American Medical Association Officially Endorses Drug Decriminalization: We Need ‘Something That Actually Works’
In a landmark decision, the American Medical Association (AMA) voted this week to support the elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use, marking a notable shift in the organization’s approach to addressing the substance use crisis in the U.S.
“The war on drugs is quite reminiscent of the phrase, ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves,’” said Ryan Englander, an MD/PhD candidate from Hartford, Connecticut. “We have tried for decades to criminalize our way out of a substance use crisis in this country, and it has not worked. We need to move to something different and better, something that actually works.”
Delegates voted 345-171 to adopt the new policy, which calls for the “elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use as part of a larger …