NEWS ADVISORY: November 26, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Angell, LEAP – (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
Cops Say Legalizing Drugs Can Boost Economy by Billions
75th Anniversary of Alcohol Prohibition’s End Inspires Modern Effort
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, December 2, a group of law enforcers who fought on the front lines of the “war on drugs” and witnessed its failures will commemorate the 75th anniversary of alcohol prohibition’s repeal by calling for drug legalization. The cops, judges and prosecutors will release a report detailing how many billions of dollars can be used to boost the ailing economy when drug prohibition is ended.
Available for Interview: Cops and Judges Who Support Legalization
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2008
CONTACT: Tom Angell: (202) 557-4979 or media@leap.cc
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three out of four U.S. voters see the war on drugs as a failure, according to a Zogby poll released today. More than one in three voters believe that the single best way to fight drug traffickers and drug abuse would be “legalizing some drugs” or “ending the war on drugs.” That’s more than those who think “stopping drugs at the U.S. border” or eradicating drugs in their countries of origin would be more effective. It is also more than those who think that reducing the demand for drugs in America is the best tactic.
December is the 75th anniversary of when America's leaders had the good sense to end alcohol prohibition. Today, we have another ineffective, harmful and expensive prohibition, the "war on drugs." LEAP has made it easy for you to take action and let your legislators know that we can't afford prohibition in these tough economic times. Visit www.WeCanDoItAgain.net for more information
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Zogby Poll
If hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine were legalized would you be likely to use them?
On what US policy-reform issue could these 6 people agree?
Political Spectrum
Noam Chomsky
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Barbara Ehrenreich
Milton Friedman
Howard Zinn
George P. Schultz
Legalized Regulation of all Drugs!
COPS SAY LEGALIZE DRUGS!
ASK US WHY
After nearly four decades of fueling the U.S. policy of a war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars and 37 million arrests for nonviolent drug offenses, our confined population has quadrupled making building prisons the fastest growing industry in the United States. More than 2.2 million of our citizens are currently incarcerated and every year we arrest an additional 1.9 million more guaranteeing those prisons will be bursting at their seams. Every year we choose to continue this war will cost U.S. taxpayers another 69 billion dollars. Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and far easier to get than they were 35 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before. We would suggest that this scenario must be the very definition of a failed public policy. This madness must cease!
I spent more than three decades in the war on drugs and testify that we will never arrest our way out of this problem. I am also constantly amazed at the prognostications that can come from allegedly intelligent people. Here is an example.
I read the following information, (the link above ...
November 10, 2008 – the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps
Mass. voters OK decriminalization of marijuana - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe a recent headline announced the voters’ decision in Massachusetts. The Eagle-Tribune online has this headline NH Police Expect ...
In fairness to the hat, I did not wear it as much as I could have. I'm not
nearly as tall or as animated as Howard but I am just about as shy as he
is. Bottom line, the hat did not get a fair test. The button, the tee
shirt, and the shyness all worked together and resulted in about ...
11/11/08 - Cele Castillo(download)
Cele Castillo, former DEA agent, Iran-Contra whisteleblower and author of "Powderburns, Cocaine, Contras and the Drug War" + Terry Nelson Reports for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
10/21/08 - James Anthony(download)
Pledge Drive Special with Reports from the National Organizatiion for Reform of Marijuana Laws conference in Berkeley California with Steve Bloom, former High Times Editor and author of Pot Culture + Attorney James Anthony
10/14/08 - James P. Gray(download)
Judge James P. Gray, author of "Wearing the Robe, the Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today's Courts", Dr. Norm Stamper, author of "Breaking Rank - A Top Cop's Expose" + Terry Nelson of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
10/01/08 - David Bratzer(download)
David Bratzer, an active Victoria B.C. contstable and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition + Poppygate with Glenn Greenway, LEAP report from Terry Nelson and CB premiere of the country version of Eternal War produced by Guy Schwartz
Jack Cole's presentation "End Prohibition Now!" was selected in 2007 by the International Harm Reduction Association as one of the 50 best harm reduction papers worldwide.
Click here to read or download the document:
LEAP is a U.S. Internal Revenue Service 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization.
If you are a resident of the U.S. your donations to LEAP are tax deductible.
The mission of LEAP is to reduce the multitude of unintended
harmful consequences resulting from fighting the war on drugs and to
lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by
ultimately ending drug prohibition.
US MD: Column: Legalizing Drugs: The Money Argument
Baltimore Sun, 02 Dec 2008 - Friday marks 75 years since repeal of the Volstead Act, which made the manufacture, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States. As the anniversary of the end of Prohibition approaches, modern advocates of a similar repeal are calling again for the decriminalization of heroin, cocaine and marijuana - and this time they've come packing a money argument by a Harvard economist. I like money arguments. They are usually a lot more effective than emotional ones or those that exploit stubborn prejudices with the intent of maintaining the status quo.
CN BC: Column: Illicit Drugs Should Be Legal, Officer Says
Victoria Times-Colonist, 28 Nov 2008 - David Bratzer and I share at least one opinion in common: That it costs us a pointless fortune to maintain the charade of having effective drug laws in Canada. It's no big deal that I hold that opinion. Anyone who knows the kind of things I write about wouldn't be too surprised to discover I'm of the belief that Canada and the U.S. have made a complete hash of things by treating a health and social issue like a criminal matter.
Canada: Budding Wealth in the Weed
Edmonton Journal, 23 Nov 2008 - With the Courts Striking Down the Federal Government's Monopoly on Supplying Medical Marijuana, Private Growers Are Bullish on Pot's Commercial Potential Eric Nash can barely contain his excitement waiting to hear from Health Canada whether he can start growing marijuana for 250 patients now that the Federal Court of Appeal has struck down the government's monopoly on supplying medical marijuana.
US: Edu: SSDP Hosts International Drug Policy Conference
The Diamondback, 20 Nov 2008 - Smokers and tokers will get together and try to surprise Congress this weekend by showing up on Capitol Hill in suits and ties to fight for drug policy reform. Today kicks off the 10th annual international Students for a Sensible Drug Policy conference, meaning hundreds of students, alumni and drug policy reformers will swarm the campus as student grassroots organizations from across the country and the world host workshops on lobbying and advocacy and travel to Washington to speak with congressmen.
Dr. Norm Stamper finished his 34-year police career as chief of police of Seattle, Washington. Stamper believes the drug war causes
untold misery, undermines effective law enforcement, and does not begin to pass any sort of cost-benefit analysis.
"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
"Damage Done
introduces a group of maverick cops - and former cops - who have put in decades fighting the
war on drugs. They may be libertarians, Republicans, socialists or evangelical Christians,
but they all believe strongly that drug prohibition is a terrible mistake and that all
illicit drugs should be controlled by government, not in the hands of criminals.
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Dedicated to our departed colleagues who courageously spoke out about the destructive policy of Drug Prohibition
Eleanor Schockett
Gil Puder
Whitman Knapp
John Perry
Ralph Salerno
Bob Owens
Eddie Ellison
Martin Haines
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