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Changing Minds 2009
Changing Minds 2010
Director's Blog

Press Release: CA Student Survey Finds Drug Use More Prevalent than Previously Thought

For Immediate Release: January 29, 2009 Contact: Rod Skager at 831-594-0483 or Tony Newman at 646-335-5384 California Student Survey Finds Drug Use More Prevalent than Previously Thought 3/4th of 11th Grade Students Report Using at Least One Drug Abstinence-Only Drug Education Failing Students; Need for Comprehensive Drug Education with Focus on Safety The 12th biennial California Student Survey (CSS) released this week by the Attorney General's Office's challenges the nation to reassess the nature and frequency of youth drug use. This statewide survey, founded by Professor Rodney Skager in 1985, collected substance use data from 13,930 students from 115 public middle and high schools in the 2007-08 school year. The report concludes that both state and national surveys, including the National Monitoring the Future Survey, have significantly underestimated true levels of substance use among secondary school students. The primary reason has been failure to provide a measure of total use that includes alcohol. The current (2007-2008) CSS combines for the first time alcohol, illicit drugs, diverted prescription drugs and cold/cough medications (used to get high) into a total percentage of respondents who tried at least one such drug in their lifetime. The result is that 60% or 9th and 74% of 11th grade students reported using one of the substances at least once. It is important to note that the great majority of youth who experiment do not become regular drug users and for a significant number of substances once was apparently sufficient. Professor Skager points out that, "By taking into account the entire range of drugs, of which alcohol is by far the most commonly used, it is obvious that the social climate among youth tolerates widespread drug experimentation and use, though not necessarily use that causes problems to self or others. We need to take this cultural reality into account in our approach to drug education and other approaches to prevention. In this climate simplistic abstinence messages, as well as accurate, information, are met with skepticism and may result in an oppositional or 'boomerang' effect." Rodney Skager, Professor Emeritus in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, is the author of Beyond Zero Tolerance: A Reality-Based Approach to Drug Education and School Discipline published by the Drug Policy Alliance. The educational booklet advocates for educating students through comprehensive, interactive and honest drug education with identification of, and assistance for, students whose lives are disrupted by substance use. "To prevent adolescents who do experiment from falling into abusive patterns, we need to create fallback strategies that focus on safety," Skager said. "Putting safety first requires that we be careful to provide our young people with credible information and resources. We also need to teach our teenagers how to identify and handle problems with alcohol and other drugs -- if and when they occur-and how to get help and support." The new Obama Administration has the opportunity to replace failed Bush Administration strategies such as the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and the Random Student Drug Testing Grants Program. Research shows both programs are not only ineffective, but also counterproductive to promoting healthy behaviors in students. The Obama Administration should replace fear-based approaches with programs that promote honest, open and respectful discussion with teens about their experiences and the realities of drugs and drug use today. * The 2007-2008 California Student Survey is available online at: http://www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navID=254 * Beyond Zero Tolerance: A Reality-Based Approach to Drug Education and School Discipline is available online at: www.safety1st.org.

The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News 1/30/09

California: Appeals Court Denies Claim That State Disenfranchisement Violates 14th Amendment A California state court of appeals denied a petition requesting the court direct elections officials to register certain persons in prison or on parole for a felony conviction, arguing that only persons convicted of common law crimes should be disenfranchised. The plaintiffs argued that Section 2 of the 14th Amendment only permits states to disenfranchise persons "for participation in rebellion or other crime" when those crimes were felonies at common law. These are defined as: treason, murder, manslaughter, mayhem, rape, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny, and sodomy. The plaintiffs claimed that the framers of the Constitution did not intend for "other crime" to encompass the broad range of felonies that currently populate state and federal statutes. The court disagreed, highlighting three key reasons. First, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its primary decision regarding felony disenfranchisement, Richardson v. Ramirez, never once referred to common law felonies in upholding the practice, but simply applied the ruling to all felonies. Secondly, the word "crime" in other parts of the U.S. Constitution is construed to apply more broadly than simply common law crimes. And, finally, the contemporary definition of crime in the mid- 19th Century, when the 14th Amendment was constructed, applied to more than felonies at common law. Virginia: Lawmakers Working Toward Reform Together Virginia law currently states that individuals seeking to restore their right to vote must wait between three to five years following completion of sentence before they may apply. Legislators, however, are working to reform this law by sponsoring separate constitutional amendments that would restore voting rights after completion of sentence, the Henrico Citizen reported. "During the last election, we realized how important voting rights are," Delegate Roslyn C. Tyler said. "If inmates have paid their debts to society, I think their rights should be restored. If we don't do something to help the process, they're going to return to the penal system again, and so it's a revolving door." A resolution must be passed by the General Assembly in two consecutive sessions and then approved by voters in a statewide election. - - - - - - 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

Make it Safe. Make it Legal. Make it Happen in 2009!

A Call to Action
Make it Safe. Make it Legal. Make it Happen in 2009!

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year and more importantly, happy new Administration! This is an exciting and challenging time for us. The actions we take in the next few months will help shape President Obama’s medical cannabis policies for the next four to eight years. I hope you all feel the excitement of the possibilities that are before us, and are prepared to meet the challenges that this opportunity will present.

But remember that opportunity is not the same as change…It is going to take a commitment from every one of us to make real change at the Federal level. That is why I am inviting you to renew that commitment by pledging to become an ASA Ambassador and to join ASA in our new campaign for 2009: MAKE IT SAFE. MAKE IT LEGAL. MAKE IT HAPPEN!

By becoming an ASA Ambassador, you are pledging to work with other ASA members to do your part in educating and engaging your elected officials and community. To sign up, contact ASA’s Field Coordinator George Pappas ([email protected]). If we want to succeed, every one of us has a role to play. Every meeting, every call, and every conversation about medical cannabis is part of our plan; a part that you must carry out. As an Ambassador, you will be joining a network of committed activists across the country who share your commitment to our mission.

We start 2009 and the 111th Congress with momentum, optimism, and hope. Since the founding of ASA in 2002, together we have created a patient-led movement with an amazing list of accomplishments under our belt. So, unlike the dark days of the second term of the Bush regime, today we begin new relationships in a very different political climate! Just take a look:

  • Today we have almost 60 ASA chapters and affiliates across the nation, all working to improve their local and state laws, educate legislators and the public, and to create a coordinated national movement for medical cannabis.
  • In just two years, ASA’s Washington, DC Office has become a powerful and influential lobbying force for federal medical cannabis laws. 
  • There are now 13 medical cannabis states, and many more considering legislation and building support and awareness throughout the US.
  • We drove numerous successful court cases in California, improving California’s law and setting the stage for the expansion of other laws across the US., including the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Garden Grove v. Superior Court, ruling that California law enforcement must follow California, not federal, law.
  • We’ve worked side by side with top government agencies to improve state medical cannabis laws and to protect access centers throughout the country that provide safe access to patients who need it.
  • We’ve built unique relationships with top Congressional and Senate leadership, including those tasked with Congressional oversight of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Justice.
  • We elicited supportive statements from President Barack Obama to end federal interference in state medical cannabis laws.
  • We’ve reframed the public discussion of access to medical cannabis as a fundamental human right.

And most importantly … WE HAVE A PLAN! Take a minute to look at the materials ASA has been sharing with the Obama administration and Congress at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org/PresidentialRecommendations

I know the last six years have been hard. We saw little to no movement at the federal level while our loved ones faced lack of access to the treatment they needed, were targeted with threats and intimidation from our own DEA, and were sent to prisons and jails to serve unjust sentences, all for providing treatment to people living with serious illnesses.

But we did not sit back and wait for the tide to turn. Over the years, each action you took, each Representative you called, and each letter you wrote has created an atmosphere of hope across the nation. We’ve seen success at the state and local levels and have built more powerful alliances in Congress than ever before since ASA opened our Washington, DC office in 2006.

I am very proud of the hard work each of you has put into this shared vision. And now I hope we can all provide the leadership necessary to move the nation in the direction of compassion and scientific integrity.

Keep up the great work. I look forward to working with all of you during this exciting time… Let’s Make it safe. Make it Legal. Make it happen!

Sincerely,


Steph Sherer
Executive Director
Americans for Safe Access

NH Compassion Newsletter: Medical Marijuana, We've Got Your Number...

Dear friends, CONCORD, N.H. -- The NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy today announced its support for HB 648, a bill that would protect seriously ill patients from arrest if their doctors recommend marijuana. The group also announced the launch of NHCompassion.org, a new Web site featuring New Hampshire patients, which will serve as a home base for the effort to pass medical marijuana legislation. "HB 648 simply acknowledges the obvious fact that some seriously ill New Hampshire patients benefit from their medicinal use of marijuana," observed Matt Simon, the organization's executive director. "There is no moral justification for continuing a policy that criminalizes patients for trying to relieve their suffering." Simon said he's optimistic about the bill's chances, and noted that New Hampshire voters support medical marijuana reform by a wider margin than they supported most successful candidates in the 2008 election. Simon cited a poll conducted last April by Mason-Dixon Research, which found that of New Hampshire voters, 71 percent supported "changing the law in New Hampshire to allow seriously and terminally ill patients to use and grow medical marijuana for personal use if their doctors recommend it." Only 21 percent of voters said they opposed the reform, with 8 percent undecided. Details on the poll are available at nhcompassion.org. A similar bill, HB 774, was narrowly rejected (186-177) by the House in 2007, but Simon said he believes support will be much stronger this year. "In the past two years, the consensus for allowing medical marijuana has grown. Michigan and New Mexico enacted medical marijuana laws, and now 25 percent of Americans live in medical marijuana states. In addition, the prestigious American College of Physicians issued a paper supporting marijuana's medical value. And, the new U.S. president has pledged to end the federal raids on medical marijuana providers, which had been a concern for many legislators." The bill's prime sponsor is Rep. Evalyn Merrick (D-Lancaster), joined by co-sponsors Sen. John Gallus (R-Berlin), Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth), Rep. Tom Donovan (D-Claremont), Rep. James "Doc" Pilliod (R-Belmont), Rep. Trinka Russell (D-Stratham) and Rep. Don Petterson (D-Brentwood). An initial hearing for the bill has not yet been scheduled. If the effort to pass HB 648 succeeds, New Hampshire would become the 14th state since 1996 to pass legislation protecting medical marijuana patients, joining Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. # # # Thanks, -- Matt Simon Executive Director NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy NHCompassion.org [email protected] [4] (603) 391-7450 "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of the substance." - Francis L. Young, DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge, 1988

Employment Opportunity with The Sentencing Project

Dear Friend,


The Sentencing Project is pleased to announce a new position opening for State Advocacy Coordinator.
 
In conjunction with the Director of Advocacy, the State Advocacy Coordinator will develop and implement a program to support state and local advocates engaged in criminal justice reform. Issues to be addressed will include sentencing and drug policy reform, alternatives to incarceration, racial disparities in the criminal and juvenile justice system, felony disenfranchisement reform and others consistent with the mission of The Sentencing Project. The position will involve some travel to selected states.

 

Coordinator will be responsible for:

  • developing a strategic plan for reform in selected states, which may include partnering with organizations from civil rights, voting rights and faith-based communities, formerly incarcerated persons, policymakers, and community leaders;
  • providing research assistance, developing communications strategies, aiding in coalition-building, and advising on legislative campaigns;
  • working at both the federal and state levels, including some federal policy work.

Click here to see the complete job description and qualifications.

To be considered for the position, applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: Nia Lizanna, Operations Manager, The Sentencing Project, 514 Tenth Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004 or [email protected]. No phone calls, please.
 
This position will remain open until filled.
 
The Sentencing Project is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to cultural diversity and recruits without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, or prior convictions.

 
 

The Sentencing Project: Disenfranchisement News 1/23/09

Maine: NAACP to Hold Annual Voter Registration Drive in Maine Prisons After negotiating with the Department of Corrections, the NAACP will now be able to hold annual voter registration drives at every prison facility in Maine. In honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the annual drive this year will run for a week beginning August 6, and span six state-run facilities. Maine and Vermont are the only states that allow inmates to vote. To read more, see CorrectionsOne.com. Washington: State on Its Way to Easing Voting Process A felon voting rights bill was introduced this week in Washington State in an effort to restore rights after completion of sentence, the Seattle Times reported. Currently, individuals must pay all court fines and petition the court in order to get their voting rights restored. Supported by the ACLU, HB-1517, was introduced by Jeannie Darneille (D-Tacoma), who has introduced similar legislation over the past nine sessions. She said she is confident the bill will pass this session. A companion bill is being introduced in the Senate by Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle.) International: Inmates to Vote in Next Election The Independent Electoral Commission in Kwazulu-Natal, a province of South Africa, has decided to allow patients in hospitals and prison inmates to vote in this year's elections to ensure those incarcerated can exercise their constitutional right, the Sowetan reported. "We have a special programme for prisoners in correctional facilities. We will begin with voter education and then register them," said commission electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery. "Come election day, we will help them to cast their votes. This programme will also include awaiting trial prisoners," he continued. Virginia: Disenfranchisement Undermines Democracy, Faith in Prison System In a Daily Press letter to the editor, a Williamsburg resident has urged her fellow Virginians to contact lawmakers to make the restoration process for individuals with felony offenses less time consuming. " ... In a society that places such an emphasis on 'getting out there and voting,' I'm wondering why we are still restricting the voting rights of some of our Virginia citizens, prohibiting them from participating in the democratic process," Kriston Rhodes wrote. Virginia is one of only two states that permanently disenfranchises all persons with felony convictions. Individuals with nonviolent offenses seeking restoration must wait three years after completing their sentence, while those with violent offenses must wait five years. "Failing to restore voting rights to Virginia citizens not only undermines the importance of participation in a democracy but also demonstrates a lack of faith in our prison system," she continued. - - - - - - 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

Are you a victim of marijuana prohibition?

Dear friends:

“The fact is, today, people don't go to jail for possession of marijuana. I know you like to pretend it does, and there's a lot of misinformation about that. But finding somebody in jail or prison — for a first time nonviolent offender — for possession of marijuana is like finding a unicorn ... It doesn't exist.”

--John Walters, Bush White House drug czar
September 4, 2008

Drug warriors love to claim that marijuana prohibition doesn't cause harm to otherwise law-abiding citizens — because if they acknowledge the truth, their public support falls apart.

When we're able to present the stories of real people who have suffered under marijuana prohibition, we find that public indifference to the issue dissolves — and laws change.

If you yourself have been a victim of the war on marijuana users, I'd like to ask if you're willing to share your story. For instance...

  • Have you ever been arrested or jailed for marijuana possession?
  • Have you ever been arrested for marijuana possession and later charged with a more severe crime, like intent to distribute?
  • Did your arrest result in additional suffering, such as losing your job, home, custody of your children, or school loan?
  • Have you ever taken a drug test that resulted in a false positive? 
  • Are you a patient in one of the 13 states where medical marijuana is legal who has been arrested or harassed by law enforcement agents despite your state-legal status? 
  • Do you lack safe access to or are too afraid to use medical marijuana because of state or federal laws, although it could alleviate symptoms of your serious medical condition?

If so, please e-mail me at [email protected] to share your story. Please be sure to indicate what state you live in. We will not use your story or your name without your permission, and if you'd like to be anonymous, just indicate that when you e-mail.

While MPP can't offer individual legal help, we can turn your experience into ammunition as we campaign to change laws. Many Americans truly don't realize the impact that marijuana prohibition has on their neighbors, and individual stories are a powerful tool in helping change minds — and laws.

And if you don't have a personal story to share, but you'd like to support our work, please consider becoming a member of MPP today. We're 100% dependent on contributions from people like you to continue our work.

Thank you,

Kampia signature (e-mail sized)

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

P.S. As I've mentioned in previous alerts, a major philanthropist has committed to match the first $3.35 million that MPP can raise from the rest of the planet in 2009. This means that your donation today will be doubled.

Crack the Disparity Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 3

President Bush: Please Commute Long Sentences for Crack Cocaine As the holiday season approaches, and President George Bush's term comes to a close, a broad coalition of 29 civil rights, religious, academic and justice organizations have asked the president today to commute excessive sentences for low-level crack cocaine offenses. "Scripture reminds us that justice in the courts is a means of healing to society and families," said Bishop Jane Allen Middleton from the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. "Yet, the disparity on sentences currently being handed down between crack and powder cocaine has unfairly targeted African-Americans and the poor," she said. "While legislation is needed to equalize these sentences, granting clemency to some of those serving unusually long sentences will send a much needed signal that our criminal justice system can and should be a means of healing to society and reunifying families separated by excessive incarceration." Click here to read more. Crack Sentencing Reform Makes Obama-Biden Transition's Priority List By Bruce Nicholson The Obama-Biden Transition has made elimination of the federal sentencing disparity for crack cocaine offense a key goal on its Agenda for Change in the 111th Congress. The Obama-Biden Transition Project, as it is formally known, will work to get the new administration up and running between now and the inauguration on January 20, 2009. The transition's website, www.change.gov, sets out an agenda divided into 22 issue areas. The Obama-Biden plan for change on crack sentencing is one of seven "Civil Rights" goals (there is no separate "criminal justice" issue area). The Obama-Biden transition reform goal is stated simply as follows: Eliminate Sentencing Disparities: Obama and Biden believe the disparity between sentencing crack and powder-based cocaine is wrong and should be completely eliminated. National Day of Advocacy - April 2009 By Kara Gotsch With a new president and Congress to begin in January, and a renewed political optimism, the Crack the Disparity Coalition has outlined a strategy to finally eliminate the excessive mandatory minimum penalties for low-level crack cocaine offenses. That strategy includes you. Without broad national support for crack cocaine sentencing reform, success on Capitol Hill will again elude us. The 100 to 1 sentencing quantity disparity between powder cocaine and crack cocaine was created by Congress under the Anti Drug Abuse Act of 1986. It has resulted in average sentences for crack cocaine offenses that are three years longer than for offenses involving powder cocaine. Sentences for crack cocaine are also nearly two years longer than for methamphetamine and four years longer than for heroin. Crack cocaine is the only drug that carries a mandatory prison sentence for a first-time possession offense. Student Activists Empowered by Lobbying, Advocacy On November 21, 2008, more than 200 students from across the United States descended on Capitol Hill to lobby Congress on repealing the 100 to 1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The Lobby Day was the kickoff to the 2008 Students for Sensible Drug Policy 10th Anniversary International Conference, held November 21-23 at the University of Maryland in College Park. Students for Sensible Drug Policy is known for its advocacy on drug policies that directly impact young people and students, such as student drug testing and the law that denies federal financial aid to students with drug convictions. Lobbying for a change in policy that primarily impacts low-income African Americans was a welcome change for SSDP students. Save the Date: January 22-23, 2009: New Directions for New York: A Public Health & Safety Approach to Drug Policy, New York, NY April 27-28, 2009: Crack the Disparity Lobby Day, Washington, D.C. Media Attention A Fox News Three-Part Series on the case of Clarence Aaron, a former college student whose involvement in a 1993 cocaine deal got him three life sentences in federal prison. Washington Post Letter to the Editor Calling for President Bush to Use His Clemency Power on Individuals Serving Harsh Crack Cocaine Sentences. Maryland Daily Record Coverage on the Number of Individuals in the State that Have Received Sentence Reductions Since The USSC's 2007 Retroactive Adjustment ... And Look for an Opinion Piece on Commutations by Kemba Smith in USA Today Before the Close of the Year. The Crack the Disparity Coalition includes the American Bar Association, American Civil Liberties Union, Break the Chains, Drug Policy Alliance, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Open Society Policy Center, Restoring Dignity, Inc., Students for Sensible Drug Policy, The Sentencing Project, and United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society.

Drug Policy Alliance: Your Gift Will Be Matched

You Can Make a Difference

Dear friends,

If you're like me, lately you've been thinking about the economy and the recent election—a lot.  These are exciting but uncertain times.

Unlike some issues, a tough economic climate actually makes the possibility of meaningful drug policy reform even more likely.  No single factor was more important in bringing an end to alcohol Prohibition than the Great Depression. When governments find they can't afford policies based on empty ideology, it's time to get smart about crime and public health. 

One thing I’m certain about is DPA’s ability to make progress in the struggle to reform our country’s drug policies.  That progress depends on supporters like you not only making donations during these difficult times but being as generous as possible.

Your gift to DPA is especially urgent, and will be especially effective, right now.  If you give today, your gift will be doubled by an anonymous donor.

The drug war's folly and waste are no longer a secret. With new leadership in Washington more aligned with our agenda than ever before, we will work to bring about the changes you and I have been demanding for so long. And when a growing movement like ours has allies for the first time in key leadership positions in the halls of Congress, good things are bound to happen.

You can read about the work DPA has accomplished in the last year in our annual report.  We’ve had a good year, and together we’ve built a strong, stable organization.  We suffered a tough loss in California when Proposition 5, the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, lost at the ballot box but we came out of that fight recognized as the national leader taking on the monstrous prison industrial complex.

Now is a great time to be a financial contributor. A major donor has made a special challenge—she will match,  dollar-for-dollar, all online gifts through the end of the year. 

Every dollar invested in DPA will be used as effectively as possible to end the drug war.  Circumstances are aligning such that this is our moment.  How big can we make that moment?  The answer depends on you.  Please give generously today.

My best to you and your family this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance

P.S.  If you have stocks or other securities which you bought at a low price many years ago, right now may be the perfect time to donate those stocks while they still hold their appreciated value.  You can take a tax deduction, avoid capital-gains taxes, and, most importantly, support DPA’s work.  Because DPA sells donated shares as soon as we receive them, gifts of stock are a certain way to support our work in these uncertain times.  For stock transfer information, please call Clovis Thorn, Managing Director, Development, at (212) 613-8046.

Press Release: Year in Review - 2008 a Huge Year for Marijuana Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
DECEMBER 16, 2008


Year in Review: 2008 a Huge Year for Marijuana Reform

CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications ............... 415-668-6403 or 202-215-4205

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In this annual season of year-end reviews, marijuana policy reformers are counting 2008 as one of their most successful years ever. 2008 saw major progress on legal reforms plus a raft of new data that validated reformers' critiques of current marijuana laws. Some highlights:

    MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZED IN MASSACHUSETTS: A measure to replace criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana with a $100 fine similar to a traffic ticket passed with a whopping 65 percent majority in the Bay State.

    MICHIGAN BECOMES 13TH MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATE: The 63 percent majority racked up by Proposal 1 was the largest ever for a medical marijuana initiative and exceeded Barack Obama's vote total in the state by six points.

    A NEW PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO END FEDERAL RAIDS IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATES: During the campaign, president-elect Barack Obama repeatedly promised to end federal attacks on individuals obeying state medical marijuana laws. Strikingly, of the 13 medical marijuana states (including Michigan), Obama carried 11 -- including such traditionally red states as Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico.

    NEW RESEARCH VERIFIES MARIJUANA PAIN RELIEF: For the third time in less than two years, a published, peer-reviewed clinical trial demonstrated that marijuana safely and effectively relieves neuropathic pain, a notoriously hard to treat type of pain related to nerve damage, and often seen in illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and diabetes. The new study, from the University of California, was published online by the Journal of Pain in mid-April.

    FEDERAL REPORTS DOCUMENT FAILURE OF CURRENT POLICIES: The Monitoring the Future survey, released Dec. 11, found that more 10th-graders now smoke marijuana than cigarettes, with teen marijuana use rising while teen use of cigarettes (which are legally regulated for adults) has dropped. The National Drug Threat Assessment, released Dec. 15, reported that despite record seizures, "marijuana availability is high throughout the United States."

    With more than 26,000 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.

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