On Sunday, September 14th, the Maryland Alliance for Sensible Drug Policy was invited to speak at the Baltimore Ethical Society, a humanist religious congregation committed to ethical living and social justice. The presentation, titled Beyond Punishment: A Vision for Drug Policy in Maryland, explored how Maryland can move toward a drug policy rooted in compassion, evidence, and human rights.

The discussion centered on one key question: What would it look like to move beyond punishment and fear to a drug policy grounded in health, dignity, and human rights? Together, we reflected on how our state can adopt more humane and effective approaches to substance use and the people affected by it.

During the presentation, we walked attendees through the history of the War on Drugs, tracing its origins from the 19th century to Nixon’s declaration of “public enemy number one” to current headlines, and showing how drug policy has long been used as a tool of social control. We discussed how mandatory minimums, racialized sentencing disparities, and abstinence-only prevention programs like DARE reinforced stigma instead of promoting health. The result has been decades of punishment and fear, with outcomes that have failed by every measure. 

We then turned to harm reduction, a set of evidence-based strategies that save lives and strengthen communities. We shared examples of programs like syringe service programs, overdose prevention centers, and pre-arrest diversion initiatives that replace criminalization with care. These approaches reduce harm, connect people to resources, and affirm that everyone deserves dignity and respect. 

We closed with a simple message: the War on Drugs has lasted decades because it has been fueled by fear and stigma. Breaking that cycle requires community, compassion, and courage.

If you share this vision, we invite you to stand with us. Join the Alliance or make a donation to help us create a Maryland where drug policy heals instead of harms.

This presentation is part of the Alliance’s outreach to religious congregations and community groups across Maryland. If your congregation, civic group, or community organization would like to host a presentation or discussion on sensible drug policy, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to start the conversation.