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 : Drug Testing : Press Releases

Citing Student Privacy, Court Blocks Random Drug Testing at New Jersey High School (01/04/2001)
NEWARK--Saying that "students should not have to surrender their right to privacy," a New Jersey judge today blocked a local high school's random drug testing policy in a challenge brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey on behalf of three area families.

High School Volleyball Player Fights Urine Testing With Aid of Oregon ACLU (10/31/2000)
EUGENE -- A 15-year-old high school student and her parents are going to court today to challenge her removal from the Oakridge High School volleyball team for refusing to consent to random urinalysis drug testing, in case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon.

Measure to Deny Voting Rights for Prisoners Is a Step Back for Massachusetts, ACLU Warns (10/02/2000)
BOSTON, MA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts spoke out today against Measure Number Two, a ballot initiative that would amend the Massachusetts Constitution to prohibit incarcerated felons from voting in elections for numerous state and federal offices.

Citing "Dangerous Precedent," Federal Judge Blocks MI's Plan to Drug Test Welfare Recipients (09/05/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- A federal district judge today blocked the country's first-ever law requiring welfare recipients to undergo drug testing, saying that the policy, enacted by Michigan last year, sets a "dangerous precedent" under the Constitution.

ACLU Challenge Ends Student Drug Testing in Maryland Schools (08/17/2000)
EASTON, MD -- In a national first, Maryland school officials who removed 18 high school students from final exam review classes and forced them to have their urine tested on the stage of their school auditorium agreed last night to cease all student drug testing in county schools and pay damages to the students, effectively conceding that the harms of school drug testing outweigh the benefits.

With ACLU Help, Parents and Students Fight Drug Testing Policies at NJ High School (08/14/2000)
NEWARK, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging Hunterdon Central High School's expanded drug testing policy, which requires that students participating in athletics, extracurricular activities and those parking on campus submit to random drug tests.

Students and Parents Challenge "Rumor Mill" Drug Testing at Maryland High School (05/02/2000)
BALTIMORE, MD -- In what is believed to be the first legal challenge to student drug testing in the state, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and a private law firm filed suit here today in federal district court on behalf of a group of Easton High School students and their parents.

Court Rejects Michigan's Attempt to End ACLU Challenge to Urine Testing of Welfare Recipients (04/18/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- Rejecting Michigan's attempt to end a lawsuit challenging drug testing of welfare recipients, a court today ruled that the action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union must go forward.

City of Hollywood Urine Drug Testing Policy Declared Unconstitutional by Federal Court (04/13/2000)
MIAMI -- A court today struck down the as unconstitutional a City of Hollywood policy that required that all new city employees to undergo urine screening for drugs, the American Civil Liberties Union said.

ACLU Sues Michigan Community Schools over Drug Testing Policy (03/28/2000)
GRAND BLANC, MI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed suit on behalf a high school student challenging a school policy requiring drug tests of student athletes.

ACLU Urges PA Legislature to Repeal Law Barring Ex-offenders from the Voting Booth (02/29/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- At a public hearing scheduled for this Thursday, March 2, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said it will urge the state legislature to repeal a law that bars ex-offenders from registering to vote for five years.

ACLU of Washington State Challenges Suspicionless Urine Testing for Students (12/17/1999)
SEATTLE -- In the first legal action of its kind in Washington State, two sets of parents of high school students today filed a lawsuit challenging a school district's recently adopted policy of suspicionless urine testing for students who participate in extracurricular athletic activities.

Judge Blocks First-Ever Mandatory Drug Testing of Michigan Welfare Recipients (11/10/1999)
DETROIT, MI -- A federal judge in Michigan today halted the state's attempt to impose mandatory drug tests on all welfare recipients, confirming American Civil Liberties Union arguments that being poor is not an indication of being criminal.

ACLU Urges Congress to Restore Voting Fairness (10/21/1999)
WASHINGTON -- Nearly 100 years ago, states across the South adopted a series of laws aimed at keeping African Americans away from the ballot box. Since then, legislators and the courts have jettisoned most of those biased laws. One glaring exception remains: criminal disenfranchisement laws.

Michigan ACLU Seeks Halt to Nation's First Mandatory Welfare Drug Testing Program (09/30/1999)
DETROIT -- Saying that Michigan's poorest families should not be treated like criminals, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed a federal class-action lawsuit to halt the nation's first statewide drug testing requirement for welfare recipients.

New ACLU Report Debunks Workplace Urine Testing, Citing High Costs, Low Dividends, Junk Science (09/01/1999)
NEW YORK -- In a special report issued today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging corporate America to drop workplace urine testing, citing evidence that the tests do not pay dividends in decreased accidents and absenteeism or increased efficiency and productivity.

ACLU Brings First Federal Challenge to Drug Testing of Students in Academic Courses (08/18/1999)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of two high school juniors who are fighting a policy requiring them to take a urine test for certain academic courses.

Free Teen Drug Tests In Oregon Worries ACLU (07/07/1999)
MOLALLA, OR -- In a move that has civil liberties advocates worried, a local police department is encouraging parents to bring in their children for free drug testing. The program, offered by the Molalla Police Department, is likely to be expanded to 10 other Oregon cities this year, the Oregonian reported today.

Hair Tests: Unreliable and Discriminatory (06/27/1999)
NEW YORK -- Three years ago, Jerome McCall, 30, was kicked off the police force after failing the Police Department's new hair test for drugs. Samples of his hair tested positive for cocaine, but McCall insists that he is innocent -- and that the tests discriminate against African-Americans, the New York Daily News reported today.

Hair Testing by Schools Intensifies Drug Debate (06/14/1999)
NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Despite the fact that the federal government remains unconvinced of the accuracy of hair testing for drugs, the practice is now being adopted by some private schools, The New York Times reported today.

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