Richard Nixon announced the War on Drugs in 1971 and, in doing so, perpetuated an ongoing rhetoric and myth of Black criminality. Ronald Reagan escalated the impact of this policy by prioritizing punishment over treatment, thereby causing a significant increase in the incarcerated population, especially for nonviolent drug offenses.
Over a dozen organizations joined MAPS in sending letters to the United States Sentencing Commission, urging a review and revision of the Drug Quantity and Drug Conversion Tables. The United States is long overdue for sentencing reform, and the urgency lies especially with drug-related offenses. Our goal is to align sentencing guidelines with contemporary research, promote public health, and end the harm caused by outdated drug policies.