Just Say Know Weekly News (5/24/08): ANOTHER NEEDLESS DEATH

[Courtesy of Just Say Know] 

Once again another life has been needlessly sacrificed in the name of our heinous drug laws. Rachel Hoffman would still be with us today except for the way we choose to deal with drug use and addiction. To Ms. Hoffman’s family and friends, please accept our deepest condolences and heartfelt regret for your loss. The pain and suffering Ms. Hoffman and you have been forced into by those sworn to protect us is inexcusable. This absolutely unnecessary tragedy will not be forgotten. There is no excuse for this. The shameful unfounded defense offered by the authorities attempting to shift responsibility for the tragedy of their own incompetent actions to the victim is nothing short of reprehensible. This story should outrage all of Florida, all the USA and all the world. Florida has some of the toughest drug laws in the country and they have not accomplished any positive results, only harms. The harms of our drug policy are vividly reflected in Ms. Hoffman’s case. By all accounts in the news stories about her, Ms. Hoffman was a vibrant, well educated, well adjusted young woman with a bright future. She was loved by her family, a college graduate, well liked by her peers… in short the reflection of the vast majority of casual drug users. We also learned Ms. Hoffman supported at least two of the drug policy reform organizations we work with. Most people who use drugs are not addicts or criminals by any stretch of the imagination, except that we have allowed their right to ingest certain substances to be criminalized. The results of prohibition are well documented. Any time you prohibit anything you instantly create a black market commerce for that item and the results are always the same… criminals take over the business and violence and death follow. We’ve seen our ridiculous drug policy cause tragedy, corruption, waste of resources, harm to citizens and society beyond imagination and once again needless death. There’s a growing movement to change this but we must all take action or tragedy will continue. Visit our site and take civic actions that will make a difference. Sending an email or making a phone call to your elected representatives can do more good than you might think. If not now, when? If not you, who? Enough is enough! Just shaking your head and saying “that’s a shame” will not stop this. We posted another “Law Enforcement Against Prohibition” video on our home page. Take a few minutes and watch it and then be sure to contact your elected representatives and tell them to end the drug war now! There are much better ways to deal with drug use and addiction without the death, disease, violence, corruption, arrest of 1.9 million non-violent Americans each year and countless other harms directly caused by drug prohibition. Tobacco is the only success story in dealing with drug use. Almost half of all tobacco users have stopped and no one was arrested or killed. These amazing results came about through honest education and regulation not a war on tobacco users. PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK, NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL!

If you’re using internet explorer web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/home

If you’re using any other web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/index.html

Use this link to locate and contact your congressional representatives. Tell them you are in favor of HR 5842 (medical marijuana patient protection act) and HR 5843: (act to remove federal penalties for the personal use of marijuana by responsible adults). These two important legislative measures will greatly improve the lives of all Americans. HR 5842 Will provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various states and HR 5843 will remove federal penalties for the personal use of marijuana by responsible adults.

If clicking the text above doesn’t take you to the web page, copy and paste this into your web browser:

http://capwiz.com/norml2/home/

You can also contact your representatives by calling this number: 202-224-3121.

This is critical! Take action now, don’t wait. Ask all your associates to take action too!

CLICK HERE AND ENTER THE SEARCH WORDS BELOW TO READ THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT:

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c110query.html

TO READ H.R.5842, SEARCH USING THESE WORDS:

Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

TO READ H.R.5843, SEARCH USING THESE WORDS:

Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults

JUST SAY KNOW IS HAVING A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE TO HELP PREPARE FOR WHAT’S SHAPING UP TO BE A VERY ACTIVE SUMMER IN THE DRUG POLICY REFORM MOVEMENT. MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $25 PER YEAR (LESS THAN 7 CENTS A DAY) AND DURING THIS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE THAT’S THE FAMILY PLAN, SO EVERY VOTER LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF THAT WANTS TO BE A MEMBER IS INCLUDED. JUST REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE WITH “DONATION” IN THE SUBJECT LINE AND WE’LL CONTACT YOU BY EMAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!

Just Say Know

Visit Our Web Site:

If you’re using internet explorer web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/home

If you’re using any other web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/index.html

Please pass this message on to ALL your contacts and ask them to join our mailing list using the form on our website. THANK YOU! We never share email addresses from our mailing list with anyone.

Just Say Know works on your behalf toward drug policy reform, preserving and re-instating your legal rights. Since cannabis “offences” account for approximately half of all drug arrests, we believe taking away the ability of criminals to profit from cannabis will be an important initial step in drug policy reform. How? Just like it was done with alcohol, remove the prohibition and regulate legal adult use, especially the legal ability to grow your own. As soon as alcohol prohibition ended, the crime and violence caused by alcohol prohibition ended. The year alcohol prohibition was repealed violent crime fell by sixty five percent. Drug policy and enforcement tactics are out of control but you can help change that by contacting your federal, state and local elected representatives, telling them you are in favor of ending the drug war and asking them to support HR 5842 and HR 5843. The current drug laws are doing more harm than the drugs they prohibit. Drug prohibition has been going on for over ninety years and has not reduced the percentage of our population addicted to drugs at all. There is a better, more effective and much less expensive way to deal with the harms of drugs and no one has to go to jail, be killed or otherwise harmed. Right now a “drug offender” is arrested every seventeen seconds, of those a “marijuana offender” is arrested every thirty eight seconds in the USA. Enough is enough!

The drug war is being used as an excuse to remove your Constitutional rights, steal your property, waste 69 billion tax dollars per year and a long list of other harms to citizens and society. There’s a mountain of evidence supporting the need for policy reform that will make citizens, their families, their livelihood and their property more secure. The right; to freedom of religion, free speech, a free press, to keep and bear arms, to be secure in your person, house, papers and effects against unreasonable search and seizure, to life, liberty and property, to be protected from having your property taken by the government without due process of law and without just compensation, to confront the witnesses against you, to be protected from excessive bail, excessive fines, cruel and unusual punishment, to vote and other Constitutional rights have been denied to millions of Americans in the name of the drug war.

Just Say Know supports law enforcement and appreciates the protection responsible officers provide. However, the ridiculous drug laws that misguided legislators and those that profit from prohibition have inflicted on us all even foster corruption among those sworn to protect us. Click the link below and read this week’s corrupt cops story from stopthedrugwar.org
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/535/police_drug_corruption

Tell your friends about the "Enough is Enough" petition to stop the reckless overuse of SWAT tactics and save the lives of civilians and police alike. This petition is sponsored by: StoptheDrugWar.org Click here for details.

This country is still governed by the people but if you sit around waiting on someone else, it may be you that ends up losing life, liberty, freedom, property and more, it may be you that gets shot by the government or the criminals drug prohibition has put in business, it may be your children, money, livelihood or property that get taken away. These things don’t just happen to drug users. Thanks to the drug war private property is being confiscated with no evidence and no legal recourse and carrying a large amount of cash is now a crime punishable by confiscation of your money and sometimes worse. If you think this is a fairytale or only happens by mistake, or is a rare occurrence visit this webpage and read what happened to these people: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/snitch/readings/hidden.html

Be sure to click “Issues Need Your Immediate Attention” on our home page often and use the links to locate and email your federal representatives about current proposed drug policy legislation.

If you’re using internet explorer web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/home

If you’re using any other web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/index.html

Even the clergy is getting involved to help stop the drug war. Be sure you visit our website and click “Web Links” in the “Site Map” and view the video: Clergy Against The War On Drugs Part II

"Anyone concerned about the failure of our $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs should watch this 12-minute program. You will meet front line, ranking police officers who give us a devastating report on why it cannot work. It is a must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with this issue."-- Walter Cronkite, commenting on a video produced by “LEAP” Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. We think it’s a must see for every voter in the country too. If you haven’t seen it yet take a few minutes and view it now using this link: http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid=28

Your financial contributions are greatly appreciated. If you can afford it, please donate today. To make a donation reply to this message with “donation” in the subject line and an associate will contact you by return email. If you wish to remain anonymous you can. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration. Don’t hesitate to contact us by replying to this message, we appreciate your comments, questions and concerns. Together we will make a difference!

You can get a wealth of information by visiting our web site and clicking “Web Links” in the “Site Map”. Be sure you ask all your associates to join our weekly mailing list.

If you’re using internet explorer web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/home

If you’re using any other web browser use this link: http://jsknow.angelfire.com/index.html

We appreciate and commend the efforts of the drug policy reform organizations below and thank them for their contributions to our drug policy reform work. Please visit their websites and support them to the best of your ability.

Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States.

Stop the Drug War (DRCNet) calls for an end to drug prohibition (e.g. some form of legalization), and its replacement with some sensible framework in which drugs can be regulated and controlled instead. Founded in 1993 by executive director David Borden, DRCNet has from the beginning called unambiguously for an end to prohibition; we are the largest "full-purpose" national membership organization with a wide range of programs to hold that position.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society. SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth.

NORML: Since its founding in 1970, NORML has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers. Email: [email protected]

Drug Truth Network is a media production organization, based at KPFT Radio Houston, TX. Cultural Baggage, hosted by Dean Becker, is the only nationally distributed radio program focused on discussing the war on drugs. Dean produces 9 radio shows each week about the harms of the drug war. Their shows are broadcast on more than 50 affiliates in the US and Canada. Call your favorite radio station and ask them to include these innovative radio programs.

SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation): SAFER is working with students, organizations and other individuals around the country and abroad to spread the message that marijuana is safer than alcohol and should be treated as such.

FULLY INFORMED JURY ASSOCIATION (FIJA): Click here to learn about a powerful tool most people don’t know about that can be used to shut down prosecution of non-violent “drug offenders” on a case by case basis. It’s called Juror Nullification.