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New Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Crack Cocaine Now in Effect
New federal sentencing guidelines reducing, but not eliminating, the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses are now in effect.
Congress
Alcohol Industry Contributions Net Anti-Marijuana Spokesman on the Hill (Press Release)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2010
CONTACT: Mason Tvert, SAFER executive director, 720-255-4340
Alcohol Industry Contributions Net Anti-Marijuana Spokesman on the Hill
Congressman speaking out against marijuana and Obama's approach to it has received at least $20,000 from the beer and liquor industry this cycle
DENVER -- A national marijuana advocacy organization is calling on U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) to explain why he is speaking out against marijuana and accusing the current administration of encouraging its use when he is in fact receiving money from the alcohol industry, which produces, distributes and promotes a far more harmful substance. Late last week, revelations that the alcohol industry is funding the campaign to defeat a marijuana legalization initiative in California resulted in a number of headlines nationwide and sparked outrage amongst supporters of marijuana policy reform. See <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/21/this-buds-not-for-you-bee_n_732901.html?ref=fb&src=sp for the whole story.
According to a blog post published this afternoon on The Hill's website:
"The administration is clearly sending the message that they don't think it's bad to use marijuana," Smith said on Fox News. "So they're encouraging the use of marijuana. And that simply is not a good thing to do."
See: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/120035-top-republican-obama-administration-encouraging-use-of-marijuana for the whole story.
"Marijuana is becoming more acceptable and the alcohol industry is defending its turf," said Mason Tvert, executive director of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), a non-profit organization that highlights the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol. "The booze industry and its good friends in Washington recognize that marijuana legalization is imminent and it is fighting to maintain alcohol's status as the only legal intoxicant. This, despite the fact that it is far more harmful than marijuana to the user and society."
SAFER and marijuana reform supporters nationwide are now calling on the congressman to explain his opposition to marijuana in light of his acceptance of campaign contributions from the alcohol industry. According to OpenSecrets.org, his current campaign has received at least $20,000 from the beer, wine, and liquor industry, including a $10,000 donation from the National Beer Wholesalers Association, a $5,000 contribution from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, and $5,000 from Constellation Brands Premium Wine and Spirits Company.
"For Rep. Smith to accept money from the alcohol industry and then work to stifle that industry's competition is unethical and hypocritical," Tvert said. "It's time he explained his reason for preferring adults use alcohol -- a substance whose use alone kills more than 30,000 Americans per year -- instead of marijuana, which has never resulted in a single death in history.
"Unlike marijuana, alcohol use contributes to domestic violence, sexual assaults, and other serious problems," Tvert said. "If Rep.
Smith is so concerned about public safety, why is he helping Big Alcohol drive Americans to drink? He should be thrilled that more Americans are making the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol when they relax and recreate."
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SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation) is a national non-profit organization based in Denver and dedicated to educating the the public about the fact that marijuana is safer than alcohol for the user and society. Its social welfare lobbying arm, the SAFER Voter Education Fund, advocates for laws and policies that reflect that fact and no longer steer people toward drinking and away from making the safer choice. For more information visit http://www.saferchoice.org/
please call Congress now!
Support the National Criminal Justice Commission Act!
Jim Webb's National Criminal Justice Commission Act would do a comprehensive review of the wreck that is the US criminal justice system. It has passed the House of Representatives, and now it needs your support to pass the Senate and become law.
StoptheDrugWar.org Legislative Action Center
The links on this web page allow visitors to review the voting records of federal and state legislators on matters of importance to drug policy reform.
Criminal Justice Commission National Call-in Day September 15
National Call-in Day to Support Senate Passage of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act
BACKGROUND INFO:
In 2009, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and 15 bipartisan cosponsors introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, legislation that would create a bipartisan Commission to review and identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for reform. The House of Representatives reviewed and favorably passed the bill, and now the bill awaits passage by the United States Senate. We need your help urging the Senate to prioritize and pass this important legislation!
ACTION NEEDED:
On Wednesday, September 15th, individuals nationwide will urge passage of this legislation by calling their Senators to ask them to prioritize and support Senate passage of the house-passed version of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, H.R. 5143/S. 714.
We hope that you will join us in making these critical calls! To contact your Senators, call the U.S. Capitol Switch Board at 202-224-3121.
MESSAGE TO SENATORS:
• Prompt consideration of the House-passed National Criminal Justice Commission Act is critical as the Senate winds down its legislative calendar. I urge you to endorse this legislation and prioritize its passage.
• Having a transparent and bipartisan Commission review and identify effective criminal justice policies would increase public safety.
• The increase in incarceration over the past twenty years has stretched the system beyond its limits. These high costs to taxpayers are unsustainable, especially during these tough economic times.
• The proposed independent commission would conduct a comprehensive national review of effective criminal justice policies and would issue recommendations for consideration at the state, local and federal level.
If you have any questions about the Wednesday, September 15th National Call-In Day,
please contact Kara Gotsch at [email protected].
Tell Chairman Conyers It's Time for Truth! (Action Alert)
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poster of assassinated human rights advocate Ricardo Murillo
US Withholds Some Mexico Drug Aid Over Human Rights Concerns
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DC Issues Draft Regulations for Medical Marijuana [FEATURE]
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Obama Signs Crack Cocaine Sentencing Reform Bill
President Obama has signed into law a bill that reduces, but does not eliminate, disparities in federal sentencing for crack and powder cocaine offenses. It isn't retroactive, which means current prisoners still wait for relief.