American Civil Liberties Union

Drug Policy:
The ACLU Drug Law Reform Project is a division of the national ACLU. Our goal is to end punitive drug policies that cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights, as well as unprecedented levels of incarceration.



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Drug Policy : Search and Seizure : Press Releases

ACLU Urges End to Discriminatory Crack vs. Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity, Restore Rationality to Sentencing Policy (05/22/2002)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged a Senate subcommittee to support the repeal of dramatic disparities in sentencing policy between crack and powder cocaine, saying that sentences for crack offenses are extraordinarily and unnecessarily harsh and must be lessened. 

ACLU Endorses Repeal of Unfair Financial Aid Denials (05/21/2002)
WASHINGTON - Concerned that more than 80,000 students - many of whom are persons of color and of limited means - have lost their financial aid because of predominantly minor drug convictions, the American Civil Liberties Union today joined with a large and diverse coalition formed to endorse a full repeal to the misguided law mandating this loss of aid. 

Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments Today in Medical Marijuana Case with National Impact (04/08/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a case that will likely decide the fate of most of the nation's medical marijuana laws, today the American Civil Liberties Union is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that the government cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients. 

Calling Administration Position Extreme, ACLU Urges Rational End to Discriminatory Cocaine Sentencing Disparity (03/19/2002)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the United States Sentencing Commission to redouble its efforts to abolish the dramatic disparities in sentencing policy between crack and powder cocaine, and called the Administration's proposal to lessen the disparity by increasing powder sentences "extreme."  

Justices to Hear Arguments Tomorrow in Landmark ACLU Challenge to Mandatory School Drug Testing (03/18/2002)
WASHINGTON--In oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow, the American Civil Liberties Union will urge the Justices to reject random urine testing of students involved in extracurricular activities. 

Citing Free Speech Rights, LA Court Rejects Government's Extremist Tactics in Culture War Against Raves (02/04/2002)
NEW ORLEANS--In a ruling the American Civil Liberties Union called a "major victory" for free speech rights, a federal judge today permanently blocked federal agents from banning masks, pacifiers, and glow sticks at a local dance venue as part of its nationwide war against rave concerts. 

ACLU of Ohio Sues Local School Over Random Drug Testing of Student Athletes (11/20/2001)
CLEVELAND--Saying that no widespread drug abuse among student athletes exists, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a class action lawsuit in United States District Court in Columbus challenging the Dublin City School District's policy of random drug testing of student athletes. 

High Court to Rule on Student Drug Tests; ACLU Says Decision Could Set New Limits in War on Drugs (11/08/2001)
NEW YORK--The American Civil Liberties Union said today that the Supreme Court's decision to review the constitutionality of random urine testing of students involved in extracurricular activities may lead to a sharper line being drawn on when and why students can be tested. 

ACLU Asks U.S. Appeals Court to Defer to Guam High Court on Rastafarian's Right to Use Marijuana for Religious Purposes (11/02/2001)
HONOLULU--In a first-of-its-kind case involving the right of a Rastafarian in Guam to use marijuana for religious purposes, the American Civil Liberties Union on Monday will tell a federal appeals court that fundamental religious freedoms should not be stunted by one nation's ""war on drugs."" 

In Settlement of ACLU Lawsuit, New Mexico School District Agrees to Call Off Drug-Sniffing Dogs (10/25/2001)
ALBUQUERQUE - In a victory for students' rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today announced that the Lordsburg Municipal School District has agreed to end its monthly drug-dog sweeps of students in grades 5-12.

Another Court Rejects Cincinnati "Drug Zones" as Unconstitutional (10/18/2001)
CLEVELAND-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today hailed a second victory against unconstitutional ""drug zones"" that exclude people from their own neighborhoods. 

As Medical Marijuana Battle Moves to Appeals Court, ACLU Urges Protection of Doctors and their Patients (08/31/2001)
SAN FRANCISCO--In a legal brief filed with a federal appeals court here today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the court to uphold a ruling that the federal authorities cannot revoke the licenses of California doctors who recommend the medical use of marijuana to their patients. 

Government's War on Raves Went Too Far, Louisiana Court Rules (08/24/2001)
NEW ORLEANS--The American Civil Liberties Union scored a victory today when U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous ruled that prosecutors cannot force the organizers of a rave dance party to ban pacifiers or glow sticks. 

ACLU Lawsuit Fights Government's Extremist Tactics In Culture War Against Raves (08/21/2001)
NEW ORLEANS-- Saying the government's war on drugs has reached bizarre new extremes, the American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal court to prohibit the government from banning the use of glow sticks, pacifiers and masks at a rave here this weekend. 

Rave Attendees Claim Rights Violations (07/17/2001)
ST. LOUIS -- Organizers of a weekend rave near Potosi, Missouri that was shut down by police have contacted the local American Civil Liberties Union about alleged civil rights violations and are encouraging those who attended the party to file complaints against the law enforcement agencies involved, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. 

ACLU Says Proposed Student Drug Testing Policy Puts Students At Risk (07/12/2001)
MONTGOMERY, AL--The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama has serious concerns about a proposed drug testing policy at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science. The policy would require that all students provide samples of their hair for drug testing. 

Michigan Court Asked to Strike Down High School's Urine Testing Policy (06/05/2001)
FLINT, MI--The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today asked a Circuit Court to rule Grand Blanc High School's drug testing policy a violation of the state Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. 

Feds Seek to Shut Music Clubs (05/03/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The federal government is seeking to shut down "rave" music and dance clubs in an effort to wipe out the drug MDMA, which is known as ecstasy, Reuters reported. 

ACLU of New Mexico Sues School District Over Use of Drug Sniffing Dogs to Search Students (05/02/2001)
ALBUQUERQUE --The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today filed a lawsuit against Lordsburg school officials to stop them from using drug-detecting dogs to randomly sweep students for illicit substances in Lordsburg elementary, middle and high schools.

After Bitter Battle, Texas School Agrees to Drop Mandatory Student Drug Testing Policy (04/30/2001)
LOCKNEY, TX -The American Civil Liberties Union and the Lockney Independent School District today announced a settlement in the mandatory student drug testing dispute that has pitted one man's convictions against an entire town. 

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