March 2010 Dear friends:
Freedom of speech is an invaluable and fundamental element of democracy, and LEAP's speakers are committed to speaking out about their personal experiences serving in the "war on drugs." Recently, active duty Canadian police officer and LEAP speaker David Bratzer was scheduled to speak on a panel at a City of Victoria harm reduction forum. Victoria Police Department leadership intervened, ordering Bratzer not to speak at the forum.Â
Constable Bratzer has spoken policy about drug policy on many occasions, including a Senate Committee meeting in Ottawa. He speaks on his own time, out of uniform, and always clearly states that his views do not reflect those of the Victoria Police Department, but the department said people would be "confused" if Bratzer were to speak on an issue of public policy at the forum.Â
The criticism of harmful and ineffective drug policy by the law enforcement professionals tasked with upholding these policies serves the public interest. It is crucial to protect the rights of law enforcers to publicly express their views on drug prohibition, especially in relation to harm reduction. If you believe censorship is unfair, please visit www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com/FreeSpeech and add your name to the petition supporting cops like David Bratzer who speak out against unjust and ineffective drug policies even while they risk their lives enforcing them.
LEAP is at the forefront of drug policy reform, and our speakers have a credibility that cannot be ignored. Recently, an anonymous donor pledged to match, dollar for dollar, all donations made to LEAP up to $50,000. This is a wonderful vote of confidence in LEAP and a perfect opportunity for you to see your donation doubled! Please support our work by making a contribution to LEAP today. Here are just a few of the issues our speakers have been working onâ¦
-LEAP Staff
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Slowly, Limits On Pot Are Fading
USA Today speaks to Judge Jim Gray in a front-page feature article
James Gray once saw himself as a drug warrior, a former federal prosecutor and county judge who sent people to prison for dealing pot and other drug offenses. Gradually, though, he became convinced that the ban on marijuana was making it more accessible to young people, not less.Â
"I ask kids all the time, and they'll tell you it is easier to get marijuana than a six-pack of beer because that is controlled by the government," he said, noting that drug dealers don't ask for IDs or honor minimum age requirements.Â
So Gray -- who spent two decades as a superior court judge in Orange County, Calif., and once ran for Congress as a Republican -- switched sides in the war on drugs, becoming an advocate for legalizing marijuana.
To continue reading the article on Judge Jim Gray, please click here.
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Vote to Change Drug Policy in America
LEAP speaker and former U.S. Navy Intelligence Specialist Larry Talley's idea - legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana - is currently in first place in Change.org's Top 10 Ideas for Change in America, a national competition to select the best ideas from across the country and turn them into reality. Please take a moment to read Larry's idea and cast your vote! Voting ends on March 12.
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Fighting a Losing Battle
Peter Christ in The Leader-Herald
After 20 years in law enforcement, Peter Christ is familiar with the war on drugs.
Christ said as a police officer, drug arrests were the only arrests that made no difference to his community. When the media speaks of drug-related violence, he said, what's really happening is money-related violence. Eliminate one kingpin of the drug trade in a certain area and violence escalates until a new one is found, he said.
"It's a failed policy," he said. "You arrest one, but the market is so big and there's so much money there that their spot gets filled quick."
Christ pointed out that even prisons are not drug-free. He said the war on drugs is simply another word for prohibition, and because of free choice, prohibition simply does not work.
"If people want to do something, they're going to find a way to do it," he said. "If we can't even keep drugs out of prison, how can we keep them out of a free society?"
To read the complete article on Peter Christ, please click here.
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The Fake Weed Fight
The American Prospect speaks to Norm Stamper
The Prospect asked LEAP member and former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper a few questions about liberalizing drug policy, K2, and what fake pot suggests about a misguided war on drugs.
When people think about police chiefs, liberalization of drug policy is probably not the first thing that jumps to mind. So why are you against drug prohibition, and what prompted you to join LEAP?
My first epiphany was back when I was a rookie beat cop back in San Diego. I had arrested a 19-year-old, a young man who was in possession of marijuana, not a saleable amount, in his own home. But given the circumstances, I kicked in his door, I chased him to his toilet, I scooped up a handful of soggy seeds and stems and a few leaves. And I took him to jail.
On the way to jail, he's sitting in the backseat, and I'm thinking, "My God, I could be doing real police work." And it kind of hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm going to spend a couple hours, minimum, writing case reports, an arrest report, impounding the pot, and booking him into jail. . .
 To continue reading Norm Stamper's interview, please click here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Ready to do more?
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LEAP's Top Bookers
LEAP is fortunate to have incredibly dedicated volunteers. Over the past three months we have been running a contest to see which of our volunteer venue bookers could secure the most presentations for LEAP, and we are pleased to announce the winners:
Matthew Rifkin, First Place
Hilo, Hawaii
Favorite thing about booking for LEAP: "Telling people who I call that a police officer wants to talk about legalizing drugs⦠say WHAT?"
Katharine Celentano, Second Place (tied)
Irvington, New York
Favorite thing about booking for LEAP: "Impossible to choose, as there are so many excellent arguments for legalization and so many reasons why LEAP is integral to ending prohibition. What originally sparked my interest: the criminalization of addiction - a health condition - is cruel and ineffective, an egregious trespass on human rights and dignity. Booking for LEAP partially eases the heartbreak of watching what some of my friends have gone through. I feel an urgent need to be part of the solution, and helping LEAP is part of that solution."
Lindsay Akin, Second Place (tied)
Heflin, Louisiana
Favorite thing about booking for LEAP: "The feeling of accomplishment I get from knowing we are truly making a difference. I could not be more proud to be a part of this organization."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remembering Jerry Paradis
We are all saddened to say goodbye to Law Enforcement Against Prohibition board member Judge Jerry Paradis, who passed recently from cancer. Jerry's rare combination of expertise and compassion will be impossible to replace.
Having presided over 1,000 drug-related cases in the Provincial Court of British Columbia before his retirement in 2003, he came to realize that drug policy, not simple drug use, was responsible for so much unnecessary death, disease, crime and addiction. Working within the constraints of the legal system he was able to combine his sensible, empathetic side with the intellectual rigors of jurisprudence.
Above all, Jerry was a kind, thoughtful and supportive friend. He had a wonderful, down to earth quality that made people gravitate to him and respect his judgment. He played a pivotal role in stabilizing LEAP and helping it to remain vibrant.
He will be missed.
- Jack Cole, Executive Director
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All of this work happens because of generous donations from our supporters.
Your gift to LEAP is tax-deductible. Donate now to show your commitment to ending the war on drugs.
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(781) 393-6985 [email protected] Law Enforcement Against Prohibition is an ever-expanding group of criminal justice professionals and civilian supporters calling for an end to the war on drugs. Trained criminal justice professionals are available to speak to your club or association about their experiences in the drug war and the need to create drug policies that stand the test of reason. Invite a speaker to your town today.
You received this e-mail because you are a supporter of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.  We need help growing our all-encompassing movement of citizens who want to end the failed "war on drugs," so please invite your family and friends to learn about LEAP.
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