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Dear Friends,

As you may have seen, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition speaker and retired deputy sheriff MacKenzie Allen's question on legalization was addressed by President Obama during YouTube's annual "Your Interview with the President" contest following the State of the Union address. MacKenzie's question pointed out that the war on drugs is an incredibly harmful policy and asked the president whether there should come a time for us to discuss the possibility of legalization, regulation and control of all drugs.

President Obama addressed MacKenzie's question by conceding that legalization is "an entirely legitimate topic for debate" and that while he is not in favor of legalization, he believes in a "public health-oriented approach." Although the president's continuing reliance on prosecution instead of treatment contradicts his verbal support for a public health-focused approach, it is historic that a president of the United States has finally acknowledged the legitimacy of a debate on legalization. Before being confronted directly with LEAP's law enforcement perspective, the Obama administration's standard line had been, "Legalization isn't in the president's vocabulary."

Since the president remains opposed to legalization even as he speaks for the necessity of a public health approach, it is up to us as drug policy reformers to lead the leaders and to educate our policy-makers on the urgent need for a system of legalized regulation. Drug prohibition is not a back-burner issue: it is quite literally a matter of life and death. Police officers and innocent civilians are dying every day, casualties of a failed policy that must be reevaluated via public debate until we set in place a workable system of legalization.

MacKenzie'squestion was voted the top-rated question for President Obama. It received more than twice the number of votes the second-place question received, and that's due in no small part to you, LEAP's loyal supporters. You know how hard our speakers work to bring legalization and regulation to the forefront. You know that as law enforcement professionals, their unassailable credibility takes this issue into the mainstream by presenting the perspective of those who have seen, firsthand, the devastating consequences of drug prohibition. Now we've taken the legalization debate all the way to the top, and we need YOUR support to keep this ball rolling.  Please make a contribution to LEAP today and show your support for everything our speakers have done and continue to do to show the world that legalization is the only sensible approach to drug policy.

Thank you so much,

Major Neill Franklin - Retired
Executive Director


Your donation puts LEAP speakers in front of audiences. To support LEAP's work by making a contribution, please click here.

           

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We need help growing our all-encompassing movement of citizens who want to end the failed "war on drugs," so please invite your family and friends to learn about LEAP.
 

Dear Friends,

In advance of our upcoming Activist Boot Camp on February 19th & 20th, Americans for Safe Access is putting together a video to showcase who we are and why we do what we do.

And we want to hear from you!

We are asking our chapters and individual supporters for videos and photos from all parts of the country that share the importance of medical cannabis activism. All you need is a digital video camera - your computer's webcam would work fine.

First, we would like to hear from chapters and affiliates everywhere. If you can't get together a video of your group, we would still love a photo! But if you can get a video, we would love a big "Hello from XXX City ASA!"

For individuals, we are looking for a 30-second clip with the following:
- Your name
- Your city
- Your chapter affiliation
- A hello message to other ASA chapters and members around the country

And another 15-second clip, telling the world why YOU are a member of Americans for Safe Access.

We plan to showcase some of the best videos to the Activist Boot Campon February 19th & 20th, and then later put them all up on ASA National's website.

It takes less than a minute - but we need that minute before Friday, February 4th. Practice a few times, frame the video so that we can see your face from the chest up, and then email video footage in digital format in Quicktime (mp4 or mov file - hi def if possible!) to Sam Sabzehzar at[email protected].

Also, sponsorships are still available for the Boot Camp until Monday, January 31st. If you are able to help sponsor, or have any questions about the Boot Camp, please contact[email protected].  

Or, if you have questions about the video, please contact[email protected].

Additionally we would like to invite each of you to be a part of our National Organizers' Call on Wednesday, February 9th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. You can join us by calling 832-431-3335 and entering access-code 1618568. Please RSVP to the call by emailing ASA Field Director Kristen Ford -[email protected].

Thanks for being part of this movement!

~Amber

Amber Langston
Americans for Safe Access
Conference Director


Disclaimer:  Permission to use video footage is deemed granted by submission. Footage may be used in any and all future media, including, but not limited to, conferences and trainings hosted by Americans for Safe Access and affiliates. Footage may also be found on ASA’s website and/or Youtube, unless otherwise noted on submission.   

Americans for Safe Access

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