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Dear friends, Most LEAP members are asking for tasks they can accomplish to help achieve our goal. Here is one that will only take a few minutes and will have tremendous impact on our legislators and other politicians. Copied below is a message we hope you will send out to every local and national politician you care about to see how they respond to your concerns about the war on drugs. A LEAP member recently sent out a similar set of email messages and was amazed by the responses he received! Please copy and paste the following message, fill in the politician’s name and your own contact information at the bottom, and send it via E or snail-mail to every candidate you are considering supporting on Election Day. This is our chance to make LEAP known to many politicians at a time when they are likely to reply to you. Please include [email protected] as a bcc on any messages you send so we can learn how many politicians we are contacting. Thank you! Dear (Politician): Before I cast my vote in the upcoming contest for your election, I must first pose a question to you: Do you support and agree with the following statements and principles, based on the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) http://www.leap.cc: After nearly four decades of fueling the U.S. policy of a war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars and 39 million arrests for nonviolent drug offenses, our confined population has quadrupled, making building prisons the fastest-growing industry in the United States. More than 2.3 million of our citizens are currently incarcerated, and every year we arrest an additional 1.9 million more, paralyzing our prison and court systems. Every year we choose to continue this war costs U.S. taxpayers another 70 billion dollars. Yet, despite all the lives destroyed and money wasted, illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and far easier for our children to access than they were 38 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists grow richer, bolder, and more heavily armed. This is the very definition of a failed public policy. This is not a war on drugs—it’s a war on people: our children, our parents, ourselves. The first thing we must do is admit that most of the deaths, diseases, crimes, and addictions attributed to drug use are actually caused by drug prohibition. Prohibition has paradoxically increased the number of people in the US above the age of twelve who use illegal drugs from 4 million (two percent of the 1970 population) to 112 million (46 percent of the 2005 population), according to DEA statistics. In June, 2007, the US Conference of Mayors unanimously called for an end to the war on drugs and for drug abuse to be dealt with as a health issue. Once we adopt that approach, we can stop the horrors associated with prohibition by removing the profit motive generated within the drug culture. How do we do that? We end drug prohibition. We legalize all drugs so we can regulate and control them and keep them out of the hands of our children, who now report that it is easier for them to buy illicit drugs than cigarettes or alcohol. As long as these dangerous drugs are illegal, we relinquish control to the street thugs and international cartels, which have enormous monetary incentives to hook our children. I look forward to your response on this important issue. If I do not hear back from you, I will assume that this issue is not important to you, or that you do not support the principles of LEAP, and I will act accordingly on Election Day. Thank You, Your name Your address Your phone numbers Your email address

Virginia: The Law 'Stinks' "This might not be illegal, but it sure stinks to high heaven," quipped Virginia Republican Party Chairman, Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick on state advocates registering detention center inmates awaiting trial. The Washington Post and Washington Examiner stated that registration forms and absentee ballot information was delivered to the chagrin of the Republican Party which, in turn, blasted county officials. National: Voting Rights Confusion, Education, History Commenting on the confusion behind the various disenfranchisement laws throughout the U.S., Erika Wood of NYU's Brennan Center for Justice stated the need for federal voting rights legislation. "The officials that are in touch with the public and would-be voters are confused and misinformed on the law and not trained on the law and once they tell somebody that they are not eligible to vote that information can obviously spread through the community and have a ripple effect - so there really is just massive confusion and misinformation out there that results in what we call 'de facto disenfranchisement," she was quoted as saying in Alternet. The Associated Press reported that numerous local and national organizations throughout the U.S. are engaged in education on voting rights issues for those with felony convictions. "All we're trying to do is make sure that, if someone is eligible, that they know their rights and that if they want to vote, they can take part," said a Barack Obama campaign spokesperson. "I think there's a lot of misinformation out there. Even people who may have been guilty of a misdemeanor feel like the felony laws apply to them and say they can't vote." Insights, the American Bar Association's magazine, featured an article written by Erika Wood on the history of disenfranchisement dating back to Reconstruction - and the progress that has commenced over the last decade. California: Accessible Resources at Prisons for Families, Inmates A voting rights advocacy group is asking the county supervisor if it can set up a voter's information table outside a prison in Alameda County to urge the visitors to get inmates to register and vote by absentee ballot, the Oakland Tribune reported. The Alameda Sheriff's Office has been instrumental in educating inmates on their voting rights. One employee was quoted as saying that fliers are posted around living quarters reminding inmates to vote and that they can request voter-registration forms directly from the facility. "I think we're doing a great job educating inmates on their voting rights," Sgt. Kevin Ary said. Georgia: Those Yet to be Sentenced Can Vote The Georgia NAACP is tackling the issue of inmate voting and spreading the word that inmates awaiting trial can vote in the upcoming election. "Those who have not been sentenced, those who are not carrying felony convictions, those who have done their time, or who may just be getting out and who are off probation...understand that they have a right to vote," NAACP State President Edward DuBose was quoted as saying by WRDW News 12. "There are people who are in jail right now who have not been convicted, who have not been charged, who are just sitting there. They should have the right to exercise their right to vote." Alabama: Several Voting Rights Suits Challenge Constitution, Political Party, Antiquated Law As Election Day gets closer, inmate voting continues to be a pressing issue in Alabama after the Republican Party asked that inmate voting efforts be halted. One lawsuit has been filed by the ACLU on behalf of three formerly incarcerated individuals who weren't allowed to register to vote; a second suit was filed on behalf of Rev. Kenneth Glasgow's efforts to register inmates awaiting trial, according to the Birmingham News. NYU's Brennan Center for Justice also said last week that it wants to seek records about voter roll purges in Alabama and another dozen states. Huntsville Times columnist David Person revisited the voting rights issue in Alabama which has both state employees and prospective voters confused. The state's list of crimes of moral turpitude has grown from 13 to 400 amidst the Republican Party's request that inmate voting cease, in addition to a lawsuit (in jeopardy of being thrown out) filed by formerly incarcerated individuals who want their voting rights restored. "If I didn't know better, I'd think that our leaders are more concerned about how many eligible voters they can refuse the right to vote than they are about ensuring that the right to vote remains sacrosanct," Person's op-ed stated. "Due to Alabama's unfortunate history of suppressing the vote, it would be profoundly disturbing if that were true." An Opelika-Auburn News editorial stated its position on the Secretary of State's decision to allow individuals with drug convictions to vote. "We do not think precincts will be overrun by ex-cons looking to score a drug deal on the way out the door. If they didn't care about America, they wouldn't want the right to vote," the editorial stated. Tennessee: State Reports Increase in Registration of Individuals with Felony Convictions Despite confusion on how and if residents with felony convictions can vote, 1,200 individuals with felony offenses registered to vote by the deadline, according to WSMV-4. In the past, vote restoration required a lawyer and going to court if one was sentenced before Jan. 15, 1973 or after May 18, 1981. (Individuals convicted of a felony between Jan. 15, 1973 and May 17, 1981 never lost their voting rights in Tennessee.) Today, however, individuals must also be current in child support obligations. Recently, a federal judge in Nashville rejected a suit that could have automatically restored the voting rights of thousands of convicted felons who were contesting state law. New York: Voting Rights Must Not Be Denied; State Officials Must be Educated in Order to Educate Others The Albany County Board of Elections was the least informed of voting rights for ex-felons among several Capital Region boards and may have denied many eligible voters access to the booth, according to an NYU Brennan Center for Justice survey gauging the knowledge of state personnel. The Times Union reported that one board of elections representative answered all three survey questions wrong, leading the organization to believe that hundreds of individuals seeking to vote have been erroneously turned away. "They said people on probation could not register to vote or didn't know if it was true, they said ex-felons had to provide documentation, which is not true, and they said they were not familiar with the memo," the Brennan Center's voting rights fellow, Liz Budnitz, stated. Anthony Papa who was incarcerated under New York's Rockefeller laws for 12 years wrote an opinion editorial on being formerly disenfranchised. "When I went to register, I was shocked when they informed me that I had to wait until I was first released from parole. I felt the pain of felony disenfranchisement since it seemed I was being further punished for my crime," he sated. "I saw my Queens neighborhood deteriorating around me but was powerless to do anything about it by casting my vote. I was elated when, after waiting for five years, I completed parole and was able to vote again. Only then did I feel like I was fully welcomed back by society as a citizen." For more articles on impacted people read City Limits and the Democrat and Chronicle. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org

Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS from 90.1 FM in Houston and dozens of radio affiliates in the US, Canada and Australis & on the web at www.kpft.org. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia. 4:20 Drug War NEWS 10/20/08 to 10/26/08 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net Sun - Richard Cowan of MarijuanaNews.com report on NORML conference Sat - Ohio medical marijuana patient Tonya Davis Fri - Freddie Feratch, quadrapalegic medical marijuana seed salesman Thu - From Berkeley CA, the god father of medical marijuana Denis Peron Wed - NORML Conference report from Ethan Nadelmann in Berkeley Ca + Ray Manserek of the doors? Tue - NORML report, James Anthony of Americans for Safe Access Mon - Steve Bloom, former editor High Times, author "Pot Culture" regarding NORML conference Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed (Now With Transcripts): - Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Reports from NORML Conference - Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT, 9:30 AM PT: Reports from NORML ConferenceChief Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, and www.audioport.org Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer Dean Becker 713-849-6869 www.drugtruth.net

[Courtesy of Hemp Industries Association] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2008 CONTACT: Adam Eidinger at 202-744-2671 or [email protected] Hemp Advocates to Andrew Lahde: “Can You Spare a Million to Make Your Vision Reality?” Hemp Food and Body Care Sales Stronger than Ever in 2008 U.S. Farmers Suing DEA to Grow Hemp are Back in Court November 12 BOSTON, MA – The Hemp Industries Association (HIA), a trade association made up of hundreds of hemp businesses meeting in Boston today, is appealing to millionaire retired hedge fund manager Andrew Lahde to use a portion of his recent windfall made betting against sub-prime mortgage-backed securities to help bring back hemp farming in the United States. Mr. Lahde garnered media attention for stating in a resignation letter that hemp is needed as an alternative food and energy source and should be grown again in the U.S. “Mr. Lahde’s perspective is right on the money,” says HIA out-going President David Bronner. Retail sales of hemp food and body care products in the United States have continued to set record sales over the past twelve months, according to new data released by the HIA. The strong sales of popular hemp items like non-dairy milk, shelled hemp seed, soaps and lotions have occurred against the backdrop of state-licensed hemp farmers in North Dakota fighting a high stakes legal battle against DEA to grow hemp for U.S. manufacturers. The new sales data validates U.S. farmers’ position that they are being left out of the lucrative hemp market that Canadian farmers have cashed in on for eleven years. The sales data, collected by the market research firm SPINS, was obtained from natural food retailers only, excluding Whole Foods Market and mass-market food and pharmacy stores, and thus under-represents actual sales by a factor of two to three. The new report shows that hemp grocery sales grew in the sampled stores by 65% over the previous year (from August 2007 to August 2008), or by $2.4 million, to a total of $6.12 million. Based on the representative growth of this sample, the HIA Food and Oil Committee now estimates that the total retail value of hemp foods sold over the past 12 months in North America grew from $20 million last year to approximately $33 million this year. In addition, the SPINS data show that sales of hemp body care products grew 10% over the past 12 months in the sampled stores to $12.24 million. Due to the large hemp body care line sold by The Body Shop, as well as the fact that many unreported leading mass-market brands of sun tan lotion and sunscreen products include hemp oil, the HIA estimates the total retail value of North American hemp body care sales to be at least $80 million. “Farmers who want to grow hemp to support the steady double-digit growth are mad as ever about being shut out by our backward federal government,” says Mr. Bronner, who makes Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and uses hemp oil in all his top-selling products. “The HIA is confident that the total North American hemp food and body care market over the last 12 months accounted for at least $100 million in retail sales,” adds Mr. Bronner. Over the last three years, hemp food sales have averaged 47% annual growth, making hemp one of the fastest-growing natural food categories. "Last fall we expected the double-digit growth of the hemp food sector to continue in 2008, as the excitement about hemp milk had led to more brands in the market," comments Eric Steenstra, HIA Executive Director. "We project that growth in the markets for hemp food and body care will keep pace into 2009,” says Steenstra. CORRECTION: In Mr. Lahde’s letter, he said that; “Hemp is the ‘male plant’ [metaphorically speaking, hemp is, like the male Cannabis plant, useless as a drug] and it grows like a weed, hence the slang term." This is not quite correct, however, as hemp is both female and male, but is distinct from the drug varieties of Cannabis because it contains virtually no THC, the chemical that generates a high. # # #

[Courtesy of North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI)] For Immediate Release: October 17, 2008 Contact: Julie Schneiderman at (604) 806-8380 Results show that North America’s first heroin therapy study keeps patients in treatment, improves their health and reduces illegal activity VANCOUVER, BC, October 17, 2008 – Researchers from the North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI Study) today released final data on the primary outcomes from the three-year randomized controlled clinical trial. “Our data show remarkable retention rates and significant improvements in illicit heroin use, illegal activity and health for participants receiving injection assisted therapy, as well as those assigned to optimized methadone maintenance,” says Dr. Martin Schechter, NAOMI’s Principal Investigator, Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences and Professor and Director, University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health. “Prior to NAOMI, all of the study participants had not benefited from repeated standard addiction treatments. Society had basically written them off as impossible to treat.” The data, which was collected from 251 participants at sites in Vancouver and Montreal, demonstrate that a combination of optimized methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and heroin assisted treatment (HAT) can attract and retain the most difficult-to-reach and the hardest-to-treat individuals who have not been well served by the existing treatment system. Key findings at the 12-month point of the treatment-phase of the study showed that HAT and MMT achieved high retention rates: 88 per cent and 54 per cent respectively. Illicit heroin use fell by almost 70 per cent. The proportion of participants involved in illegal activity fell by almost half from just over 70 per cent to approximately 36 per cent. Similarly, the number of days of illegal activity and the amount spent on drugs both decreased by almost half. In fact, participants once spending on average $1,500 per month on drugs reported spending between $300-$500 per month by the end of the treatment phase. Marked improvements were also seen in participants’ medical status with scores improving by 27 per cent. Of particular note amongst the findings, participants receiving hydromorphone (DilaudidTM) instead of heroin on a double-blind basis (neither they nor the researchers knew) did not distinguish this drug from heroin. Moreover, hydromorphone – an opiate licensed for the relief of pain - appeared to be equally effective as heroin, although the study was not designed to test this conclusively. According to the NAOMI Study Investigators, further research could help to confirm these observations, allowing hydromorphone assisted therapy to be made more widely available. While a comprehensive health economics study is pending, researchers have already determined that the cost of continued treatment is much less than that of relapse. “We now have evidence to show that heroin-assisted therapy is a safe and effective treatment for people with chronic heroin addiction who have not benefited from previous treatments. A combination of optimal therapies – as delivered in the NAOMI clinics - can attract those most severely addicted to heroin, keep them in treatment and more importantly, help to improve their social and medical conditions,” explains Schechter. A summary report of the findings and background information on the study are available at: www.naomistudy.ca.