On April 27, 2023, the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee is holding a Special Session to discuss this year’s state bills related to fentanyl. The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office joins a coalition of 35+ statewide organizations and agencies that have signed onto a letter to the Committee Members urging them to reject these bills, invest in harm reduction, and consider the following:

– California cannot repeat the failed war on drugs.

– Bills that increase penalties for selling drugs harm the very people they purport to protect.

– Jailing people who sell drugs does not reduce the drug supply or demand.

– Supporting these bills will divert time and resources away from evidence-based solutions like
treatment and overdose prevention centers.

Read or download the letter below: