Skip to main content

Organizations

Organizations Subtopics:
Changing Minds 2009
Changing Minds 2010
Director's Blog

LEAP on the Hill: Stories from the week of May 15, 2009

You guys have cool little badges: I made a short road trip up to Harrisburg, PA to appear on a TV program. The prohibition crowd was represented by a 35 year police veteran. During the 20 minute debate he caught me a bit off guard, when he said, ‘we need a lot of regulations for these drugs.’ I heartily agreed & said as a starting point for those regulations, we should look at alcohol minus advertising. After the show he admitted that his position was really not that far from mine. He then pointed to my LEAP lapel badge and asked how to get one. I reached in my pocket and gave him one. He smiled broadly and we parted company. While no one was looking: The non-story of the week was made by our new Drug Czar Kerlikowski who declared that the term ‘War on Drugs’ would no longer be used. The Obama administration is likely to deal with drugs as a matter of public health rather than criminal justice alone, with treatment's role growing relative to incarceration, Mr. Kerlikowske said. Thus, while the Inside the Beltway crowd was occupied with Pelosi and the CIA story, after 38 years the term War on Drugs ended. The Sunday talk shows never mentioned the ending of the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral domestic policy since slavery & Jim Crow. And that is fine. Medium step, IMO.

Riding the Information Superhighway into the Oval Office

Riding the Information Superhighway into the Oval Office

This winter, President Obama and his staff encouraged the public to contact the White House with their ideas and to vote on those ideas at their website, www.whitehouse.gov.

With help from the thousands of organizations and individuals that are supported by DrugSense, the top suggestions were about how cannabis legalization could help the economy, create jobs, address global warming, and meet the health care crisis.

DrugSense - the Internet home of the drug policy reform movement - had long been ready for the inevitable democratic approach to governing that has been pressing on Washington since the last election in 2004.

Almost one hundred thousand people, using the viral tools for advocacy and communication pioneered by DrugSense, practically took over the Oval Office and overwhelmed the usually cool Barack Obama.

The flustered President, when asked if legalizing cannabis could boost the economy, could only sputter "no, I don't think that is a good strategy . [laughter] . to grow our economy."

If you were as thrilled as I was that our issues were the top issues on the agenda set by the public, then please make a donation to DrugSense now. The national conversation about drug policy is changing, and DrugSense is the platform that most of the reform community uses for communication and advocacy.

If you were as outraged as I was that Barack Obama made a joke about the dynamic online engagement of drug policy reformers, then please make a donation to DrugSense now. Your contribution amplifies our voice throughout the nation, and enables activists to reach the news media and their political representatives quickly and effectively.

Help stop this war on our personal rights and freedoms.

Get involved. Write. Join. Donate.

Don E. Wirtshafter,
Chair of the Board, DrugSense

Don't forget! You can spread your donation over the course of a year by automatically repeating it every month, quarter, or half year. Please visit our donation page to find out how.

Checks can also be made payable to DrugSense and mailed to:

DrugSense
14252 Culver Dr #328
Irvine, CA 92604-0326

Or you can donate toll free by calling 1-800-266-5759.

Again, donating is quick, easy, and secure online at http://www.drugsense.org/donate/.

Rejection of Budget Measures Boosts Drive to Tax, Regulate Marijuana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
MAY 19, 2009

Rejection of Budget Measures Boosts Drive to Tax, Regulate Marijuana
56% Support Taxing Marijuana, According to Recent Field Poll 

CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications ............... 415-585-6404 or 202-215-4205

SAN FRANCISCO -- Today's thumping rejection of a series of ballot measures aimed at easing California's hemorrhaging budget deficit adds new urgency to the drive to regulate California's largest cash crop, marijuana, advocates said tonight.

     "It's clear that voters didn't like the solutions put forth by the legislature on last night's ballot," said Aaron Smith, California policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project. "But a Field poll last month showed solid support for making marijuana a legal, regulated product and making producers and sellers pay taxes that they now avoid. For the legislature to leave marijuana untaxed even as our state faces catastrophic cuts to schools, transportation, public safety and other critical services borders on the criminal."

     A 2006 study by public policy researcher Jon Gettman found marijuana to be California's top cash crop, exceeding the value of the number two and three crops, vegetables and grapes, combined. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, two million Californians acknowledge having used marijuana in the past month. Estimates have suggested that California could save hundreds of millions in law enforcement costs and gain more than a billion in tax revenues if marijuana were taxed and regulated as proposed in legislation introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco).

     "Now that it seems we've hit the end of the road in the search for solving California's budget mess, we need to be looking outside the box," Smith added. "Replacing the failed policy of marijuana prohibition with a system of regulation and taxation would not only be sound public policy, but it also looks a lot more politically popular than anything else being offered up by Sacramento right now."

     With more than 27,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.

####

The War on Drugs is Over? Lets Celebrate!

Last week the new White House Drug Czar called for an end to the "War on Drugs", signaling a new, more sensible path for drug policy.  See here.                                                           

Come celebrate this sea change with Colorado's preeminent drug policy reformers at the Sensible Colorado 5th Anniversary Gala this Saturday (5/23) from 6-9pm.                                                    

We are happy to announce our special guest speaker for this event will be Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access.  Don is one of the longest-running and most respected medical marijuana dispensary operators in America, and has been featured on "60 Minutes" and on other national programs.                                                  

This FREE event is open to the public and will feature speakers, awards, food and drink.                                              

What:  Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala

Where:  Atlantis Community Center (201 S. Cherokee Street, Denver CO 80223)

When:  Saturday, May 23 from 6-9pm.                                         

*This event is non-smoking and fully disabled accessible.                                  

Thanks to generous donors, this event is free to all.  If you can't make it, but would like to support Sensible Colorado's work, please make a donation today:  DONATE HERE

Drug Truth 05/18/09

The Unvarnished Truth From the Drug Truth Network Cultural Baggage for 05/13/09, 29:00 Maia Szalavitz, author of "Help at Any Cost" + Terry Nelson of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition & Abolitionist Moment/DTN Editorial LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/2416 Transcript: TBD Century of Lies for 05/17/09, 29:00 Francisco Santos Calderon, Vice President of Colombia at the 39th Conference of the Americas, courtesy of Americas Society LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/2418 TRANSCRIPT: TBD 4:20 Drug War NEWS, 5/18 to 5/24/09 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin - Sun - Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon speaking at the 39th Conference on the Americas 7/7 Sat - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 6/7 Fri - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 5/7 Thu - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 4/7 + 3 Hit Goverment Advisory Wed - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 3/7 Tue - Colombian VP Francisco Santos Calderon 2/7 Mon - Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon speaking at the 39th Conference on the Americas 1/7 Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org - Century of Lies, SUN, 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT: NEXT: Jeffrey Miron, Harvard Professor - Cultural Baggage WED, 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 CT, 10:30 MT & 9:30 AM PT: NEXT: Ethan Nadelmann, Dir Drug Policy Alliance Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org We have potcasts, transcripts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia! We now feature TRANSCRIPTS of most of our programs again! Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker 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, DTN Producer, 713-849-6869, www.drugtruth.net

International Drug Policy Consortium Alert -- May 2009

IDPC Alert - May 2009

Welcome to the May 2009 IDPC Alert.  This Alert contains news items, updates on the latest publications and upcoming events.  Please note that the IDPC website address and email addresses have changed.  The IDPC website address is now www.idpc.net - the content is being updated and we plan to re-launch the website in early June.  The new IDPC staff and associate emails are as follows:

Ann Fordham – [email protected]
Mike Trace – [email protected]
Dave Bewley-Taylor – [email protected]
Gabor Somogyi – [email protected]
Genevieve Horwood – [email protected]
Chris Hallam – [email protected]
Coletta Youngers – [email protected]
Grazia Zuffa – [email protected]

Although the old addresses will auto-forward for a limited period, please update your address books.
 

Recent publications

IDPC Concept Note: Effective Drug Law Enforcement

Many law enforcement managers and analysts have come to the conclusion that strong action against drug production, distribution and use cannot be successful in eradicating drug markets, and that new strategies and approaches are needed. Consistent with general IDPC drug policy principles, we argue in this paper that the focus of law enforcement action against illegal drug markets should move towards partnership work to reduce the health and social consequences, such as drug related crime or HIV/AIDS. The concept paper describes an IDPC project that aims to bring together law enforcement managers and strategists from around the world to refine ideas for effective use of law enforcement resources, and promote these strategies to the relevant authorities. Read the concept note. If you know of any senior law enforcement managers who are supportive of these principles, and who would be interested in engaging with the team currently working on this project, please put them in touch with Ann Fordham at [email protected].


The Swiss Four Pillars Policy: An evolution from local experimentation to federal law – a briefing paper by the Beckley Foundation’s Drug Policy Programme

Within the context of the November referendum, this briefing paper aims to relate lessons learned by the incremental implementation of the Four Pillar Policy in Switzerland.  Initially innovative and centred in ‘progressive’ urban areas, the 4-Pillar Policy spread little by little throughout the nation.  Considered politically radical at its inception, the principle of harm reduction gradually gained the support of the population as a whole.  Read the report.


The Incarceration of Drug Offenders: An Overview – a report by the Beckley Foundation’s Drug Policy Programme

This report published by the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme in partnership with the International Centre for Prison Studies at Kings College London, revisits the topic of the incarceration of drug offenders. The report provides an overview of some of the available incarceration data from around the world and brings together much contemporary research on the topic. A great deal of the discussion concerns one of the most enthusiastic supporters of incarceration as a drug prevention measure, the United States.  It is suggested however, that the results of policy within the United States should be used as evidence to encourage other member states not to follow this route. Read the report.


Compulsory Drug Treatment in Thailand: Observations on the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act B.E. 2545 (2002) – a report by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network

This paper has two main objectives. The first objective is to provide a general overview of Thailand’s Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act, B.E. 2545 (2002) (“the Act”) and the system of diversion into compulsory drug treatment that the Act has established. The second objective of this paper is to offer some preliminary observations on the implementation of the Act on its own terms — i.e., that people who are dependent on drugs should be “treated as patients and not criminals.” One of the central findings of this paper is that this approach is undermined by a number of different ways the Act has been implemented.  Read the report.

The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News 5/14/09

Washington State: Voting Equals Productive, Law-abiding Citizens Samuel Merrill, the legislative chair for the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy, published an op-ed column in the News Tribune applauding Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent move to eliminate what was referred to as a "poll tax" for voters with felony offenses. Applauding the legislators who backed the bill, he stated "the right to vote is an essential step in encouraging those returning from prison to feel that they, too, have a stake in our society and a chance to become productive, stable and law-abiding citizens." The law takes affect July 26. Pennsylvania: Inmates to Receive Notification of Voting Rights, Materials A state House committee passed a bill that would require Pennsylvania prisons to provide soon-to-be released inmates with voter-registration materials. "Doing so would benefit the inmates and society," stated a Daily Review editorial. "State lawmakers should pass the bill and Gov. Ed Rendell should sign it as a means to help those who have broken the law to embrace better citizenship, and to help their communities in the process." - - - - - - 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

LEAP's Dispatches from the Front Line...May 2009

May 2009 Dear Friends, We would like to offer a special welcome to all the people who have joined Law Enforcement Against Prohibition in the last thirty days. Nearly 600 supporters took action and are now proudly sporting a LEAP badge lapel pin; we salute you for standing up and being counted in the discussion. Hundreds of new friends are joining us each week as more people realize the value of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with criminal justice professionals calling for an end to the war on drugs. LEAP is turning seven this year and many of you have supported us from the beginning. To you, we say a heartfelt "thanks." We could not have done it without you and, with your continued support, the best is yet to come. Here are just a few of the issues our speakers addressed in April. We hope you'll share "Dispatches from the Front Line…" with a friend. LEAP Staff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Open Letter to the New "Drug Czar" From Another Top Cop: End the Drug War Dear Gil: Congratulations on your confirmation as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Bit of an irony, isn't it? Two Seattle police chiefs on opposite sides of the drug war? As "drug czar" (please retire that ill-begotten label), you are responsible for advising the president and vice president on drug control programs, and for coordinating drug policies among all federal agencies. I, on the other hand, as a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, am devoted to ending the drug war, along with the prohibition model on which it's based. But how far apart are we, really? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Retired Federal Agent Says Punish Cartels with Legalization LEAP Director Terry Nelson has been on the border of Texas and Mexico before. As a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, he has firsthand experience with what it takes to break the backs of violent drug organizations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Officer Supports Medical Marijuana Use "As one of two active law enforcement officers to testify in favor of medical marijuana at the recent New Hampshire Senate hearing on HB 648, it became clear to me that many do not fully understand the implications of opposing this bill. "Simply put, supporting the continued ban of medical marijuana use means subjecting seriously ill or handicapped individuals to arrest and prosecution. HB 648 would allow a narrow class of sick and handicapped individuals to use marijuana with their doctor's permission." Editor's note: Shortly after Bradley's op-ed was published, this bill passed the House, making New Hampshire very close to becoming the 14th state to stop arresting patients for medical marijuana use with a doctor's permission. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reason.tv Features Segment On LEAP Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie caught up with retired Chief of Police Jerry Cameron. Cameron is a graduate of the 150th Session of the FBI National Academy, the DEA Basic Drug Enforcement Course, two DEA Advanced Drug Enforcement Professional Institutes and is a passionate advocate for LEAP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ready to do more? Want to help LEAP while having fun? Join the LEAP Rapid Response Team to help shape the conversation around the world. It is easy, quick and can be done from home. Learn More Open Letter to the President Regarding Mexico Dear Mr. President - The White House telephone line (202) 456-1111 is busy and you are en route to Mexico anyway, so I write this letter. You're doing a great job - closing Guantanamo, no more torture, an economic stimulus bill, rebuilding American stature and leadership around the world, the loosing of travel and financial restrictions affecting Cubans and their families, a deadline to exit Iraq, stem cells for the living, etc. - but, oh my, the drug war. Please save us from the drug war. Overwhelmingly, Americans recognize the drug war for the abysmal failure that it is and will forever be. But please - don't expand it, don't support it, don't defend it. End it. The drug war has two principal shortcomings. First, it doesn't work. Second, it worsens nearly all other serious American (and world) problems. Read Jim Gierach's blog for more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howard on the Hill WashingtonPost.com's Sleuth followed our DC Education Specialist, Howard Wooldridge, around the halls of Congress for this April 24 video. Since Howard went to Washington in 2005, he has been asking for a blue ribbon commission to look at the impact of the war on drugs. Editor's note: As Howard and LEAP have been asking for, U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) recently introduced a bill, S. 714, to create a blue ribbon commission examine America's failed criminal justice and drug policies. The bill has bi-partisan support and is expected to have a House companion later this year. Please contact your legislators about supporting Senator Webb's bill. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: LEAP 121 Mystic Ave. Suites 8&9 Medford, MA 01255 (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.

Dandy Warhols at MPP's party at the Playboy Mansion

Dear Friends:

Alternative rock giants The Dandy Warhols will be playing at MPP's party at the Playboy Mansion on June 4.


The Dandy Warhols

And if you purchase tickets between today and May 18, your name will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a free night's stay for June 4 at The Andaz, a luxury hotel near the party. 

The party will also feature music from HunnyPot DJ Action with a special guest set from David J. of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets, and it will be hosted by actress Fairuza Balk, star of the movie "Humboldt County," as well as many other hit movies (including "The Craft," "American History X," "Almost Famous," and "The Waterboy").

Please visit www.mpp.org/pb2009 to purchase your tickets today, since the price will soon increase. (The ticket price is $800 now but we only have a small number of tickets to sell before the price increases to $900.)

I hope you'll join me, The Dandy Warhols, Fairuza, and other celebrities and supporters of marijuana policy reform at our party at the Playboy Mansion: Buy your tickets today.

I look forward to seeing you at the Mansion on June 4!

Sincerely,

Rob Kampia
Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.

P.S. P.S. MPP would like to thank the party's gold sponsors, Oaksterdam University and The Revolutionary Love Project, and our silver sponsors: Got Vape?/Iolite; GreenLife Medical Systems LLC; Bruce Margolin, attorney at law; Pro Garden Systems; Spectrum Labs; and Vaporbrothers. If you or your company is interested in a sponsorship package, please reply to this e-mail.

Sensible Colorado: Two Ways to Help

Here are two ways to get active in Colorado's vibrant reform community: (1) Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala Help us celebrate our fifth year of advocacy on behalf of sensible marijuana reform. This FREE event is open to the public and will feature speakers, awards, food and drink. What: Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala Where: Atlantis Community Center (201 S. Cherokee Street, Denver CO 80223) When: Saturday, May 23 from 6-9pm. *This event is non-smoking and fully disabled accessible. -AND- (2) Solidarity Event to Protect Safe Access Its back....the Colorado Board of Health is once again considering restricting patient access to medical marijuana. At a hearing in July, the Board will be voting on a rule which would rip patients out of safe caregiver relationships and force them onto the streets in search of medicine. Show your support on July 20th by attending the Hearing and Board vote. What: Solidarity event to protect safe access Place: Tivoli Student Union, Conference Room 250. Auraria Campus, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO 80204. Time: 8:30am on Monday, July 20, 2009 What else: This is NOT a rally. This is a formal Hearing and we need supporters to dress nice and act in a professional manner. NOTE- Many of you have already submitted written comments to the Board of Health. Thank you. Any new or additional comments need to be submitted by May 15.
Subscribe to Organizations