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[Courtesy of Americans for Safe Access] Dear ASA Supporter, Right now, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering signing a bill into law that will protect the jobs of hundreds of thousands of medical cannabis patients in California. We cannot let this effort fail! Contact the Governor's office immediately to tell him he must sign AB 2279 into law! We've come a long way in protecting patients' rights to work. Assemblymember Mark Leno introduced AB2279 in February, and your phone calls, emails, and letters helped get the bill passed in both houses of the California Legislature. Now, the final step is the Governor's signature. He can either veto it or sign the bill, and he needs to hear from everyone in California, now more than ever before. It's up to you now to push past this final hurdle towards protecting patients' employment rights. Call the Governor and tell him how you feel. Tell him to sign AB 2279 and make it California law! When the California Supreme Court ruled in Ross v. Ragingwire that patients could be fired simply for using medical cannabis as allowed under California law, we knew we had to fight. We built support with the Service Workers International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represent over one million California workers. We also enlisted the help of local Chambers of Commerce, HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations, and many other organizations that have taken a stand to ensure patients do not face workplace discrimination. There is no time to lose. The Governor is already hearing from lobbyists and big business who oppose AB2279. But if you think that medical cannabis patients should be allowed to hold jobs, we need you now! Visit ASA's action page to email the Governor's office and tell him that he must protect the jobs of workers in our communities. He MUST sign AB 2279 into law! Then, call his office at 916-445-2841 and say: "Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am asking that Governor Schwarzenegger sign AB 2279, the medical cannabis workers' rights bill into law. California is going through tough economic times, and right now hundreds of thousands working individuals can be fired just because of their status as legal medical cannabis patients. People with illnesses should be encouraged to work whenever possible. They should not risk discrimination because of their condition. Thank you." Thank you for all of your continued support, and for being the driving force behind this campaign. Sincerely, George Pappas Field Coordinator Americans for Safe Access P.S. For more information on AB 2279, visit: www.AmericansforSafeAccess.org/AB2279

Fayetteville, AR: Fayetteville voters will have the choice on Election Day to vote on making adult marijuana possession the lowest police priority. Sensible Fayetteville initiative sponsors turned in just over 1000 additional signatures on August 29 to meet a shortfall of 310 valid signatures. City Clerk Sondra Smith contacted campaign coordinator Ryan Denham today to say that the petition has qualified with over the total of 3686 signatures required. Denham praised the city clerk and staff for their professional conduct and courtesy during the laborious verification process. "They worked hard. We were impressed by city operations." "Now we turn our attention to providing more in-depth information to the voters leading up to Election Day. This initiative offers residents an important opportunity to help guide Fayetteville's future through better allocation of our resources. It also shows that Fayetteville is willing to take a leadership role among other cities across the nation in addressing failed public policy. And we believe this will benefit Fayetteville's largest industry, the University of Arkansas, by reducing the number of students penalized with loss of financial aid for marijuana prosecutions. We respect the dedication of our police and prosecutor and believe this measure spells out the public's full support for their use of enforcement discretion." Sensible Fayetteville formed in 2007 as a coalition of OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, & Ecology, the Green Party of Washington County, the University of Arkansas student group NORML-SSDP, and the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, Inc. The measure, entitled "Lowest Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Priority Policy Ordinance," would require Fayetteville police and prosecutor to treat adult marijuana possession offenses as their lowest priority. Further, the measure requires the city clerk to send an annual letter to state and federal legislators, governor, and president stating: "The citizens of Fayetteville have passed an initiative to de-prioritize adult marijuana offenses, where the marijuana is intended for personal use, and request that the federal and Arkansas state governments take immediate steps to enact similar laws." This duty shall be carried out until state and federal laws are changed accordingly. The full text of the proposed ordinance can be viewed at www.sensiblefayetteville.com Similar laws have been passed by communities in Missouri, Montana, Washington, California, and Colorado. In Arkansas, a similar measure in Eureka Springs passed with 62% of the vote in 2006. Sponsors state that more than one survey by Zogby International have show that over two-thirds of Arkansas voters support reforms that would reduce penalties for adult marijuana use. Denele Campbell, Executive Director Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas,Inc. "The Alliance" www.arkansasalliance.org [email protected] P O Box 692 Fayetteville AR 72702 "Taking Action on Failed Drug Policy"

Florida: Executive Order Aimed to Speed Up Process Gov. Charlie Crist implemented an executive order last week in an effort to speed up the process for persons with non-violent felony offenses to regain voting rights, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The order will: - Require a voter-registration application be included in every Restoration of Civil Rights Certificate mailed from the Parole Commission; - Make accessible a redesigned Florida Parole Commission Web site allowing individuals to locate and print their restoration certificate; and - Provide on the Web site a direct link to the Division of Elections' voter-registration Web site. "I believe that government should explore every opportunity to ease the notification process and provide as much information about restoration of civil rights," Crist said in a statement. "The changes made today will allow ex-offenders to immediately register to vote and participate in the democratic process." In an editorial, the Orlando Sentinel stated that the executive order was "impressive," but added that Gov. Crist "could do better." The editorial board noted that problems will still remain, including the fact that elections supervisors will need greater access to state databases to reach new voters and that there's still uncertainty regarding how individuals will be notified by mail of their ability to vote. Highlighting last week's Orlando Sentinel's investigative report on people whose rights have yet to be restored, a New York Times editorial stated that Florida's restoration figure of 115,000 "turn[ed] out to have been an illusion." Reform "would be good for the ex-offenders, good for Florida and good for the larger cause of democracy," the Times stated. New York: Personal Fulfillment Includes the Right to Vote Germaine Knapp, CEO of the Sojourner House, a women's transitional support organization in New York, said many women her organization comes in contact with don't realize they have the right to vote if they have served their time, including parole. "The women who come to Sojourner House have made a courageous decision to overcome the challenges of drug addiction, mental illness and abuse," she wrote in a Democrat and Chronicle commentary. "They have chosen to free themselves from low expectations and taken the high road to self-sufficiency, responsibility and personal fulfillment. Yet, although those women have demonstrated unusual courage, they continue to doubt their right to participate fully in elections." Michigan: Attempting to Correct False Information A campaign to register 1500 new Michigan voters is underway in an effort to ''combat false information that was being disseminated from inside the Corrections Department itself,'' the Michigan Citizen reported. Unlock the Vote is working in Wayne, Genessee and Kalamazoo counties to empower citizens with felony convictions. Wisconsin: State Representative Thinks Law Should Change - for the Better Wisconsin law states that individuals must complete their prison sentence in addition to probation or parole to become eligible to vote. State Rep. Joe Parisi wants that to change, Channel 3000 reported. "Once you've served your time and you're released from prison, we expect you to participate in society again and we encourage you to take part in the democratic process and vote. It would save money, it would help integrate people back into society and it would make the administration of elections much smoother," said Parisi, who will continue lobbying for a bill reflecting his views. National: Voter Awareness Program Unveiled; Research Offers Judges' Views on Collateral Consequences A nonpartisan voter awareness program was unveiled by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in an effort to educate voters and address voting barriers, including disenfranchisement, in the upcoming November election, according to Diverse Issues in Education. "Prepared to Vote" will include sponsoring community-based workshops, holding meetings with election officials and posting information on an educational Web site, www.preparedtovote.org. "Prepared to Vote is a program designed to raise every voter's awareness of the many obstacles in the electoral process that could affect their right to vote in the 2008 election. Through Prepared to Vote, we hope to ensure that every eligible voter casts a vote that counts," said John Payton, LDF president and director-counsel. A new survey of judicial practice and understanding of the collateral consequences of criminal convictions finds that while judges report that courtroom practitioners frequently discuss these policies in court, there is also "further evidence of serious ambiguities and variation in these laws' purpose, character, and imposition." The study of trial court judges nationally, by Alec Ewald and Marnie Smith, also found that about 80% of respondents "did not believe the purposes of collateral consequences were clearly defined in their state's statutes" and that "judges appear to differentiate among collateral consequences," supporting some more strongly than others. The study, "Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions in American Courts," appears in The Justice System Journal, Vol, 29, #2. National: New York Review of Books Features Disenfranchisement Publication The New York Review of Books incorporated discussion of "Restoring the Right to Vote," a 34-page publication authored by Erika Wood of the Brennan Center for Justice in a review of electoral issues. The report proposes automatic post-incarceration voting rights restoration. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2008 National Organization Decries NFL's $300K Fine for Marijuana Possession In wake of Faulk punishment, group calling on NFL to stop steering players toward using alcohol -- which can contribute to violence -- instead of marijuana SAFER circulating on-line petition and delivering letter -- on Friday, Sept. 5 -- to NFL commissioner highlighting hypocrisy of league that accepts millions in alcohol sponsorships and punishes players for using less harmful drug NEW YORK -- A national marijuana policy reform organization is decrying the fine of more than $300,000 levied this week by the National Football League against New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk for marijuana possession. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is calling for changes to the NFL's marijuana policy via an on-line petition and an official letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell that the organization will hand-deliver to the league's head office in New York City tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. EDT. The petition and the letter highlight the hypocrisy of the NFL's excessive punishments for marijuana use by its players, while accepting and promoting the use of alcohol, a much more harmful drug (see http://www.saferchoice.org/petitions/nfl/ and petition language below). According to SAFER, the NFL's policy is steering players away from making the rational choice to use a less harmful substance, and driving them to use alcohol, which has been found to contribute to violent crimes and aggressive behavior. "The NFL has no problem with players using alcohol and it accepts hundreds of millions of dollars to promote booze to football fans of all ages," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. "Yet the league punishes those players who make the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate. The NFL is driving its players to drink." The NFL announced this week that Faulk would be suspended for one game and would have two games' salary withheld -- more than $300,000 -- because he was found to be in possession of a few cigars sprinkled with marijuana at a February concert in New Orleans. "Every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it is far less harmful than alcohol both to those who use it and to others around them," Tvert said. "It is a mystery why Commissioner Goodell and the NFL would want to steer the biggest, toughest guys in the country away from using marijuana and toward using alcohol, which contributes to aggressive behavior and countless violent crimes." SAFER first publicly criticized the NFL's marijuana policy in October 2007, when it erected a billboard across the street from Invesco Field in Denver that featured an image of NFL superstar Ricky Williams in a Denver Broncos jersey, urging the recently reinstated player to "Come to Denver: Where the people support your SAFER choice." (see story at http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7062771) WHAT: Delivery of letter to NFL Commissioner calling for changes to NFL marijuana policy WHEN: Friday, September 5, 11 a.m. EDT WHERE: NFL Head Office, 280 Park Avenue, New York City WHO: SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the harmful consequences associated with alcohol, as compared to the safer —yet illegal—substance: marijuana. For more information, see http://www.SAFERchoice.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAFER's On-Line Petition Players with the National Football League who use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate are making a rational choice to use a less harmful substance. Suspending these players and taking away hundreds of thousands (or sometimes millions) of dollars for using marijuana is driving them to use alcohol, a drug that -- unlike marijuana -- contributes to violent and aggressive behavior. SAFER - Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation Unless the NFL plans to suspend every player who receives a speeding ticket -- which is considered an offense on par with marijuana possession in some states -- it has absolutely no reason to suspend players for the simple use and possession of marijuana. Doing so is not only irrational, but given the NFL's acceptance and blatant promotion of alcohol, it is exceptionally hypocritical. Marijuana is safer than alcohol and the National Football League's substance abuse policy should be changed immediately to reflect that fact. # # #

  Election 2008

Dear friends, Last week I wrote to you from the Democratic National Convention. This week I’d like to share some insights regarding the Republican National Convention.   It's hard to know what to make of Senator McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. She's admitted to smoking marijuana -- but then again that's also true of every Democratic nominee for president since 1992, as well as Newt Gingrich, Clarence Thomas and lots of other prominent Republicans.  As for the current president, he never admitted it but others did so on his behalf.  We've practically reached the stage where smoking a joint at some point in one's life seems a prerequisite for anyone under the age of 65 aspiring to national office. Alaska has legalized marijuana for medical use. So have 11 other states. Yet, the federal government continues to persecute patients and caregivers in those states.  I don't think Governor Palin has made clear what she thinks of this, notwithstanding the fact that she represents a state and a political party that believe strongly in the rights of states to regulate their own affairs.  It would be nice if some journalist posed this question to her. I've yet to find much information about Governor Palin's views and record on drug policy. She  has said that marijuana should be illegal -- although presumably she's glad she never was arrested for her own use.  But she's also made clear that marijuana should not be a top law enforcement priority. That's good -- and probably politically wise given that close to 50 percent of Alaskans think marijuana should be legal. As for Senator McCain, it's hard to be optimistic that he'll do much good on drug policy.  He has publicly mocked medical marijuana patients.  Back in 1999, he introduced a bill that would have banned methadone maintenance as an approved treatment for heroin addiction, notwithstanding the scientific consensus that it is by far the most effective treatment available. The only good news was his recent speech at the Urban League where he spoke in favor of diverting more nonviolent drug law offenders to treatment instead of prison. What I find most interesting this week -- from a drug policy perspective -- has nothing to do with what's on the main stage.  Just down the road in Minneapolis, Republican Congressman Ron Paul is holding a shadow convention with 10,000 of his supporters.   No one ever stirred up the libertarian wing of the Republican Party the way he did during the primaries.  It was good to have him holding forth on ending drug prohibition the way that William Buckley, Milton Friedman, former Secretary of State George Shultz and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson have in years and decades past.    And then there's the campaign of Libertarian Presidential Candidate Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman.  He used to be one of the Republican Party’s biggest cheerleaders for the war on drugs but he’s now embraced drug policy reform in a big way.  He and I were invited to debate one another at Fordham Law School last year but Bob Barr couldn't find enough ways to agree with me.     There's no question the Republican Party is evolving as its libertarian wing gains strength.  And it's our job at the Drug Policy Alliance to meld the libertarian sentiments on the right with the social justice passions on the left into an ever more powerful movement for ending the nation's longest and most costly war -- the war on drugs.    Sincerely,     Ethan Nadelmann Executive Director Drug Policy Alliance Network

(This message was reprinted by StoptheDrugWar.org's lobbying arm, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also shares the cost of maintaining this web site. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)

The Drug Truth Network announces release of a new song ETERNAL WAR from "Adult Users"!!! The radio version in WAV and MP3 formats as well as video versions in AVI, MOV, MPG and WMV formats will be available this afternoon at www.drugtruth.net. The video is now on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD7QINq8lh4 It is my hope that whether or not your station broadcasts our radio shows that you will consider playing the song Eternal War, (2:56) on your radio stations and that reformers will link to the YouTube video. "Stand for Truth... or forever kneel". - Reverend Dean Becker Now for the update on our two, half hour programs for this week: (To downlad these 29:00 files, click on links below. To simply listen, go to www.drugtruth.net and select the arrow below the shows description.) Cultural Baggage for 09/03/08 Peter Christ, one of the founding members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition discusses failings of current drug war policy + Poppygate report from Glenn Greenway & Terry Nelson of LEAP regarding possible US Justice Dept discrimination.MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/2033/FDBCB_090308.mp3 TRANSCRIPT: (To be posted by Friday) Century of Lies for 09/02/08 Richard Van Wickler, superintendent for the Cheshire County (NH) Department of Corrections and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/2032/COL_090208.mp3 TRANSCRIPT: (Posted on Fri) PLEASE NOTE: We now have transcripts, potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed, listen online at www.kpft.org: - Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: TBD - Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: TBD Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Now Australia!!! Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston. www.kpft.org Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: More than 55 Drug Policy Videos online) Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer Dean Becker 713-849-6869 www.drugtruth.net

Atlanta, GA - “The principle of federalism seemed dead three years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the federal government to run roughshod over state laws permitting the medical use of marijuana,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. Barr says the tide may be turning with the recent decision by U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel, who refused to dismiss a case by city and state officials against the federal government for raiding a medical marijuana group in San Cruz, California. “Keeping the case alive was significant enough,” notes Barr. “But Judge Fogel suggested that the Bush administration might have violated the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution in adopting a policy intended to effectively void California’s medical marijuana law." As Judge Fogel explained, a trial must proceed on whether the federal government attempted to make ‘California’s medical marijuana laws impossible to implement and thereby forcing California and its political subdivisions to recriminalize medical marijuana.’ In short, says Barr, the courts may end up deciding that while the federal government may implement a policy that runs contrary to state rules in an area of traditional state authority, namely the criminal law, Washington may not work to overturn state law. “After spending billions of dollars and arresting millions of people, we seem no closer to eliminating illicit drug use than we were at the start,” Barr says. “But we certainly have lost a lot of our freedom. While we might disagree about the best approach to problem drug use, we should be willing to accept the compassionate use of marijuana by those who are sick and dying. Certainly states have authority under the Constitution to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as medicine. The federal government has no constitutional authority to interfere,” insists Barr. Barr says that neither Sen. Barack Obama nor Sen. John McCain is willing to consider real change to current policy. “Sen. Obama says the federal government shouldn’t interfere with state policy, but he says he doesn’t want to waste his political capital on the issue," Barr explains. "Sen. McCain was for respecting state authority before he was against it. Neither the Democratic nor the Republican presidential candidate is willing to put constitutional principle—or the lives of those who are suffering from AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and more—before federal power." Barr says as president, he would "direct the DEA to initiate, for the first time, a truly open and objective scientific evaluation of the medical potential of marijuana." Moreover, Barr says he would ensure that all federal officials, including those in the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency, respect the decisions of states that choose to allow the medical use of marijuana. Finally, Barr would undertake a comprehensive review of federal crimes, which have expanded far beyond the few narrow cases foreseen by the nation’s Founders. "What the federal government does, it should do well, but it attempts to do far too much today," Barr says. "We must never forget that we are supposed to be living in a free society." "Such a decision, especially if upheld on appeal, would have significant and positive repercussions in other matters of public policy in which the federal government has used the power of federal law to thwart decisions by citizens of individual states," Barr notes. Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. (This press release was reprinted by StoptheDrugWar.org's lobbying arm, the Drug Reform Coordination Network, which also shares the cost of maintaining this web site. DRCNet Foundation takes no positions on candidates for public office, in compliance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and does not pay for reporting that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as doing so.)