Drug Policy Alliance E-Newsletter

DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
...on the web



CONTENTS:

1. Featured Content

Action Alert: Cut Those Stupid TV Ads!
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124073

Moving Closer to Real Rockefeller Reform in New York
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124074

DPA Launches New Jersey Compassionate Use Campaign
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124075

2. In Other News

Two Years for One Joint: Flash Movie
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124076

Oregon Supreme Court OKs Firing of Medical Marijuana Patient
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124077

D.A. Advocates Reform at Vancouver Conference
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124078

3. Announcements

Four Job Opportunities at DPA
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124079

4. Highlight

Steroids Seminar - Audio Recording and More
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124080

5. Recent additions to Drugpolicy.org

6. Events

_____________________________________________________________________
F E A T U R E D C O N T E N T

ACTION ALERT: CUT THOSE STUPID TV ADS!

Are you tired of your tax money being used to pay for those stupid anti-marijuana commercials?
The ones that compare marijuana smokers to terrorists and claim marijuana will make you crazy,
get you raped, cause you to shoot your neighbor and give you bird flu? Ok, we made that last one
up. But, doesn't it sound like something the government would say?

You can help us take those stupid commercials off the air by taking action now:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124083 .

As you may know, five government studies (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124084 ) have found that the ads have not
reduced marijuana use - and two of the studies found that the ads might make some teenagers more
likely to start using marijuana. Now, a new study (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124085 ) by two researchers at Texas
State University-San Marcos finds that 18- to 19-year-old college students who view the TV ads
develop more positive attitudes towards marijuana than those who do not. This "boomerang" effect
occurs because people tend to rebel against fear-based arguments, factual inaccuracies and
messages that don't conform to their perceptions and experiences.

It's bad enough that the government is wasting your money on stupid anti-marijuana commercials.
It's even worse that these commercials are backfiring. Over the last four years the Alliance has
helped slash the program's annual funding from $180 million to $100 million. With this latest
study we hope to finally convince Congress to kill this counterproductive program.

Please fax your member of Congress:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124083 .

MOVING CLOSER TO REAL ROCKEFELLER REFORM IN NEW YORK

Advocates have fought for years to repeal New York's draconian Rockefeller laws, and DPA has
been at the center of that struggle. In 2004 and 2005, DPA helped to pass the first reforms to
these laws--the initial steps on the path to real reform. New York took another step toward
repealing these terrible laws last week as the Assembly passed a new bill that would further
reform the failed laws.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws, passed in 1973 by then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller, were the first of
their kind in the U.S. They mandated stiff mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug
offenses, putting Gov. Rockefeller squarely in the "tough on crime" camp in preparation for his
presidential run. Since then, the laws have been sending New Yorkers with drug convictions--92
percent of them black and Latino--to prison for long sentences.

On Monday, May 8, the thirty-third anniversary of the passing of the laws, DPA staff, members,
and coalition partners from Real Reform New York held a widely-attended press conference at the
State Capitol to advocate for A.8098 (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124087 ), the new reform bill. DPA member
Cheri O'Donoghue and new DPA communications specialist Tony Papa joined the Speaker of the
Assembly, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee and others speaking to the press and demanding
legislative action.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who has been in the spotlight recently for his
smart comments at Vancouver's International Harm Reduction Association conference (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124078 ), spoke at the Albany press
conference as well. He called for the restoration of judicial discretion and said that the drug
war has failed, paralleling his theme from Vancouver.

The conference room was full of state press, allies, and DPA members and supporters, who cheered
for calls for reform. The Assembly passed the new reform bill on Monday night after the press
conference ( http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124088 ), and the bill now
heads to the Senate.

In addition to advocating for A.8098 as it moves through the legislature, DPA will also be
watching for opportunities to support DA Soares, who has been attacked by the Albany County
political establishment for his comments he made in Vancouver. As an elected official with a
genuine commitment to real reform, Soares should be lauded for his courage in admitting the
failure of the war on drugs.

DPA LAUNCHES NEW JERSEY COMPASSIONATE USE CAMPAIGN

The Drug Policy Alliance's New Jersey office has launched a campaign to support medical
marijuana legislation introduced this month in the state legislature. Though similar legislation
has been introduced in the past, 2006 will be the first time the legislature holds hearings on
the subject.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Services Committee will hold an
information-gathering hearing in early June, and DPA's new Compassionate Use Campaign will
prepare by educating legislators and ensuring that accurate information is avaiable to the
committee. In addition, the Campaign will call on medical marijuana supporters in New Jersey to
express their support for this overdue legislation to their Senators and Assembly members.

The bills, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, and in the Assembly by
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, would allow seriously ill people access to medical marijuana with a
doctor's recommendation. The program would be run by the New Jersey Department of Health and
Senior Services.

If the legislation passes, New Jersey will be the twelfth state to permit the medicinal use of
marijuana. DPA's new Compassionate Use Campaign will work hard to make that happen in 2006.

If you live in New Jersey, please visit our action center to see how you can get involved:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124089 .

_____________________________________________________________________
I N O T H E R N E W S

TWO YEARS FOR ONE JOINT: NEW FLASH MOVIE

A national report earlier this year revealed that drug-free zone laws do not work.

Watch our new video to see how one young man's life was turned upside down by these laws:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124076 .

The laws, which increase penalties for drug-related offenses within certain proximity to
institutions such as schools, are intended to create a safe haven for youth.

In reality, these laws are most often applied to drug transactions for which no children are
present, and they do not deter drug activity within the zones. What's more, they have an
unintended racist impact. Drug-free zones often completely cover many densely populated urban
neighborhoods, where people of color are more likely to live.

Not quite convinced that these laws are bad?

Watch the story of how one 17-year-old boy, Mitchell Lawrence, got a punishment that many in his
community feel does not match his crime - because of drug-free zone laws.

See it now: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124076 .

If you agree that the punishment doesn't fit the crime, take action to support the Lawrence
family ( http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124091 ) and join DPA to help
the larger effort to fight drug-free zone laws (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124092 ).

OREGON SUPREME COURT OKS FIRING OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT

Robert Washburn, an Oregon resident who used medical marijuana to control muscle spasms in his
legs, sued his employer after he was fired for a positive drug test. The Oregon Supreme Court
ruled in the case earlier this month (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124093 ), saying that the company was
allowed to dismiss Washburn because he was not covered by Oregon's statute prohibiting workplace
discrimination against disabled persons.

Washburn used medical marijuana at night to treat muscle spasms that limited his ability to
sleep. He began using medical marijuana after discovering that it was more effective in helping
him sleep than the prescription drugs he previously had taken.

After being dismissed from his job for testing positive for marijuana, Washburn sued his
employer alleging disability-related discrimination. The Oregon Supreme Court found that since
Washburn was able to remedy his sleep disruption through prescription medication, his impairment
did not meet the criteria to qualify him as a "disabled person," and therefore his employer did
not have to accommodate his physical limitation through allowing the use of medical marijuana.

In a concurring opinion, Judge Kistler took the analysis beyond the Oregon statute that
prohibits disability-related discrimination in the workplace, concluding that federal law
preempts state employment discrimination law when it comes to accommodating medical marijuana
use: "The fact that the state may choose to exempt medical marijuana users from the reach of
the state criminal law does not mean that the state can affirmatively require employers to
accommodate what federal law specifically prohibits."

This Washburn decision is troubling for the future of marijuana law reform in the courts. First,
Oregon's high court states that there is a direct conflict between Oregon's disability statute
and federal law, with the latter superseding the former. Second, the court draws a very narrow
definition of what constitutes a disability - a definition which could be adopted by other
states, resulting in restriction of the protections of other medical marijuana laws.

There appears to be at least one silver lining. The majority's opinion is narrowly drafted and
does not say that an employer cannot be required to accommodate off-duty use of medical
marijuana when the employee does qualify as disabled under Oregon's law. So there is likely
room for more seriously disabled or ill persons who benefit from medical marijuana but not
traditional prescription drug therapies to claim employment protections under the state
disability law.

D.A. ADVOCATES REFORM AT VANCOUVER CONFERENCE

New York prosecutor David Soares made waves when he blasted U.S. drug laws in a speech at last
week's International Harm Reduction Association conference in Vancouver, Canada. The Albany
district attorney was warmly received at the conference, but his words raised hackles among law
enforcement officials in his home district.

Soares, who was elected in 2004 on a platform of reforming New York's draconian Rockefeller drug
laws, advised Canada not to follow in the footsteps of U.S. drug policy. He said, "The attempt
to engage in cleaning the streets of Albany one twenty-dollar sale on the street at a time is a
failed policy."

Soares also asserted that criminal justice officials in the U.S. are aware that the current war
on drugs is ineffective, but continue to support it because of the jobs it creates for police,
judges and prosecutors. This sparked a strong negative reaction from the mayor of Albany, the
city police chief, and the county sheriff.

Soares, however, has stood by his statements. Norm Stamper, former chief of police for Seattle
and member of the advisory board of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), also spoke out
in support of Soares. "I spent 34 years as a cop and saw firsthand the damage caused by the war
on drugs, the cost to individual lives, public safety and community health, not to mention the
squandered taxpayer money. We all owe David Soares our respect and admiration for speaking the
truth," Stamper said.

DPA applauded the courage of Soares in speaking up for drug policy reform as well. Gabriel
Sayegh, director of DPA's state organizing and policy project, said, "Albany County and New York
State should be proud to have a district attorney who has the intelligence and vision to demand
effective alternatives to failed drug war policies."

____________________________________________________________________
A N N O U N C E M E N T S

FOUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT DPA

DPA seeks a director of its California Capital office. This position bears primary
responsibility for DPA's California legislative advocacy, supervises a small professional
office, and serves on the DPA management team. In addition, a full-time website developer and a
part-time website assistant are sought in Washington, DC. The candidates will work closely with
communications and project staff to develop, build, provide content for and maintain the
organization's websites, electronic newsletters, podcasts and other online media, as well as
manage constituent relations. DPA also seeks a deputy director for its State Organizing and
Policy project to assist with advocacy in select states. This position is based in New York.
Please see the full postings for more information.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124079

_____________________________________________________________________
H I G H L I G H T

STEROIDS SEMINAR - AUDIO RECORDING AND MORE

Did you miss our recent seminar in New York City featuring nationally acclaimed steroids (
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124097 ) expert Rick Collins? No
worries! We've made a recording of the talk available online at
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124080 , as well as his PowerPoint
presentation at http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124098 . Remember, you
can subscribe to our podcast to get the latest audio recordings available from DPA delivered to
you automatically: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124099 !
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124080

_____________________________________________________________________
R E C E N T A D D I T I O N S T O DRUGPOLICY.ORG

STEROIDS: NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK? O'Keeffe, Michael, The iTeam Blog. May 13, 2006. Around the
time Barry Bonds was taking batting practice Wednesday in San Francisco before the Giants' game
with the Cubs, a Long Island attorney named Rick Collins got up before a small group in Midtown
Manhattan to challenge just about everything most people think about steroids.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124100

DEALING WITH THE ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS: A TALE OF TWO DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. Papa, Anthony,
Counterpunch. May 17, 2006. With the election of DA Soares, the voters in Albany wanted more
than outdated tough-on-crime zealots and chose a man who has chosen to be smart on crime. Now
the voters of Great Barrington will soon have an opportunity to make a choice whether or not to
re-elect David Capeless. If he is defeated, it will be part of a growing trend across the nation
rewarding politicians that are smart on crime.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124101

A PRELIMINARY DTI STUDY SHOWING NO BRAIN STRUCTURAL CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT CANNABIS
USE.
DeLisi, Lynn E, Harm Reduction Journal. May 9, 2006; 3(17). Few studies have examined whether
cannabis has an effect on the developing adolescent brain using up-to-date Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) methods. The authors examine and compare the cerebral atrophy and white matter
integrity of adolescent heavy- and non-users of cannabis, concluding that while differences
exist there was no evidence of brain degradation.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124102
_____________________________________________________________________
E V E N T S

May 26, 2006. Vancouver, BC, Canada. THE DEVASTATION OF PROHIBITION: BEARING WITNESS TO THE
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL HARMS OF THE DRUG WAR. All are invited to hear of the drug war's vast and
destructive consequences and to give voice to personal stories and perspectives regarding
prohibition.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124105

June 4, 2006. New York, NY. THE WILLIAM MOSES KUNSTLER FUND RACIAL JUSTICE AWARDS CEREMONY. Join
DPA's executive director, Ethan Nadelmann, and others in honoring luminaries in the fight to end
racial injustice including Danny Glover, Amy Goodman and Harry Belafonte at the William Moses
Kunstler Fund For Racial Justice, Inc. ten year anniversary celebration.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=124104

August 13-18, 2006. Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), Toronto, Canada. XVI INTERNATIONAL
AIDS CONFERENCE. AIDS 2006 will be one of the most important scientific gatherings in the fight
against AIDS, as well as a unique opportunity for science, government, community and leadership
from around the world to advance our collective response to the epidemic.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4226869&l=123870

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