Announcement

September 7, London, United Kingdom, "Advancing Harm Reduction: International Lessons for Local Practice -- Highlights from 17th International Conference on the Reduction of Drug Related Harm in Vanco

Please join us for Part I of Intersections in the War on Drugs, A FREE Summer Video and Speaker Series -- Drug War 101: An Introduction to the "War on Drugs" VIDEO: War on Drugs, A War on Ourselves

We believe that it is important for people who care about drug policy reform and who want to see a change from prohibition to regulation to work together in formulating what regulation might entail. While there are groups locally and internationally developing regulatory drug strategies, we want to host occasions in which we might engage in such discussions ourselves, to deepen our understanding of the issues involved and learn together what regulatory control would involve. Please join us at our first workshop on June 19th. We will begin with a presentation by Mark Haden on some of the various dimensions of regulation. This will provide us with a common language and framework for considering the specifics of a regulatory strategy. Of course, there will be lots of time for discussion, so bring your ideas, suggestions and questions. Please RSVP to Dave Diewert, E: [email protected], if you plan to attend so we can determine the size of the group. We look forward to an exciting time of discussion and learning together.

Please join us at Growers Market (upstairs, elevator in the back) for our monthly meeting. It's between the Downtown Post Office and the Train Station on Willamette St. Remember, our meetings are every fourth Saturday of the month.

The Drug Policy Alliance is hosting a benefit concert with four extremely talented local artists. There will be a discussion on the war on drugs in between musical acts. Please join the fun at Velvet Lounge!

On May 15, the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) updated its 2002 Report to Congress on Federal Cocaine Sentencing. The USSC report once again finds that there is no rationale for the sentencing differences between the two forms of the drug. Under current law, possessing or selling 5 grams of crack cocaine results in the same five-year mandatory minimum sentence as selling 500 grams of powder cocaine. The law harshly punishes low-level offenders, and has had a disparate impact on African-American and low-income communities. Join us in a frank discussion on avenues for reform of this unjust law.

On May 15, the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) updated its 2002 Report to Congress on Federal Cocaine Sentencing. The USSC report once again finds that there is no rationale for the sentencing differences between the two forms of the drug. Under current law, possessing or selling 5 grams of crack cocaine results in the same five-year mandatory minimum sentence as selling 500 grams of powder cocaine. The law harshly punishes low-level offenders, and has had a disparate impact on African-American and low-income communities. Join us in a frank discussion on avenues for reform of this unjust law.

Hear Us Out will feature the writings of 16 and 17-year olds who have been charged and incarcerated as adults in the DC Jail. Poems will be read by Free Minds members who have been released and are now living and working in the DC community. Come celebrate their successes at this free community event!

Please mark your calendar now and plan to join us for our annual political conference where we focus on the latest marijuana policy developments at both the state and federal levels, celebrate our victories over the last year, analyze our losses, and hear from an array of the leading NORML activists and cannabis law reform organizers from across the country.

The International Community Corrections Association (ICCA), The Sentencing Project, and the ACLU's Washington Legislative Office and National Prison Project, in collaboration with the Justice Roundtable Reentry Coalition invite you to a Congressional Staff Briefing: "Can Probation and Parole Supervision Reduce Recidivism?" hosted by Representative Bobby Scott, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.