The Drug Policy Alliance was founded by Ethan Nadelmann and is led by Interim Executive Director, Derek Hodel.

The organization is governed by a board of directors who bring a wealth of public health, science, civil liberties, social justice and criminal justice experience to the drug policy reform movement. The president of the board is Ira Glasser, former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The DPA honorary board includes prominent figures from both the left and the right who are renowned for their leadership in the fields of business, law, medicine, media and politics – from Richard Branson, Russell Simmons, Deepak Chopra, Arianna Huffington and Sting to former Secretary of State George P. Shultz and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker.