Organizations

Oregon: State Diminishes 'More Liberal than Most' In March, a law was passed further disenfranchising Oregon residents. Thousands of individuals in Oregon's county jails are now ineligible to vote due to a new provision of House Bill 3638. Oregon law does not allow those incarcerated individuals to vote, but does restore voting rights to those on probation. "Previously, it was just individuals in the Department of Corrections" who couldn't vote, said Brenda Bayes, the deputy director of the state Elections Division in a Statesman Journal article. "This bill in the 2008 legislative session expanded that to also include felons in the custody of county jails. You can still register to vote, you just can't vote while you're incarcerated." According to the article, 35,000 formerly incarcerated individuals and probationers are allowed to vote, in addition to about 600 psychiatric and forensic patients at Oregon State Hospital who were charged with felony offenses. National: Thousands Forced to Leave Voting Rights by the Wayside PBS's News Hour dedicated a segment to disenfranchisement in its "Vote 2008: The Primaries" coverage. Interviews with disenfranchised citizens and individuals whose rights have recently been restored, delved into the emotional, political and legal issues surrounding felon voting rights. "People participate in the voting process when they feel like they are one of the stakeholders," said New Jersey resident Omar Shabazz who is on lifetime parole. Individuals on parole in New Jersey are banned from voting.. "Felon disfranchisement affects not only the individual whose vote has been taken away, it's not just what voting rights lawyers call a vote-denial claim. It's also a vote- dilution claim," said Juan Cartagena. "That relative political power is taken away from the neighbors of persons who come back home, from their family members. Their relative collective voting strength is wiped off the map almost." - - - - - - 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

Free Super Bowl Ticket: I was drinking my coffee and reading my daily dose of bad news (newspaper), when a Senate staffer greeted me and asked to join me to wolf down his breakfast. I described my education campaign on why spending ‘free’ fed money to arrest drug dealers was harming state budgets (after the arrest the states must spend hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to lock up the drug dealer for XX years). Bill (not his real name) offered a super bowl ticket analogy. …your best friend gives you a Super Bowl ticket worth 400 dollars & you jump for joy. Wow!! You love football & decide to go. You buy a plane ticket, book a hotel, add in misc. extra monies & suddenly the ‘free’ ticket will cost you 1200 dollars out of your pocket….. I used this pitch during 7 presentations & urged the staffer to have the boss (MOC) call their governor (as a courtesy) and ask privately if the State can afford to be given ‘free’ federal money. I was very pleased with the reaction (all non-verbal = seen on their faces). Thanks Bill. Let me tell you why it did not work: Riding the train home, a fellow traveler asked how my campaign was going. I talked about reading a report in the US Army War College that stated that 70% of al Qaeda’s operating budget came from drug trade sources. Suddenly, an Army major plopped down in the seat next to me. He had over heard our conversation and wanted to share his direct experience. In the next 10 minutes we listened intently as he described how he had in 2006 participated in an eradication (Ausrottung) effort in southern Afghanistan. A long story short…after they paid the tractor drivers to plow under the poppy plants, our troops would go out to the edge of the river flood plain to provide security…the Taliban would come in and pay the drivers more NOT to plow under the poppies. At the end of the 6 weeks campaign almost no poppies had been plowed under. We exchanged business cards before he hopped off the train. As a doctor, he had a professional curiosity to learn more of the Swiss Treatment Program which I sent him. His actions were symptomatic of how many citizens are with us on this. Almost every time someone engages me on the train or metro subway, a passenger nearby will, on their way out, say how they agree with me and wish me luck. After I missed the #$%!@ Party of the decade: Just before I was about to join the celebration of the first victory in years (2nd Chance Act) at the Capitol at 5 PM on Wednesday, Aaron Houston (MPP lobbyist) said don’t bother. The room was entirely too small, packed with people and hotter than hell. Chatting on the sidewalk, several other reformers stopped to chat. The chief lobbyist for the ONDCP (Drug Czar) strolled on by without stopping (LOL). I was disappointed not to attend but I took Aaron’s advice. I called Jodi James the new Big Boss of our Speaker’s Bureau and asked her to email me the details of another event that started in 30 minutes. (I now carry a Blackberry aka Crackberry+ by staffers. Every Staffer has one & several offices have signs above the exit door “Do you have your Blackberry?”) So yes, you may call me a High-Tech, Red-Neck++ cowboy. LOL Anyway, I attended a 100 person reception nearby & being bold, had 1 minute conversations with one US Senator & 3 Congressmen. Afterwards, I got all excited at such wonderful turn of events. +++ I called Jodi and thanked her profusely for her initiative and turning the evening into the best & in some ways most productive two hours I have spent in DC. WTG Jodi!! We do have a great team at LEAP. Apropos important persons…if you know of a VIP (elected state-wide or fed official) who has stated publicly that the WOD is a failure or ineffective, let me know please. If possible, provide the source of the quote. I am putting together a list.

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery] 1. Lamont Carey--You know him from HBO where you've seen and applauded him for his riveting work on The Wire and DEF Jam. See Lamont in person on Tuesday, April 15, 7:30PM at My Place Sports Bar and Grill, 12150 Central Avenue, Mitchellville,, MD 20721. You'll get a whole new perspective on the devastating effects of spending years in prison by this incredible spoken word artist and actor extraordinaire. For further information, please call 301-249-5477. 2. Dennis Sobin--He learned to play classical and jazz guitar in prison and now performs in concert at colleges, universities and the Kennedy Center, songs ranging from Scot Joplin rags to Chopin waltzes to Cole Porter ballads. Come meet and hear Dennis on Saturday, April 19, at 2pm at the Prison Art Gallery, 1600 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. For further information, please call 202-393-1511. 3. Jahi Daoud L. Foster-Bey--A visual artist of extraordinary talent and ability, he creates art that is both beautiful and meaningful, depicting themes that relate to social justice and the hardships he has personally experienced. You can meet Jahi and view his work on Sunday, April 20, at 3pm at the Prisons Foundation mobile art display and information center at the corner of 7th and G Sts, Washington, DC (across from the National Portrait Gallery). For further information, please call 202-393-1511.

[Courtesy of Denver 420 Coalition] 4/20 is International Cannabis Day, celebrated by millions of people throughout the world. Every year on 4/20 at 4:20 pm, citizens worldwide gather together to celebrate their favorite plant. The Denver 4/20 Rally will have special significance this year since it is the first 4/20 Rally to be held since the passage of a law that makes cannabis possession the "lowest priority" for law enforcement in the city of Denver. In addition, for the first time in history, the city of Denver has granted a permit for cannabis re-legalization activists to officially hold a the 4/20 Rally in Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver. In years past, the gatherings had been small and informal, because the City refused to grant permits. Perhaps the City is finally listening to the will of the voters and will make the Rally the "lowest priority" for police that day. On the other hand, rumors are swirling that the Denver Police Department is going to use the 4/20 Rally as a training exercise for the massive protests scheduled for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. Last year at 4/20, over 100 well-armed law enforcement officers patrolled a crowd of less than 2000 people, making 64 marijuana-related arrests. The estimated cost of the increased law enforcement presence was more than $12,000, making marijuana-related arrests cost taxpayers over $187.00 each! According to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the police presence at the 4/20 Rally in 2007 was an example of how they already treated cannabis as the "lowest priority". Click below to watch a video of Mayor Hickenlooper claiming the police were already treating cannabis as a low priority before the Nov. 2007 vote, juxtaposed against the video of over 100 police officers arresting dozens of people at the 4/20 Rally in 2007: http://www.vflog.com/vflogs/hickenlooper/hickenlooper01.html *** History of Denver Cannabis Reform *** Denver citizens have voted 3 times in the past 3 years to legalize small amounts of cannabis for adult possession. In 2005, Denver voters passed Initiative 100 by 53% of the vote. The Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative made it legal for adults over 21 years old to possess one ounce of cannabis or less in the City and County of Denver. In 2006, Denver voters passed the Amendment 44, a measure to implement the Denver initiative statewide. However, the amendment failed to get enough votes in the rest of the state and was not passed into law. But the measure was approved by 56% of Denver voters. Despite these two votes, the Mayor's did nothing to stop cannabis arrests. Instead, arrests and prosecution for marijuana offenses began increasing. In 2007, Safer Denver put a third initiative on the ballot: this time they would model their law after a successful law in Seattle, which made marijuana arrests the lowest priority for law enforcement officers. Denver voters passed the lowest priority law by 57% of the vote. See our website for details on these laws: http://www.denver420.com/legal/index.html *** Cannabis-related Tourism *** SAFER Denver modeled their "lowest priority" law after a law passed in Seattle in 2003. Since the law passed, Seattle has seen their marijuana-related arrests decrease dramatically, with no apparent negative consequences. In addition to the money saved on law enforcement and court costs, Seattle has been able to capitalize on "cannabis-related tourism" with the large and popular Seattle Hemp Fest. Over the 3-day festival, over 200,000 people attend, many from out-of-town, generating an estimated $6 million in revenue for the city and local businesses. Colorado Governor Ritter and his spokesperson Evan Dryer have been approached about how the "lowest priority" law would increase cannabis-related tourism in Colorado, and how that would benefit the economy. Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg6tu_T0I6Y *** Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel *** As required by the "lowest priority" law, Mayor Hickenlooper appointed an 11-member Marijuana Policy Review Panel to "assess and report on the effects" of the law. According to Brian Vicente, chairperson of the Panel, they have had two meetings since the election and are trying to collect hard data on current marijuana arrests and prosecutions in the City. The next meeting is not scheduled until May 28, well after the 4/20 Rally is held. *** Upcoming Legal Trainings *** 4/20 participants are encouraged to attend a series of legal trainings next week about how to protect their rights when interacting with the police. The trainings are designed for protesters at the Democratic National Convention, but the information will be very valuable and 4/20 participants are being encouraged to attend. http://www.denver420.com/events/mslc.legal.trainings.html *** What Will the Mayor Do? *** On April 20, there will be a true test of whether or not Denver Mayor Hickenlooper will listen to the Denver voters. Will police make the 4/20 Rally their "lowest priority" that day? Or will it be treated the same as it was last year, with increased law enforcement presence and arrests? Will Denver Police use it as a training exercise for the Democratic National Convention, or will they use it as a training exercise on how to look the other way? The Mayor's office has refused repeated requests to comment for this article. Proponents think 3 votes in 3 years should be enough to get the City to change its cannabis law enforcement policies. *** Call to Action *** Please call the Denver Mayor and City Council and wish them a peaceful 4/20 this year. Tell them you hope the Mayor will order the police to honor the will of the voters and make cannabis enforcement the lowest priority that day, and every day. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper Phone: 720-865-9000 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.denvergov.org/mayor Denver City Council Phone: 720.865.9534 Email: [email protected] Website: www.denvergov.org/CityCouncil Remind them, that just like the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, "The whole world is watching!" http://www.jofreeman.com/photos/convention68.html For more information, see: The Denver 420 Coalition, http://www.denver420.com

[Courtesy of The Sentencing Project] National: Proposal for Automatic Post Incarceration Voting Rights Restoration The Brennan Center for Justice has released "Restoring the Right to Vote," which presents a rationale for the automatic restoration of voting rights for all individuals upon release from prison. The Center recommends that the 35 states that disenfranchise persons who are not currently incarcerated adopt the following vote restoration policies: - Automatically restore voting rights upon release from prison; - Ensure that criminal defendants receive notice of their loss of voting rights prior to their court proceedings as well as at the time of release; - Assist eligible voters with registration; - Synchronize statewide voter registration databases; and - Educate eligible voters. Author Erika Wood, the Deputy Director of the Democracy Program, writes: "When we ask people leaving prison to accept responsibility for reintegrating themselves fully into society, we cannot simultaneously continue to treat them as second-class citizens. With the obligation to obey the law should come the opportunity to influence the political process." Wisconsin: Coalition Forms to Restore the Vote Last week, approximately 40,000 Wisconsin residents were kept from the polls because of a state law that disenfranchises individuals with felony offenses. In an effort to reform current law, ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation has spearheaded an effort to form a coalition that promotes voting upon release. Current Wisconsin law states that felons who have been released from prison and those whose crimes were not serious enough to even warrant prison must wait their entire term of probation or parole before their right to vote is restored, the Daily Cardinal reported. "People could be rebuilding their lives for 1, 5, 10, or even 30 years and not be able to for example choose the school board member who will make critical decisions about their child's education," said Renee Crawford, Associate Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. In a recent poll, 70 percent of Milwaukee County's residents - which included Republicans and conservatives - supported the restoration of voting rights post incarceration. Andrea Kaminski, the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, said that a move to automatically restore voting rights would also ease the election administration process. "If you can walk in the door at the polling place, you are not disqualified because of a felony. This will clarify eligibility requirements for election officials, who have a lot of responsibility and pressure in a high-turnout election," she said. For more coverage, see WisPolitics.com. - - - - - - 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.

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) is a global network of NGOs and professional networks that specialise in issues related to illegal drug production and use. The Consortium aims to promote objective and open debate on the effectiveness, direction and content of drug policies at national and international level, and supports evidence-based policies that are effective in reducing drug-related harm. It disseminates the reports of its member organisations about particular drug-related matters, and offers expert consultancy services to policymakers and officials around the world. COMMUNICATIONS UPDATED IDPC WEBSITE The website of IDPC plays a major role in the implementation of our mission. This gives our members, and anyone else interested in drug policy, easy access to a wide range of reports on issues related to national and international policies in this field. Through this platform are able to reach out to over 10,000 individuals and organisations around the world, and this number is continually increasing. We have recently redesigned the website, which you can visit at the same address as before: www.idpc.info. The aim has been to make the site more user-friendly, and to make our messages and publications more accessible. The Spanish and Italian language versions of the website are now live. Some documents are also available in French and Russian, and we will create versions of the website in these languages later in the year. TNI UNGASS WEBSITE The Transnational Institute has created a website that deals specifically with the UN 10 year review of drug policy. The website (www.ungassondrugs.org) contains key documents, analysis and announcements that are relevant to the review of the 1998 UNGASS. Please try to add a link from your website to this valuable source of information. DRUGLINK INTERNATIONAL Drugscope have received funding from OSI to produce two pilot editions of a magazine - Druglink International. The magazine will be produced in association with IDPC, and Harry Shapiro at Drugscope is hoping that IDPC members will all have ideas for content, and will be able to provide him with media contacts in their own regions to help promote the magazine. The first issue will be largely based on existing international content from Druglink magazine because it needs to be produced in time for the International Harm Reduction Conference in Barcelona in May. It will also be circulated at the International Aids Conference in Mexico. However, the second issue will have more flexibility, and we may be tying that in with events in early 2009. This is a very exciting project with much potential for the future for raising the issues which concern us all with a wider audience, and also for future networking around the world. PUBLICATIONS IDPC BRIEFING NUMBER 8 - REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS AT THE 2008 COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS (CND) The 51st meeting of the CND took place in Vienna from 10th to 14th March 2008. It was an eventful meeting, and this summary of proceedings covers the key aspects of the week, including NGO involvement, the Thematic Debate, progress of resolutions, human rights, coca leaf, harm reduction and the INCB. http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_BP_08_RptProcedings2008CND_EN.pdf NGO STATEMENTS TO THE CND THEMATIC DEBATE Unlike in previous years, NGOs were successful in being granted access to the plenary session to deliver statements to the assembled government representatives. The topic for the thematic debate was the review of progress in international drug control in the 10 years since the 1998 UNGASS, and the NGO contributions enlivened what was an otherwise bland debate. In total, 8 NGO statements were submitted, and the ones that are available in electronic form are posted on the IDPC website. You can download them through the links below: IDPC STATEMENT http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IDPC_CND_Statement_08_EN.pdf INPUD STATEMENT http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/INPUD_CND_Statement_08_EN.pdf IHRA STATEMENT http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/IHRA_CND_Statement_08_EN.pdf EHRN STATEMENT http://www.idpc.info/php-bin/documents/EHRN_CND_Statement_08_EN.pdf

[Courtesy of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition] You might find this helpful: I met with an aide I had not seen in two years whose boss is very conservative except for the prohibition question. Being a Libertarian, she completely supports LEAP’s mission statement. I gave her all the usual updates & was prepared to leave after about 10 minutes. She pro-offered an approach I might employ with other legislative aides. I tried her idea at the next three offices. It worked. Most of what she suggested I have now permanently adopted. As I make my second visit to the 540 offices, I am struck and gratified by the increasing numbers of aides who wish me well & offer information and suggestions. Cowboy Hat = cop who wants to legalize drugs: Two separate times this week a staffer with whom I was sharing an elevator said, ‘I remember the hat. How is the legalize campaign going?’ One I somewhat remembered and the other was a complete blank. I replied that Don Quixote now has 5 votes to legalize/regulate drugs. Just 213 votes to go. Know anyone?…they smiled and wished me well. Another aide who met me two years ago remarked that she has seen me many times in the cafeteria. As she spots the cowboy hat and me under it, she always thinks of legalizing drugs. Monthly bill to produce copies to distribute: 40 dollars; monthly cost to ride train to work - $112; Cost to ride the Metro inside DC - $60; having Congressional aides remember my message by simply seeing a cowboy hat – PRICELESS.