Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005
Subject: #306 Motivate Rep. Mark Souder

MOTIVATE REP. MARK SOUDER

****************** PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE ************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #306 – Monday, 11 Apr 2005

On Saturday, Apr 9, the Ft Wayne Journal Gazette (IN) ran an excellent
commentary written by a college junior at Cal State Fullerton. Her
target? The horribly misguided ‘drug provision’ in the Higher
Education Act of 1998, which penalizes applicants who have a drug
conviction of any kind in their background.

This column is extra notable because it was carried in the J-G, the
hometown paper for cited U.S. Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN). Souder
was the primary author of this provision, passed over six years ago,
that has since adversely impacted over 160,000 American college-bound
youth.

Author Marisa Garcia accurately notes that Mr. Souder has spoken out
several times in criticism of his own legislation – as passed in 1998
– but he has of yet failed to demonstrate the needed backbone when it
comes to stepping up to the plate and repealing the HEA ‘drug
provision’ from student financial aid applications.

Please consider writing a short, succinct Letter to the Editor to the
Journal-Gazette in support of Ms Garcia’s commentary and in criticism
of Mr. Souder’s staunch inaction in righting this legislative wrong
which he himself admits is a reality. Please include an appeal to Mr.
Souder that he stop dragging his heels and now demonstrate the
political leadership needed to make this repeal possible.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************
CONTACT INFO: [email protected]

You can read the article in full, here: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n578.a11.html

**********************************************************************

If you would like input or ideas on how to compose your letter, feel
welcome to contact MAP’s Media Activism Facilitator, Steve Heath
[email protected]

Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor are
at:

Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath on behalf of SSDP http://www.ssdp.org/
=

Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005
Subject: #305 New York Times Criticizes Medical Cannabis

NEW YORK TIMES CRITICIZES MEDICAL CANNABIS

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #305 – Tuesday, 29 March 2005

Today’s New York Times includes an article titled “Medicinal Marijuana
on Trial” by Dan Hurley. Please read it here:

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n523/a02.html

And it is currently on line at the New York Times website
(registration may be required) here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/health/policy/29mari.html

Readers who have been following medical cannabis issues will have a
hard time calling it fair and balanced. The spin against medical
cannabis is clear, even though a few lines give lip service to the
positive.

We find this website among those useful for research to help respond
to points in the article: http://medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/

The Ottawa Citizen’s senior writer, Dan Gardner, wrote a column ‘How
Science Is Skewed to Fuel Fears of Marijuana’ that covers some of the
issues of the New York Times article. See http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n474/a07.html

Please consider writing a letter to the editor to the New York Times.
Email it to [email protected]

There are many potential ways you could write a LTE. You need not
focus just on the negative spin. You could elaborate on the positive
in the article. Whatever you send, we suggest you keep your letter
short, under 200 words, and focused on only one or two points.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************

Additional suggestions for writing LTEs are at our Media Activism Center:

http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

Or contact MAP Media Activism Facilitator Steve Heath for personal
tips on how to write LTEs that get printed.

[email protected]

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP Media Activism Facilitator

=

Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005
Subject: #304 The Lone Ranger Rides Again

THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #304 – Saturday, 19 March 2005

Just over two weeks ago, the Media Director and Advisory Board member
for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) – Howard Wooldridge –
began his historic cross country horse ride promoting an end to 21st
century Prohibition.

This year’s ride, dubbed “The Lone Ranger Rides Again”, will take
Wooldridge from the west coast of the United States all the way to the
east, ending in New York City. Along the way, Howard will meet with
Americans in cities and towns with a focus on speaking to civic
groups, church groups and educational organizations.

He will be conducting media interviews along the route with radio, TV
and print journalists.

With the help of volunteer newshawks, the press coverage will be
posted to MAP. If you become aware of a printed article, but are not
sure how to newshawk it, please contact: [email protected]

One front page article, linked below, was printed March 18th in the
Edmond Sun. Reporter Alice Collinsworth attended some of Howard’s
speaking events. She was introduced to Howard by friends of both LEAP
and MAP.

We are calling on the many Friends of LEAP across North America to
send a letter to the editor of the Edmond Sun in response to this
prominent article.

Howard delivers his message so well that your LTE need not be
lengthy.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************

The article, Two Sides of the Same Coin, can be seen
here:

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n468/a03.html

Read About Howard’s Ride http://leap.cc/howard/

Other news clippings about Howard are at:

http://www.mapinc.org/people/Howard+Wooldridge

**********************************************************************

Additional suggestions for writing LTEs are at our Media Activism Center:

http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

Or contact MAP Media Activism Facilitator Steve Heath for personal
tips on how to write LTEs that get printed.

[email protected]

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP Media Activism Facilitator

=

Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005
Subject: #303 How To Increase Reform Media Coverage

HOW TO INCREASE REFORM MEDIA COVERAGE

**********************************************************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #303 – Saturday, 12 March 2005

Over the past five weeks, dozens of drug policy reform leaders and
activists have spent time in the new DrugSense/MAP Virtual Conference
Room.

The easy to download and install FREE Paltalk Messenger software
program brings like-minded people together Talking and Listening over
the internet.

As part of our Media Activism Project, DrugSense is renting a place on
the web which allows up to 25 people to gather and discuss drug policy
reform — our DrugSense/MAP Virtual Conference Room. This premium,
web-based room allows visitors to not only type messages but also talk
to each other using microphones! The premium rooms are of the type
used by businesses for teleconferencing.

Yes, your computer, if made in the last two decades, should support
teleconferencing.

The Virtual Conference Room is private and monitored. If you don’t
have the password for a session you don’t get in.

During our initial kickoff of meetings activists from 17 different
states and five different countries have joined for roundtable
discussions on how to better harmonize our many mutual efforts at
reforming failed and flawed public drug policies.

Additionally, MAP’s Media Activism project has conducted 13
personalized training sessions teaching activists how to increase
their drug policy reform related media coverage.

The curriculum has included the following:

How to Write Letters to the Editor That Get Printed

How to Newshawk Drug News Clippings for the MAP Archive

How to Write and Send Press Releases That Work

Upcoming sessions will continue to deliver these topics as well as new
topics:

How to Increase Drug Policy Reform Related News Stories and Opinion
Items in Your Local Media

How to Hold Press Conferences

How to Obtain Guest Spots on Talk Radio

How to Prepare for Radio and TV Appearances

Tools for Contacting the Media

We are open to suggestions for new MAP Virtual Conference Room session
topics.

The room has been and will be used by organizations and state groups
of activists who want an easy way for their members to all meet at the
same time in one place with both voice and text communication.

Already there are some organizations are considering obtaining their
own Paltalk Messenger premium teleconferencing rooms.

IF YOU or your organization would like to join us in this cutting edge
method of communication, please see the links below.

We look forward to meeting you and working together to bring activists
from different states, countries and organizations together —
working to improve our presence in the media in order to influence
public opinion.

Finally, we know there is a wide range of teleconferencing software
and options available from many other sources. The webmastering team
and other key leaders at DrugSense — spread out over two countries —
have been testing and using various teleconferencing options for years
— including having teleconferencing options demonstrated for us that
cost more per hour than our conference room costs in a month. We are
not endorsing this commercial product — rather we are using what has
worked best for us.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************

The DrugSense/MAP Virtual Conference Room – How To Participate:

http://mapinc.org/resource/paltalk.htm

Schedule of Online Conferences and Activist Training Sessions:

http://www.mapinc.org/onair

Requests for Personal or Organizational Training or Private Meetings:

[email protected]

The MAP Media Activism Page:

http://www.mapinc.org/resource

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP’s Media Activism Facilitator

=

Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005
Subject: #302 Will We See You At A Conference?

WILL WE SEE YOU AT A CONFERENCE?

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #302 – Wednesday, March 2, 2005

As an internet based organization DrugSense folks – the volunteers and
activists who make us what we are – seldom meet unless it is at a
conference. This year there are two superb conferences. We hope to see
you at one, if not both.

Below is a message from Keith Stroup about the NORML conference as
well as an agenda.

The second conference is:

The 2005 International Drug Policy Reform Conference “Building a
Movement for Reason, Compassion and Justice”

November 10, 11, & 12, 2005, Beginning with a reception on the evening
of November 9. Westin Hotel, Long Beach, California

More details on this conference will be available in the months ahead.
We have been told that there will be a limited number of scholarships
available. The web link about this conference is http://drugpolicy.org/events/dpa2005/

**********************************************************************

2005 NORML Conference: Register now … rooms going fast!

Dear NORML Supporter,

Hurry up! Do not delay in booking your room and pre-registering for
the 2005 NORML conference in San Francisco, March 31 – April 2, 2005.
NORML’s staff informs me that we’ve already sold 150% of the
organization’s allotted discounted room block at the Cathedral Hill
Hotel.

If you don’t want to miss out staying at the conference hotel, call
1-800-622-0855 (use the code: ‘NORML’). We’ve still got great nightly
deals on hotel rooms in downtown San Francisco at $99/standard and
$109/deluxe!

To learn more about NORML’s 2005 conference, checkout:
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6437

What can you expect at NORML 2005?

The wider world knows Rick Steves as one of America’s most successful
travel authors and a popular TV show host. This year’s NORML
conference keynote speaker aptly serves as NORML’s world ambassador,
passionately advocating for a sane cannabis policy encompassing legal
and responsible adult use. Rick is a generous, funny, famous and
deeply moving speaker. I’m so very glad that he’s accepted the
director’s invitation to speak at NORML 2005.

Expect speakers such as: NORML’s new executive director Allen St.
Pierre, Drug Policy Alliance’s Drs. Ethan Nadelmann and Marsha
Rosenbaum, medical marijuana activists Angel Reich and Diane Monson
(the ‘dynamic duo’ whose pending US Supreme Court decision in their
landmark case has the marijuana law reform movement waiting on pins
and needles); also featured at NORML 2005 are numerous and informative
panels for cannabis consumers highlighting physicians, lawyers,
medical and health researchers, representatives from medical marijuana
dispensaries, cultivation experts, young and seasoned activists, High
Times Magazine editors and members of NORML’s staff and national board
of directors.

Over two dozen drug policy reform organizations are represented,
including: Drug Policy Alliance, Canada NORML, Efficacy, Americans for
Safe Access, Vancouver Island Compassionate Club, Marijuana Policy
Project, MAPinc, DrugSense, ReConsiDer, Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, CHEAR, DRCNet and many others.

Since 1972, NORML’s annual conferences have become THE central place
for the marijuana law reform movement to meet, build community and
strategize on the ways and means to successfully bring an end to
marijuana prohibition.

Pre-register online for the conference by visiting:
https://secure.norml.org/conference/

Also, you can call 202-483-5500 and register over the
phone.

I look forward to seeing many old friends and making new acquaintances
at NORML 2005 in San Francisco(one of America’s most cannabis friendly
cities.

Regards,

R. Keith Stroup, Esq. Of Counsel (and NORML founder)

p.s. The entire NORML staff just booked flights from the Washington,
DC-area to San Francisco for under $200/person. Very affordable
flights still remain into San Francisco and Oakland from all over the
US and Canada.

If you’re driving to the NORML conference from CA, WA, OR, NV or from
wherever, and staying at the Cathedral Hill Hotel, parking is free.
Bonus!

**********************************************************************

NORML Conference Agenda as of 2 March from http://www.norml.com/index.cfm?Group_ID=6440

Wednesday, March 30

6:00 – 8:00pm Early Conference Registration and Happy
Hour

Thursday, March 31 First Day

9:00-9:90am Welcome – Steve Dillon, Esq., Chair, NORML board of
directors

9:20-9:40am Cannabis Convocation – Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, NORML

9:40-11:00am 2004 Pro-Cannabis Initiatives: The Review

Alaska (TBA)

Oregon/Lee Berger, Esq.

Montana (TBA)

Massachusetts/Steve Epstein, Esq.

Columbia, MO – Med Mj. Initiative/Sterling Neeb – Decrim. Initiative/Dan
Viets, Esq.

Detroit and Ann Arbor, MI/Timothy Beck

Oakland – Judy Appel, Esq.

Moderator: Dominic Holden, WA NORML/ Sensible Seattle

11:15-1:00pm Drug Policy Reform: Taking it directly to the people

Jack Cole, LEAP

Roger Goodman, Esq., Voluntary Lawyer Comm.

Nick Eyle, ReConsider

Mikki Norris, Cannabis Consumer Campaign

Keith Saunders, Ph.D, MassCANN/NORML

Moderator: Clifford Thornton, Efficacy/ NORML national board of directors

2:00-2:30pm Teens and Drugs: Reports from the Field

Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Deputy Director, Drug Policy Alliance

2:30-4:00pm Cannabis Prohibition Victims: Recent, Current and Prospective

Diane Munson, Raich/Munson v. Ashcroft)

Valerie Leveroni Corral, WAMM, national NORML board of
directors

Angel Raich, Raich/Munson v. Ashcroft

Brian Epis

Todd McCormick

Marissa Garcia

Moderator: Steph Sherer, Executive Director, Americans for Safe Access

4:00-6:00pm Breakout Sessions

Student Activism: Stoking the Reefer Revolution

Christopher Mulligan, CHEAR/national NORML board of
directors

Scarlett Swerdlow, SSDP

Abby Bair, SSDP

Josh Manning, Univ. of FL NORML

Matt Jones, Univ. of FL NORML

Moderator: Kris Krane, Associate Director, NORML

Police Tactics: Don’t Become a Statistic

Anthony Feldstein, Esq.

Omar Figaroa, Esq.

Peter Vilkelis, Esq.

Vaporizers & FDA Research: The Future of ‘Smoking’ Cannabis

Rick Doblin, Ph.D, MAPS

Moderator: Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, Director CA NORML

6:30-9:00pm NORML/High Times Annual Art Auction and Activist
Awards

Friday, April 1 Second Day

9:00-9:45am Challenges and Opportunities in Drug Policy Reform – Ethan
Nadelmann, Ph.D Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance

9:45-11:00am In the Cross Hair: Medi-pot Docs

Tod Mikuriya, M.D.

Frank Lucido, M.D.

David Bearman, M.D.

Mollie Fry, M.D.

Claudia Jensen, M.D.

David Hadorn, M.D.

Phil Denny, M.D.

Moderator: Fred Gardner, California Medical Marijuana Research Group

11:15-1:00pm Marijuana and Good Health: Who Knew?

Robert Malamede, Ph.D, University of CO

Donald Abrams, MD, University of CA, SF

Mitch Earlywine, Ph.D, USC

Greg Carter, M.D.,University of Washington

Moderator: Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, Director CA NORML national board of directors

1:00-2:30pm Luncheon and Keynote Speaker:

Rick Steves, Best selling travel author, TV show host and NORML
Advisory Board member

2:30-3:15pm Cannabis Arrest Report and Use Analysis

Jon Gettman, Ph.D. Former NORML Director; Fellow, George Mason Univ.

3:15-4:00pm High Times’ History of The ‘Bud’ Shot: A Pictorial and Cultural
Anthology

Steve Bloom, Senior Editor

Richard Cusick, Senior Editor

David Bienstock, Senior Editor

4:00-6:00pm Breakout Sessions

Cannabis Cultivation: The How, Why and for What

Kyle Kushman, High Times

Moderator: Chris Conrad, ChrisConrad.com

Medical Marijuana: State of the Law From the Pros

William McPike, Esq.

Lee Berger, Esq.

David Michaels, Esq.

Moderator: William Panzer, Esq.

Hemp: A Fruitful or Frightful Future?

Eric Steenstra, Votehemp.com

Jack Herer, The Emperor of Hemp

Moderator: David Bronner, Dr. Bronner’s Soaps, HIA

8:00-10:00pm Cannabis-oriented Entertainment

Saturday, April 2 Third Day

9:00-10:00am Registration Desk Open and NORML Product
Sales

10:00-11:15am Drugged Driving Tests: The Science and Policies What You Need
to Know-Right Now!

Dale Gieringer, Ph.D, CA NORML

Ed Orlett, Drug Policy Alliance of Ohio

Caren Woodson, Drug Policy Alliance

Moderator: Paul Armentano, Senior Policy Analyst, NORML

11:15-12:00pm Drug Policy: Then and Now

Arnold Trebach. Ph.D Founder of the Drug Policy Foundation, Trebach
Institute

12:15-2:00pm Oh Canada! Separating Myth From Reality

Richard Cowan, marijuananews.com

Moderator: Phillipe Lucas, VICS, Canada NORML

3:00-4:15pm Lessons Learned: Cannabis Prohibition and Censorship

Michael Gray, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Michael Aldrich, Ph.D

Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D, Deputy Director, Drug Policy Alliance

Debby Goldsberry

Mikki Norris, Cannabis Consumer Campaign

Moderator: Keith Saunders, Ph.D, MassCANN/NORML

4:15-6:00pm The Future is Now: Growing Grassroots Online

Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director, NORML

Dave Borden, Executive Director, DRCNet

Steven Heath, MAPinc

Matt Elrod, MAPinc

Moderator: Richard Cowan, former NORML Director, marijuananews.com

8:00-??? $75/person private benefit for NORML and the NORML
Foundation

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath http://www.mapinc.org/resource/maf_bio.htm

=

Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005
Subject: #301 Educate Illinois Media About Medical Marijuana

EDUCATE ILLINOIS MEDIA ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #301 – Sunday, 20 Feb 2005

In a whirlwind series of events, including two excellent OPEDs in
major Chicago newspapers, the state of Illinois finds itself immersed
in a public discussion about legalizing marijuana for qualified
medical use.

In the Illinois state legislature, Rep. Larry McKeon introduced a bill
which would legalize use for a short list of medical conditions.

Though both were too cowardly to debate the topic in a public forum
with supporters of the bill, Dr. Andrea Barthwell, a now retired ONDCP
Deputy Chief, and her former boss Drug Czar John Walters each did
their part. They worked to insure medical patients who elect to use
cannabis with a doctor’s guidance will continue to be arrested and
criminally prosecuted. Barthwell toured the state speaking to
audiences reported to average about a dozen per showing, while Walters
enjoyed a more visible platform when testifying Thursday at the
committee hearings in Springfield.

Following testimonies from both supporters and detractors of the bill,
including Czar Walters, the 11-person committee voted 4-7 in favor of
the bill. Two Democrats who had been expected to vote for the bill –
Michelle Chavez of Cicero and – Naomi Jakobsson of Champaign – were
influenced by the scurrilous testimony of Czar Walters.

It appears that many newspapers in Illinois understand the truth of
what has played out in their state over the past two weeks. The
Chicago Sun Times and The Chicago Tribune had earlier endorsed such
legislation and they were joined with OPEDs by Rep. McKeon and Montel
Williams.

Please consider writing a short, succinct Letter to the Editor to the
newspapers linked below. Let them know your feelings about the need
to end the criminal prohibition laws against responsible medical
marijuana use.

These links will show you the articles and opinion items we are aware
of:

http://www.mapinc.org/people/Larry+McKeon

http://www.mapinc.org/people/Irvin+Rosenfeld

http://www.mapinc.org/states/il/ (Illinois)

Additional articles or opinion items on this issue may show up at the
links in over the next few days.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************

Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor are
at:

Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath http://www.mapinc.org/resource/maf_bio.htm

=

Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005
Subject: #300 Supreme Court Gives Drug Dogs Free Rein

SUPREME COURT GIVES DRUG DOGS FREE REIN

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #300 – Tuesday, 1 Feb 2005

Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States issued their ruling
in Illinois v Caballes. Roy Caballes was arrested on charges of
marijuana possession after a search of his vehicle which was initiated
by the ‘positive’ alert of a drug dog who had circled his car and
sniffed for illegal drugs. As Caballes was at the time involved in a
routine traffic stop, he contended that the use of the dog was an
unreasonable search of his person and vehicle. In 2003, the Illinois
Supreme Court agreed with him and ruled the search
unconstitutional.

However, on Jan 24 this year, the SCOTUS overruled with a 6-2 vote.
Their ruling means that in making a routine traffic stop, the police
can permit a trained dog to sniff the car for drugs without the need
for any particular reason to suspect the driver of a narcotics violation.

This has produced two responses in the newspaper coverage of the past
week. The first is a host of editorial boards criticizing and
denouncing the reasoning applied by the majority judges. The second
is a number of police agencies making public comments in support of
the ruling.

Please consider writing a Letter to the Editor to the newspapers
listed below. Consider expressing your agreement with those
newspapers who have spoken out against the rationale for the ruling.
Also consider expressing your disagreement with those police agencies
and other law enforcement officials who applaud the ruling.

Nothing in the past 35 years has eroded more basic personal privacy
and civil liberties than drug-war induced court rulings like this one.
Adding our voices to the already published opinions and commentary
help deliver a message that an increasing number of Americans are fed
up with the damage drug-prohibition policies are doing to our freedom
and to our communities.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

**********************************************************************

The ruling by the SCOTUS can be seen here: The 27 page decision is on
line here http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/04pdf/03-923.pdf
(PDF Reader required)

An initial news report of the SCOTUS ruling ran in the NY Times on Jan
25. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n140/a08.html

EDITORIALS commenting on the ruling include

Tribune Review, Pittsburgh PA http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n160/a07.html

Burlington Times-News (NC) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n187/a03.html

The Payson Roundup (AZ) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n160/a06.html

Kansas City Star (MO) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n150/a11.html

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (WI) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n150/a08.html

NEWS ARTICLES reporting police applause for the ruling
include

Macon Telegraph (GA) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n148/a10.html

Arizona Republic (AZ) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n162/a01.html

Marion Daily Republican (IL) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n177/a08.html

Peoria Journal-Star (IL) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n174/a05.html

Please Check This Link for Additional News Clipping Targets for Your
Letters http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Caballes

**********************************************************************

Did you know that MAP offers free online and personal training on how
to write Letters to the Editor that get printed?

Please visit http://www.mapinc.org/resource/maf.htm and contact Steve
Heath, our Media Activism Facilitator.

Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor can be seen
at the same link by clicking LTE Writers’ Resources.

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP Media Activism Facilitator
[email protected]

Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2005
Subject: #299 Supreme Court Rules On Sentencing Guidelines

SUPREME COURT RULES ON SENTENCING GUIDELINES

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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #299 – Mon, 17 Jan 2005

Last week’s pair of decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court on federal
sentencing brought a welcome ruling and also create concerns that
Congress will rewrite the sentencing guidelines in an even more harsh
manner.

The first decision ruled appropriately that federal sentencing
guidelines violate the right to a jury trial. Prosecutors routinely
raised various peripheral issues – not heard by the jury – that unduly
increased the length of a sentence.

The second decision changed the way federal judges determine
sentences, ruling they no longer are required to follow sentencing
guidelines – in fact mandatory rules written by a sentencing
commission – that have been in place for two decades. The court found
the sentencing guidelines unconstitutional because judges factored
them into the calculation after conviction – a violation of the Sixth
Amendment.

Prior to the ruling, 97% of federal defendants pled guilty – as a
result of a plea bargain – to reduced charges in order to avoid a jury
trial which could result in a much longer sentence. Thus federal
prosecutors made the decisions that led to the length of sentence –
which the judge followed using the so-called guidelines, as required.

We doubt that there are many United States daily newspapers that have
not provided news coverage of the decision. Many have, or will, carry
editorial page content on the decision. Thus letters to the editor of
your local papers, as well as those shown as having clippings in the
MAP archive, are appropriate.

Either the links http://www.mapinc.org/topics/federal+sentencing or
http://www.mapinc.org/topics/sentencing+guidelines will bring up a
list of potential targets for your letters. Because editorial page
content makes superb targets for your letters, we have created a list
linking to much of that content to date, below.

A blog written by Nora Callahan, executive director of the November
Coalition has ideas for your letter writing efforts. Start at
http://november.org/blog/index.php/20050113 and move forward thru the
blog using the calendar on the upper right of the page.

The Drug Policy Alliance wrote “The Court’s decision now opens the
door for Congress to address the issue of harsh federal sentences. But
there’s no telling what Congress might do with this opportunity. In
fact, we already know that some in Congress will take the Supreme
Court decision as an opportunity to increase prison sentences for
nonviolent drug offenders.” Please visit this page for more
information – and actions you may take: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/011205sentencing.cfm

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

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Links to Editorial Page Clippings

Published Thursday, January 13th

US IL: Editorial: High Court Tweaks Rules in the Interest of Fairness

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n085/a06.html

US NM: OPED: A Just Plea

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n076/a02.html

Published Friday, January 14th

US DC: Editorial: The Court on Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n075/a11.html

US NY: Editorial: Letting Judges Pass Judgment

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n091/a05.html

US MA: Editorial: Judicious Leeway

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n075/a10.html

US NY: Editorial: High Court’s Gift to Judges

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n075/a05.html

US MD: Editorial: Sentencing Sanity

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n085/a05.html

US NY: Editorial: Justice Pendulum Swings

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n092/a04.html

US TX: Editorial: Supreme Court’s Sensible Changes to Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n092/a03.html

US ME: Editorial: Supreme Court Ruling Better for Justice

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n085.a02.html

US OR: Editorial: A Better Way to Set Prison Time

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n083/a10.html

US MO: Editorial: Court’s Decisions Tilt Toward Justice

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n082/a01.html

US CO: Editorial: Elbow Room for U.S. Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n075/a07.html

US MN: Column: Court Deepens Sentencing Doubts

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n092/a02.html

Published Saturday, January 15th

US VT: Editorial: Sensible Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n083/a12.html

US PA: Editorial: Federal Sentencing Guidelines Give High Court’s Ruling a
Chance

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n084/a03.html

US MI: Editorial: Let Judges Be Judges

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n085/a07.html

US IA: Editorial: Allow Federal Judges Discretion in Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n082/a04.html

US KY: Editorial: Rethinking Sentences

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n082/a03.html

US FL: Editorial: More Discretion for Judges

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n083/a11.html

Published Sunday, January 16th

US IL: Editorial: A Verdict on Sentencing

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n093/a04.html

US WI: Editorial: Remedying an Injustice

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n093/a03.html

US PA: Editorial: Sentencing Guidelines: Restoring the 6th

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n085/a04.html

US GA: Editorial: Mandatory Sentencing Rejection a Wise Ruling

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n093/a07.html

US CA: Column: When Congress Plays Judge

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n089.a10.html

Published Monday, January 17th

US UT: Editorial: Checks and Balances

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n094.a14.html

US WA: Editorial: Judicial Discretion

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n094.a01.html

US RI: Editorial: Judges and Juries

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n094.a13.html

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Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor are
at:

Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

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PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

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Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP’s Media Activism Facilitator

= Please help us help reform. Send drug-related news to
[email protected]

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005
Subject: #298 White House Illegal Propaganda About Drugs

WHITE HOUSE ILLEGAL PROPAGANDA ABOUT DRUGS

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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #298 – Monday, 10 Jan 2005

This past Thursday, the Government Accountability Office cited the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Bush
administration for distributing phony prepackaged news reports that
constituted illegal “covert propaganda.”

This is the second finding by the GAO against the White House in the
past eight months. In May, the GAO concluded that the Department of
Health and Human Services violated two federal laws with similar fake
news reports touting the administration’s new Medicare drug benefit.

The U.S. federal government spends over $20 billion dollars a year on
the War on Drugs. With that much of an investment, our federal leaders
owe us honest and accurate information about drugs, drug use patterns
and the best public responses to both. That can be accomplished
without the ONDCP having to prepackage their own in-house faux news
stories and persuading television news organizations to present them
as news, without indicating the source.

Please consider writing a short, succinct Letter to the Editor to the
newspapers listed below.

Additional articles or opinion items on this issue may show up at this
link in over the next few days http://www.mapinc.org/topics/propaganda

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

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Please click the following links for the articles and editorials we
are aware of at the time this alert is being written:

Articles:

Washington Post, Friday, 7 Jan

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n029/a02.html

New York Times, Friday, 7 Jan

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n030/a02.html

Boston Globe, Friday, 7 Jan

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n044.a08.html

Editorials:

Courier-Journal (KY), Saturday, 8 Jan

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n049.a01.html

Asheville Citizen-Times (NC), Saturday, 8 Jan

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n039.a02.html

**********************************************************************

Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor are
at:

Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

**********************************************************************

PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER

Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent
letter list ([email protected]) if you are subscribed, or by
E-mailing a copy directly to [email protected] if you are not
subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others
can learn from your efforts.

Subscribing to the Sent LTE list ([email protected]) will help you to
review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or
approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing
efforts.

To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see

http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: Stephen Heath, MAP’s Media Activism Facilitator

= Please help us help reform. Send drug-related news to
[email protected]