An Advocate for Fairness in Drug Policy (with Maritza Perez Medina)

Maritza Perez Medina, Director of Federal Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance. Maritza shares her journey from growing up in rural Nevada to attending Berkeley School of Law, and her long-standing desire to advocate for marginalized and vulnerable communities. She discusses her focus on public interest law, specifically criminal justice reform and drug policy, informed by her experiences with immigration advocacy and personal encounters with systemic racism. The conversation explores complex issues such as drug scheduling, the opioid crisis, harm reduction strategies, and the role of policy in addressing public health concerns. Maritza emphasizes the importance of cultural change, community support, and de-stigmatization of drug users, advocating for more informed and compassionate drug policies.

STORY:

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:57 Navigating Cultural Identity

01:42 Maritza's Career Journey

02:40 Early Advocacy and Inspiration

04:19 Pursuing Public Interest Law

08:13 Challenges and Family Support

09:42 Drug Policy and Criminal Justice

13:18 Understanding Drug Scheduling

20:00 The Reality of Drug Use and Safety

21:50 The War on Drugs: A Modern Perspective

23:08 Challenges in Drug Policy and Public Perception

27:42 Historical Context of Drug Legislation

34:57 The Role of Pharmaceuticals and Public Health

37:17 Advocacy and Public Involvement

BIOGRAPHY:

Maritza Perez Medina is the Director of the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance in Washington, DC where she leads the organization’s federal legislative agenda and strategy to end the drug war. Previously, Maritza was a Senior Policy Analyst for Criminal Justice Reform at the Center for American Progress (CAP) where her portfolio included marijuana policy, policing, and prison and sentencing reform. Prior to joining CAP, Maritza was a Legislative Staff Attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). She began her legal career at MALDEF as a Soros Justice Fellow, advocating for policies to end mass incarceration. Her portfolio at MALDEF expanded to include immigration policy, employment rights, education access, and judicial nominations.

Maritza is passionate about public service and giving back to her community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia (HBA-DC) and the National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP) at American University Washington College of Law. In 2019, Maritza was named one of the Hispanic National Bar Association's Top Lawyers Under 40 in recognition of her outstanding record of public service and professional excellence.

LINKS:

Bio: https://www.hbadc.org/page/BoardBiosMaritzaP

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maritza-perez-medina-esq-364b4869/

Drug Alliance: https://drugpolicy.org

Related interview: https://www.mycannabis.com/maritza-perez-medina-director-of-federal-affairs-for-the-drug-policy-alliance-interview-series/