Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act

The Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act (H.R. 2134), introduced by Representative Eliot Engel, would encourage a more holistic strategy to tackling our nation’s drug problem.

The bill would create an independent commission, the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission, to evaluate not only solutions on the supply side of the drug problem, but all aspects of the drug war – including prevention and treatment. The Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission would be required to submit recommendations on future U.S. drug policy to Congress, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 12 months after its first meeting. The Commission would be allocated $2 million to complete its task.

This is the first step to moving away from the current piecemeal approach to counter the narcotics trade and embracing a more balanced strategy that increases our investment in domestic prevention and treatment programs.