Import Temp

Advocates Hail Today

Patients

NEW MEXICO--Today marks the one-year anniversary of the start date of New Mexico's landmark medical cannabis law, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has certified 160 patients with identification cards, affording them the right to protection under state law from prosecution for possessing small amounts of medical cannabis.

Reena Szczepanski at (505) 699-0798 or Julie Roberts at (505) 983-3277

Advocates Launch Historic Drive to Register Eligible Alabama Voters, Including Those Convicted of Felony Drug Possession

Families, Formerly Incarcerated People, Religious Leaders, Treatment and Sentencing Experts Declare: Don

In Alabama, nearly 250,000 people have been stripped their voting rights due to a felony conviction. But in a 2006 court ruling in Alabama, a judge found that only those persons convicted of felonies of "moral turpitude" lose their right to vote.

Ken Glasgow at 334-791-2433 or gabriel sayegh at 646-335-2264

Drug-Free Zone Reform Legislation Passed by New Jersey Assembly

Trenton, NJ--Yesterday, the New Jersey Assembly passed compromise legislation to reform the state's unfair and ineffective drug-free zone law. The bill, A2762, sponsored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson (D-Bergen) would give judges the discretion not to impose a mandatory minimum sentence under certain circumstances for drug-free zone offenses. The legislation is a compromise introduced to replace an earlier bill that would have reduced the size of the zones to 200 feet.

Tony Newman at 646-335-5384 or Roseanne Scotti at 609-610-8243

Art World and Drug Policy Reform Movement Forge Groundbreaking Partnership at Cheim & Read Gallery

September 3rd Art Auction and Reception to Benefit the Drug Policy Alliance, Honor Donald Baechler, Dr. Mathilde Krim and Fred Tomaselli
Major Artists Andres Serrano, Donald Baechler, Louise Lawler and Many More Donate Work

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) will host re:FORM, an art auction and cocktail party benefit at Cheim & Read gallery in New York on Wednesday, September 3. The re:FORM art auction will benefit DPA, the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to the drug war that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

This represents the second installment in a groundbreaking partnership between the art world and the drug policy reform movement, following the first successful event in 2005.

Tony Papa at 646-420-7290 or Tony Newman at 646-335-5384

Groundbreaking Report

Report Finds that Costs of Incarceration Far Exceed Previous Estimates, Increases State Budget Deficit and Wastes Taxpayer Money
Advocates Launch

Trenton-A groundbreaking new report, "Wasting Money, Wasting Lives: Calculating the Hidden Costs of Incarceration in New Jersey" was released today at a statehouse press conference featuring Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) and Roseanne Scotti, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey. The report was commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance and authored by Professors Meredith Kleykamp and Jake Rosenfeld, and Roseanne Scotti.

Tony Newman at 646-335-5384 or Roseanne Scotti at 609-610-8243

White House Pushes Controversial Student Drug Testing Agenda at Washington, D.C. Summit on June 4

Largest Study, Leading Health Groups Call Random, Suspicionless Drug Testing Harmful and Ineffective

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is conducting a series of regional summits designed to convince local educators to start drug testing students -- randomly and without cause. This policy is unsupported by the available science and opposed by leading experts in adolescent health, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association, the Association of Addiction Professionals and the National Association of Social Workers.

Jennifer Kern at (415) 373-7694 or Naomi Long at (202) 669-6071

Wednesday, June 18th: House Judiciary Committee to Renew Controversial Drug Enforcement Grant Program Linked to Racial Disparities, Police Corruption and Civil Rights Abuses

Twenty Civil Rights and Criminal Justice Reform Groups Urge Congress Not to Renew Byrne Grant Program without Reforming It
Renewal of Program without Reform a Slap in the Face to Victims of Tulia and Hearne, TX Scandals

Last week the U.S. House Crime Subcommittee voted to renew the controversial but politically popular Byrne Justice Assistance grant program without debate or amendment. The House Judiciary Committee is set to take up the issue tomorrow, Wednesday June 18th. The Senate has already passed legislation renewing the program, which has been linked to racial disparities, police corruption and civil rights abuses. Twenty civil rights and criminal justice reform groups released a letter today urging the House Judiciary Committee not to renew the program without first reforming it.

Tony Newman at (646)335-5384 or Bill Piper at (202) 669-6430

New CASA Report Parrots the ONDCP with More

Report Misrepresents Facts with Age-old Marijuana Hysteria and Scare Tactics

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) released a misleading report today that parrots the ONDCP's "reefer madness." The report relies on hysterical headlines and ignores the real story behind the numbers.

The report makes the vague claim that the marijuana of today is "not your parent's pot." CASA warns that marijuana potency is up 175 percent. The report also purports a 492 percent increase in teen treatment admissions for marijuana abuse or dependence.

Tony Newman at (646)335-5384

Thursday: Senate Judiciary to Vote on Obama

Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance Releases Statement

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Thursday on President Obama's drug czar nominee, Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

What: Senate Judiciary Committee's Vote on President Obama's Drug Czar Nominee
When: Thursday, April 23rd; 10:00AM EST

Tony Newman at (646) 335-5384 or Bill Piper at (202) 669-6430
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