, but less discussed are the procedural and evidentiary mechanisms that perpetuate the increased arrests and incarceration of people who use drugs. DPP aims to shine a light on these contributing factors, giving legal advocates and policymakers better information to effectively address these issues. We focus on drug policy as a health issue, centering autonomy over criminalization. DPP conducts its research through a critical, anti-racist lens and strives to center the experiences of those most affected by the War on Drugs in both its research and work product.
Members of the DPP project will engage in substantive policy research to support the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). Our supervising attorney will provide issue-specific training to prepare students for the semester’s projects. Students may contribute to issue briefs that synthesize scientific evidence and recent case law on topics such as harm reduction, health policy, drug convictions, and sentencing. Time may also be spent creating blog posts or digital fact sheets, offering an opportunity for students to translate research into accessible educational materials. Our work is flexible based on DPA’s needs, but our mission is consistent: decriminalization, autonomy, and public health. Students can expect to build skills in policy research and writing, as well as gain familiarity with the landscape of California drug policy.
Time commitment: 15-30 hours per semester (2 hour work sessions every week, with additional opportunities for independent work).
DPP may organize a trip to Sacramento to observe committee hearings on relevant bills. Participation would be encouraged but optional.
Supervision: Students will be supervised by a licensed attorney from the Drug Policy Alliance.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at decrim@berkeley.edu.
*Founded as the Drug Policy, Education, and Decriminalization (DECrim) Project, the SLPS adopted the name Drug Policy Project in 2025.