Drug Policy News: Prop. 36

Calif. Governor to Slash Prop. 36 Treatment Program

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for a severe funding cut to Proposition 36, the state’s landmark, voter-approved, treatment-instead-of-jail program. The recommendation, part of the governor’s budget proposal released last week, would cut $23 million from the money- and life-saving program.

Data consistently show that Prop. 36 is a success–over 12,000 people have successfully completed substance treatment during each year of the program’s existence, putting the program on track to graduate 72,000 Californians in its first six years. In just its first five years, Prop. 36 saved taxpayers $1.3 billion, according to figures from the Justice Policy Institute.

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