To my elected representatives,
More than 500 people died last year from overdose deaths in Maine. That’s more people than died from COVID-19 in the state.
Decades of experience have shown we cannot arrest and punish our way out of drug use and overdose deaths. We can no longer afford to pursue a failed set of policies as our family members and neighbors die preventable deaths.
We need to change our drug laws to save lives. We need a humane and public health-informed response to substance use that centers people’s health and well-being.
I urge you to support LD 967, which would end criminal penalties for minor drug possession and offer people a path to treatment.
