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

White House Continues to Push Ineffective Student Drug Testing Agenda (05/06/2008)
WASHINGTON – The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is conducting the latest in a series of regional summits designed to convince local educators to begin drug testing students randomly and without cause – a policy unsupported by the available science and opposed by leading experts in adolescent health, including the Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association, the Association of Addiction Professionals and the National Association of Social Workers.

State Supreme Court Rules against Suspicionless Student Drug Testing (03/13/2008)
The Washington Supreme Court today unanimously found that Wahkiakum School District’s policy of suspicionless urine testing for students who participate in extracurricular athletic activities is unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington challenged the suspicionless testing program on behalf of two families in the district, including a deputy sheriff and an emergency room doctor.

Hawaii Governor Wrong that Demise of Random Drug Testing Program Puts Teacher Pay Raise at Risk (02/01/2008)
HONOLULU – A diverse group of legal and labor experts and public school educators delivered a letter to Governor Linda Lingle today demanding that she retract legally baseless threats to withhold teachers’ pay raises. In response to the Board of Education’s decision last week not to divert money from Hawaii’s classrooms to fund a random teacher drug testing program, Lingle threatened to deny teachers a pay raise included in their current contract.

ACLU Applauds Hawaii Board of Education’s Rejection of Random Teacher Drug Testing and Condemns Governor’s Threat to Withhold Wages (01/25/2008)
HONOLULU – The American Civil Liberties Union applauded the Hawaii State Board of Education for its decision not to fund the random drug testing of Hawaii’s educators. In a unanimous vote yesterday evening, the Board of Education rejected a motion that would have allocated $400,000 just to initiate the random testing policy – additional funds would be necessary to conduct the actual random tests. In response to the Board’s decision, Governor Linda Lingle today threatened to withhold a wage increase included in the teachers’ union’s most recent contract.

Hawaii Governor Refuses to Retract Teacher Drug Testing Policy (11/15/2007)
HONOLULU – The American Civil Liberties Union condemned Governor Lingle’s refusal to retract a policy that will subject as many as 13,500 public school employees, including teachers,librarians and many administrative workers to random drug testing. Saying that the drug testing program violates adults’ constitutional right to privacy and is ineffective and costly, the ACLU announced today that it will file suit imminently in federal court.

ACLU Issues Official Demand for Governor to Halt Random Drug Testing of Educators (10/04/2007)
HONOLULU - The American Civil Liberties Union served Governor Lingle a formal demand letter today calling for an end to the State’s plan to randomly drug test many public school employees, including teachers and librarians. The ACLU has so far been contacted by more than 150 educators seeking to challenge the random drug testing policy.

ACLU Announces Legal Challenge to First-Ever Random Drug Testing Policy for Public School Educators (09/14/2007)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union is convening a series of local events to announce its legal challenge to a state policy that will randomly drug test many public school employees, including teachers, librarians and many administrative workers. Saying that the drug testing program violates adults’ constitutional right to privacy, is ineffective and costly, the ACLU is currently seeking Hawaii public school employees to participate in a lawsuit against the State that will soon be filed in federal court.

ACLU of Maryland Declares Victory as High Court Unanimously Rules Pregnancy Prosecutions Are Illegal (08/03/2006)
BALTIMORE, MD – The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland applauded today’s decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals unanimously ruling that the reckless endangerment statute does not apply to women who take drugs while pregnant.

ACLU of Virginia Sets Stage for Student Privacy Victory (03/10/2006)
WILLIAMSBURG, VA - In an unexpected turn of events this week, the Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted unanimously to implement a voluntary student drug testing program for students in grades 6-12, beginning with the 2006- 2007 school year. In so doing, the board rejected a proposal to institute a mandatory random drug testing program that was strongly opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and many parents.

Settlement Reached in ACLU of Michigan Lawsuit Over Mandatory Drug Testing of Welfare Recipients (12/18/2003)
DETROIT - Michigan's attempt to impose mandatory drug tests on all welfare recipients has finally come to an end, the American Civil Liberties Union announced today after a settlement was reached with the Family Independence Agency (FIA). The FIA can now require drug testing of welfare recipients only where there is a reasonable suspicion that the recipient is using drugs.

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. 

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 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. 

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. 

Continuing National Trend, Appeals Court Rejects Oklahoma School Drug Testing Policy (03/22/2001)
DENVER--In the latest in a series of federal and state court victories, an appeals court here struck down as unconstitutional an Oklahoma school district's urine drug testing policy, signaling a growing reluctance to permit such invasive searches of students. 

Black State Lawmakers and FL ACLU Challenge State's Failure to Help Ex-Felons Regain Voting Rights (03/14/2001)
MIAMI - The ACLU of Florida's Equal Voting Rights Project today filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of black lawmakers, several ex-offenders and a number of community groups, challenging the state's failure to assist ex-felons in applying for the restoration of their civil rights, including the right to vote. 

Texas Court Strikes Down First-Ever Mandatory School Drug Testing Policy (03/02/2001)
LUBBOCK, TX--A federal judge here has struck down a school district's mandatory drug testing policy -- the first of its kind in the nation to apply to every student -- in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a father and his 12-year-old son.

In Joint Effort, ACLU and Community Groups Help Ex-Offenders Restore Their Voting Rights (01/24/2001)
MIAMI, FL-- In an effort to help ex-offenders navigate through the lengthy and complicated application process of restoring their voting rights, a coalition of community groups is sponsoring a town hall meeting here this Saturday to educate former offenders on how to regain their right to vote.

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