To Address Overdose Epidemic, Maryland Lawmakers Must Pass Paraphernalia Decriminalization Bill  BALTIMORE, MD––Today, amid continually record-breaking overdose deaths, 120 Maryland medical and public health professionals––including physicians, nurses, and social workers who work closely with and treat patients with substance use disorder––sent a letter to Senate President Bill Ferguson urging him to call a vote on H.B. 481, the Drug Paraphernalia Decriminalization bill.  H.B. 481, sponsored by Delegates David Moon, Jon Cardin, and 24 others, would amend the classification of certain ..read more

Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition 2022 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Agenda Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC) has four overarching priorities for community mobilization and policy advocacy from 2021-2025: 1) gain community reparation from over a century of harm, and freedom from criminalization; 2) end state-sanctioned surveillance policies that reduce opportunities and access for people who use drugs; 3) increase access, autonomy, and power for people targeted by drug war and anti-sex worker policies; and, 4) create and strengthen community-run spaces grounded in Harm Reducti ..read more

By Sheri From the wise words of Beyonce on the remix of ‘Savage’ by Megan Thee Stallion, ‘on her demon time she might start an onlyfans’, I advise you not to. Yes, that’s right we should not listen to Beyonce this time because Onlyfans does not listen to sex workers. I’m Sheri, a sex worker and policy advocacy intern for Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition and I know first hand what it is like to be mistreated by Onlyfans. Onlyfans is often used as the butt of the joke when money is tight and people need to make extra cash, fast. Contrary to popular belief, onlyfans is not a joke and can take j ..read more

One month ago on May 26, 2021, Maryland Governor Hogan made yet another policy decision demonstrating his dedication to the racist war on drugs. On this day, he vetoed SB420 which would have decriminalized possession of paraphernalia for administration (aka personal drug use).   In his official letter to Senate President Ferguson (link), Governor Hogan made exaggerated, inaccurate, harmful claims. Claims which stirred the fears that uphold our society’s implicit and explicit biases against people who use and/or sell drugs.  Will we fight back? Of course. Will we win? Absolutely ..read more

Monday, March 29, 2021 Proposed policy Criminal Law – Drug Paraphernalia for Administration – Decriminalization (House Bill 372 and Senate Bill 420) has the potential to become law this year, increasing public health and safety. Over the past week, the Maryland House of Delegates passed HB372 (91-39) and the Maryland Senate passed SB420 with amendments (31-16). Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition (BHRC) and our community is proud of the work towards decriminalization thus far, especially the efforts of bill champions Senator Jill Carter and Delegate David Moon. If passed as written, House Bill ..read more

By Dave Fell In mid-March of this year, the city of Oakland, CA partnered with Alameda County to provide assistance to unsheltered residents of the area. According to a post on the city’s website dated March 13th, this partnership managed to install 42 portable toilets and wash stations at 19 new encampments (not counting the additional 20 encampments already receiving health and hygiene services, pre-pandemic). (1) At the same time, the neighboring city of Berkeley, CA set up at least 20 hand washing stations at parks, libraries, and homeless encampments around the city. According to Deputy C ..read more

By Smitha Mahesh, with Rajani Gudlavalleti Content Warning: Islamophobia, sexism, racism As usual, I am scrolling through Twitter, to get the latest tea on celebrities and politicians and refresh my soul with a feed filled with daily pictures of big fluffy bunnies, corgis, and pandas.  But of course, my joyous vibe came to a halt when I came across this:  My first reaction was one of confusion. Then it transformed into disgust and ultimately into anger. To clarify and emphasize, I am a South Asian Hindu who does not wear face coverings for religious purposes — and I am deeply hurt a ..read more