May 2009
Dear LEAP Supporter,
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Yet?
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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?
Read the rest of Norm Stamper's Huffington Post blog here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
Learn
more about LEAP's adventures on the border.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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."
Click
here for the rest of the piece by Officer Bradley Jardis.
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.
You can watch the interview here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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.
121 Mystic Ave. Suites 8&9
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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.
You
received this e-mail because you are a supporter of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition. We need help growing our all-encompassing movement
of citizens who want to end the failed "war on drugs," so please invite
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