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You have an opportunity right now to influence one of the most important choices President-elect Obama will make. The media is reporting that he is considering nominating Republican Congressman James Ramstad (MN/3rd) to be his âdrug czarâ. Itâs easy to understand why. Rep. Ramstad is in recovery from substance abuse (alcohol) and has a long track record in support of increasing access to drug treatment. Ramstad, however, is still mostly wedded to the failed punitive drug war policies of the last 30 thirty years. For instance, Ramstad has voted against medical marijuana five times. He has voted against making sterile syringes more available to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS three times. Even though his colleagues are increasingly supporting sentencing reform, including eliminating the crack/powder sentencing disparity, he hasnât stood up on the issue. In other words, Rep. Ramstad does not appear to be committed to the kind of change President-elect Obama has said he will bring to our nationâs drug policies. Obama needs to hear from you, and is making it easy for you to contact him through his website. Will you take a minute today to urge Obama to choose a drug czar who will champion reform? The Drug Policy Alliance believes our nationâs next drug czar should be chosen based on the following criteria:
Who President-elect Obama chooses as his drug czar will affect everyone. DPA is working over-time to influence that decision but we need your help. Please let Obama know that you want him to nominate a drug czar who supports marijuana law reform, syringe availability and treatment-instead-of-incarceration. Sincerely, Bill Piper |
[Courtesy of The Sentencing Project]Â
Dear Friends,
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We're pleased to call your attention to a newly released report, Compact for Racial Justice: An Agenda for Fairness and Unity. The publication was produced by the Applied Research Center as a proactive agenda for fairness and unity in communities, politics, and the law.Â
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The Sentencing Project was the lead author of the chapter promoting criminal justice reforms (beginning at page 17). In this chapter, we discuss the failed crime policies of the past 30 years, marked by the six-fold increase in the prison population since 1972.  Much of this increase can be attributed to the War on Drugs and the consequent sentencing disparities it imposed.  In addition to calling for reforms of current policies, we caution policymakers in the new administration against repeating the mistakes of the past through enacting policies and practices that impose harsh penalties that produce disproportionate effects on minorities, youth, and immigrants.Â
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Finally, we offer four specific recommendations for immediate action: implement racial impact statements, abolish the mandatory detention of immigrants, support people in reentry and the communities where they return, and make racial equity a standard for all criminal justice policy and practice.
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You can obtain this publication here.  Â
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We hope you find this report useful in your work.
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-The Sentencing Project
First, weâre going to build on the momentum from this year and work to push several issues across the finish line in Congress. With some of our strongest congressional allies now holding positions of leadership, weâre already mobilizing to eliminate the crack/powder sentencing disparity, repeal the federal syringe ban and undo the Bush administrationâs Reefer Madness.
Election Day was a success for marijuana initiatives across the country, thanks to the work of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and numerous state and local groups.
British Columbia has been leading the hemisphere in drug policy reform for years. The most recent civic elections confirm this point, and demonstrate the power of effective policy advocacy and public education.
Drug Policy Alliance staff and allies recently gathered at the annual Harm Reduction Coalition conference in Miami, FL. The forum served as an exciting exchange of cutting-edge information, empowering ideas and successful strategies for incorporating harm reduction into direct community services, public policy and individual life choices.
Dear friends,