What Should the Biden Administration Do about U.S. Drug Policy?

Policy Matters

“The times they are a’changing,” however slowly, when it comes to drug policy in the United States. Across the nation, states and municipalities are reassessing often punitive laws governing the use of illicit substances. What has been the human cost of the “war on drugs?” How has it impacted disadvantaged communities? What has been the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on drug use? And what steps should the new Biden Administration do to help foster a more humane and just approach to drug use? This episode has two guests. The first is Dr. Katharine Neill Harris, the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy here at the Institute. On March 11, Dr. Neill Harris testified about federal drug policy before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. The second guest is Dr. William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy and Director of the Institute’s Drug Policy Program. Dr. Harris and Dr. Martin have recently co-authored a policy brief titled “Drug Policy Priority Issues for the Biden Administration.” It is available on the Baker Institute website.