STOP RAVE ACT II

Your Right to Dance Is Under Attack - Again!

Take Action at: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/acti ... item=11060

Earlier this year, backdoor politics led to the passage of the RAVE Act, a law that makes it easier for law enforcement to arrest event holders for the drug offenses of their patrons. Now, Congress is at it again. Under the Ecstasy Awareness Act live entertainment will receive another threatening blow. Your rights are in danger, take action now!!

Already the RAVE Act has been used to intimidate promoters of festivals and political fundraisers into calling off their events. Like the RAVE Act, the Ecstasy Awareness Act, could effectively ban live music and dancing while throwing innocent people like you in jail. In light of the fact that drug use is a probable occurrence at any musical event, HR 2962 opens the door for any concert promoter, event organizer, or nightclub owner to be fined and jailed. It doesn’t matter if they tried to prevent people from using drugs. Nor does it matter if the vast majority of people attending the event are law-abiding citizens that want to listen to music and not do drugs.

The Ecstasy Awareness Act of 2003 is another dangerous piece of legislation that could prevent you from seeing your favorite band or DJ live! It is vital that voters contact their Representatives and tell them not to co-sponsor this bill.

Actions to Take:

** Fax your Representative today. To find our more go to
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/acti ... item=11060 .

** Forward this alert to your friends, family, and co-workers.

For more information on this bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and under "bill number" search for HR2962.

HELP UNSHACKLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOW

Take Action: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/acti ... item=11290

One of the drug warriors' favorite arguments against state medical marijuana laws and initiatives is that the medical use of marijuana has not been approved by the FDA and that more scientific research must be conducted. What they don't say is that marijuana is treated differently than all other drugs.

The federal government, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), retains a monopoly on the supply of marijuana that can be used in FDA-approved research and has twice refuse to supply it to privately-funded FDA-approved studies. Over two years ago the Medicinal Plant Program at UMass Amherst applied for a license to produce marijuana for research purposes only to be given the run around by the DEA. Finally, in July this year the DEA officially announced the program's application. A decision is expected shortly after the end of the public comment period on September 22, 2003.

The DEA has indicated that it probably won't approve the application so we have to act now to stop the cycle keeping medical marijuana from sick and dying patients.

Fax Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy, urging her to recommend that the DEA approve the UMass license: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/acti ... item=11290.

As a doctor and senior member of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Barthwell holds authority over this issue. Through news articles she has become a vocal part of the Drug Czar's campaign against medical marijuana. Her most recent article explicitly says that "If a substance has the proven capacity to serve a medical purpose, then it will be accepted." Yet, Dr Barthwell, along with the Drug Czar, continues to support the governmental stranglehold on marijuana production hindering such research. See Dr Barthwell's article here: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/new ... 62203.html

NIDA produces only low-potency material with stems included meaning that patients have to inhale more smoke to get any of the beneficial effects, decreasing the chance FDA will approve it. The UMass team wants to produce a small quantity of high-potency marijuana. As long as NIDA retains its monopoly on the supply of marijuana that can be used in research, no rational sponsor will invest money in the research required to get marijuana approved as a medicine. Your help is needed to break the government's monopoly on the supply of marijuana in order to unshackle medical marijuana research.

Fax Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy, urging her to recommend that the DEA approve the UMass license: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/acti ... item=11290.

done, who's next?

Can you say neocon?
How much more restriction will we endure? This is all in the realm of losing yet another civil liberty. When will it end?

Tell all your friends. We gotta stop these pigs.