What a week it's been.

Over 20 years in drug policy reform, I've seen victories before, I've seen the issue progress. But what happened this week is different. In fact I feel different.

[inline:marijuana-legalization-book-100px.jpg align=right]There are huge challenges remaining, of course, even new ones. How will the federal government respond to legalization in Colorado and Washington? What will those states' officials do? Can we leverage our new political position to stop the federal war on medical marijuana? How to finally end the tragedies of mass arrests and incarceration that bad drug policies have fueled? And how to best encourage the growing international movement of leaders calling for alternatives to drug prohibition itself?

The coming weeks will see organizations and reformers thinking through their next steps -- for the movement as a whole, in our case for the movement's information wing and our targeted advocacy efforts. We'll be writing about it all here in Drug War Chronicle and in the Speakeasy blog.

But we need your help, and so I'm writing today to ask your support for the next steps. Please support StoptheDrugWar.org with a generous donation in this time of great promise and change.

[inline:iiss-book-100px.jpg align=right]For those who donate $35 or more, we have three new membership premiums -- two books and a video -- that we'd be glad to send you ($65 or more for two items or $95 or more for all three). There are older items in our stock as well -- books, videos and StoptheDrugWar.org gift items -- some for as little as $15! All our inventory is now stored off-site at a fulfillment house, meaning we can send them to you within days of receiving your order. Click here to read about the new gifts we're offering, and visit our donation page to read the full list.

At a time like this -- when people are talking about drug policy like never before -- the movement's internet strategy is also more important than ever before. So please support our work with a generous donation by credit card or PayPal today. You can also donate by mail -- info below.

[inline:charlie-lynch-dvd-100px.jpg align=right]Lastly, please note that even with nonprofit, bulk discounts, we spend a significant amount to purchase these items and send them to you -- if you can afford to donate more than the minimum, or to supplement your donation with a continuing monthly contribution, I hope you'll consider doing so. If gift items are not important to you, I hope you'll consider sending a donation that's entirely for our work.

Donations to our organization can be made online at http://stopthedrugwar.org/donate, or they can be mailed to: DRCNet Foundation (tax-deductible), P.O. Box 18402, Washington, DC 20036; or Drug Reform Coordination Network (non-deductible for lobbying), same address. (Contact us for information if you wish to make a donation of stock.)

Thank you for making it possible for us to come this far. As the week's events show, time, and the truth, are on our side!

Sincerely,

David Borden, Executive Director
StoptheDrugWar.org
Washington, DC
http://stopthedrugwar.org