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138:(which was later passed into law in 2020) and in Maryland where activists spoke to state representatives and government officials in order to gain support for marijuana as a legal industry. Furthermore, the Clergy for a New Drug Policy were instrumental in the fight for the legalization of cannabis within their home state of
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Delegates from the organization have been sent to various state and national houses of legislature to argue for the further legalization (and subsequent regulation) of marijuana. However, the group also has the goal of making sure these policies are implemented equally for all and remove arbitrary
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including how it has disproportionately impacted low income and minority communities, specifically
African Americans. Instead of punishment for drug users, which they have pointed out has not worked in reducing drug usage and crimes within the United States, the organization advocates for a
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The Clergy for New Drug Policy cites the theology of punishment for their stance against harsh penalties for drug users, specifically how many religious doctrines, including
Christianity and Buddhism, call for penalty to be a reformative process for the offender. They believe that the
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for drug offenders, especially in cases of recidivist addicts, can "brand people for life", as a result not allowing them to grow as individuals. Consequently, founded in part on
Protestant Christian doctrine through Reverend Sharp, the organization takes a strong stance against the
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Along with individual endeavors as an organization, the Clergy for a New Drug Policy has also worked with a number of other activist groups to promote drug reform on both federal and state levels across the country. As a part of the
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Commentary on the group described it as part of a phenomenon where "clergy in many denominations, beginning with
Unitarian Universalists, have recognized that the war is lost, and that new strategies are needed" including
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39:, which provides drug addicts with clean needles, medical care, and access to addiction therapists as inspiration for the organization's policy. CNDP initiatives also practice the
146:, which also expunges criminal records of anyone arrested or imprisoned due to marijuana offenses and implements social equity requirements within the state cannabis industry.
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first established in Europe, which focuses on four principles: harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and enforcement. While the group focuses primarily on drug reform (mainly
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154:, which looks to repair “the disproportionate harm faced by Black, brown, and low-income communities” as a result of federal drug policy, and the
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to rally in support of the legalization of cannabis in the state alongside local religious figures, including
Reverend and representative
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to argue against the inherent inequalities created by the unfair enforcement they feel is present in modern-day
American drug policy.
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present in the War on Drugs and continuing into everyday society within the United States. In this regard, clergy members cite the
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is an
American organization of religious leaders which seeks to reform drug laws in the interest of
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174:. Throughout the 2010s and into 2020, Reverend Al Sharp and other delegates of CNDP traveled to
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barriers to entry into the industry. Examples of CNDP cannabis activism include efforts in
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rehabilitation-focused method of fighting addiction. They cite programs like
Vancouver's
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pastor
Reverend Al Sharp. They focus on the adverse effects of the
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Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of
Marijuana in America
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Cannabis law reform organizations based in the United States
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142:. This idea was passed into law in 2019 through the
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496:"A Protestant Perspective on Drug Policy Reform"
448:"BBC - Religions - Buddhism: Capital punishment"
303:"The 'War on Drugs' Has Failed, Commission Says"
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130:, where they called for Arizonans to support
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134:to legalize cannabis in the state and later
545:"Religious groups say vote yes on Prop 205"
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331:The University of Chicago Divinity School
26:. The group was begun in 2015 by Chicago
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144:Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act
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401:Martin E. Marty (September 12, 2016),
214:Justice Advisory Council – Cook County
55:. The group is composed of members of
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45:Marijuana regulation and legalization
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687:"About Clergy for a New Drug Policy"
182:. This activism helped push through
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244:Moms United to End the War on Drugs
229:Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
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20:Clergy for a New Drug Policy (CNDP)
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380:. Basic Books. pp. 218–.
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327:"Clergy for a New Drug Policy"
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196:American Civil Liberties Union
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639:"Marijuana Justice Coalition"
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814:Religious organization stubs
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476:Clergy for a New Drug Policy
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593:McGhee, Josh (2020-01-01).
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113:among many other pieces of
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41:Four Pillars Drug Strategy
570:"JUD_2_14_2017_meeting_1"
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206:Community Renewal Society
424:"Theology of punishment"
239:Marijuana Policy Project
224:Illinois Justice Project
472:"Religious Declaration"
28:United Church of Christ
521:"A Muslim Perspective"
77:Unitarian Universalist
799:Cannabis and religion
574:mgahouse.maryland.gov
190:Partner organizations
51:, including tackling
809:Cannabis in Illinois
643:Drug Policy Alliance
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210:Drug Policy Alliance
156:Drug Policy Alliance
103:institutional racism
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176:Connecticut
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555:2018-04-22
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268:References
69:Protestant
53:recidivism
407:Sightings
234:Live4Lali
264:Source:
160:MORE Act
140:Illinois
109:and the
79:clergy.
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