[Courtesy of LEAP] 

A note from the editor

Greetings Fellow Reformer-

I hope you’re doing well.  I am, and I’m looking forward to the holiday season- it’s coming up fast!  But first, Election Day is upon us, so get out there and VOTE!!!  There are many important propositions, initiatives and resolutions about drug policy and reform throughout the USA this election year.  There are also many other important measures regarding your hometown’s transit, schools, public services and emergency services.  If you want to change the world and change the drug laws, it starts with the simple act of casting your VOTE!  I myself am a patriot, and I believe most of you are as well.  As patriots, it is our duty to vote.  Just as it is our duty to question our government about the misguided Drug War.  Till next month…

Peace and Love,

Joe Bokan 

Mike Smithson     Speakers Bureau Update

The Fall Classic…as the Colorado Rockies rampaged thru the National League playoffs and the Boston Red Sox pressed on for an eventual World Series title, I pondered the potential impact of these sporting events on our presentations…but it didn’t seem to hamper them much, even when we had presentations at Colorado University and Colorado State University (by Tony Ryan) on nights of World Series games. Good crowds at both: although our culture may be infatuated with sports, it appears that we still want to work on public policy issues, World Series or not. ~smile~

            Ol’ Jack Cole sure doesn’t want to show his years: he went on a few more trips this month, first to the Lone Star State to speak at the University of Texas, and then off to Bangkok, Thailand, where LEAP was invited to the Open Society Institute’s conference, "Policing and Harm Reduction".  47 attendees from 13 countries, and more than half of those people joined LEAP, showing that harm reducers DO want LEAP involved in their efforts. While in Austin, Jack was joined by speakers Dr. Michael Gilbert and Russ Jones, two central Texans who do a lot of presentations in the region. Jack’s trip was sponsored by the Dean Jack Otis Social Policy Lecture Fund, and we were impressed with the luncheon our hosts assembled. Guests included a local DEA agent, the Travis County Sheriff and the Austin Police Chief.   

            Peter Christ was invited to speak to several classes at Buffalo State College and the University of Buffalo. A day before he left home to do the presentations, we received a call from Hilbert College, and they wanted to get in on the trip, so at the last minute we were able to put Peter into two classes over there, too. We received a nice honorarium, which helped cover the costs for the trip.

            New speaker Bill Weiland jumped into the fray with a presentation at America’s second-oldest college, the College of William & Mary. Shirin Wartime, the Students for Sensible Drug Policy contact who arranged everything, wrote: “…things went splendidly on Tuesday night. Bill is a great speaker, full of energy and very engaging. I was really happy with the turnout…probably the biggest crowed SSDP has ever drawn. All in all, we had a great event and I feel like we reached a lot of people. I saw a lot of new faces, which is good because we are trying to reach out to a different segment of campus.” Lennice Werth, a central Virginia activist, also added: “Bill is a great speaker. His approach is comfortable and friendly.”    

            On the same day that Bill was at William and Mary, Earl Barnett spoke at Rhodes College in Memphis. Joey Miller, the student coordinator I worked with, arranged for a TV interview and a couple of newspaper interviews. Up in Ontario, Jim Watkins spoke at a coffee house series hosted by a group at William Laurier University, and there will be much more happening in Canada soon; with Prime Minister Harper playing the heavy, we’re getting plenty of requests for interviews and presentations. Jerry Paradis participated in an Oct 28^th panel discussion, hosted by Libby Davies, the Member of Parliament for Vancouver-East. Tony Smith and Jerry were interviewed several times this month in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s new policy plans.

            Back in the States, Eric Sterling spoke at a Law Forum at George Washington University in DC, Mike Jones did some more radio work in Taos, NM, and Howard Wooldridge made a trip west to Portland, OR for the 25th Annual Conference of Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse, getting plenty of media coverage. Matt McCally also went to Portland to speak to a Humanist Society meeting. Tim Datig went to Pittsburgh to exhibit for LEAP at the Annual Conference of the International County Managers Association. Over 4000 attendees were there, and many had to blink several times when they passed by our booth. Judge Jim Gray made another trip down to San Diego State University, Tony Ryan told the Illinois Libertarians why they should join LEAP at their annual conference, and…well, hey, I gotta take a breath!   

            Our Volunteer of the Month for October is Mary Jane Borden, a long-time activist who resides in Cleveland, OH. MJ answered our request for help, and traveled to Pittsburgh to assist Datig at the ICMA conference. Conferencing is a major part of our overall effort to promote our position to large groups of people at one time. And, as Mary Jane explained: “Participating with LEAP at the ICMA conference gave me the opportunity to step out of my own comfort zone and speak with scores of people for whom our drug policy reform ideas are uncommon.” Thanks, MJ, for all that you do to help not just LEAP, but the whole reform effort. 

            Moving into November, one might expect our presentations to tail off because of the holidays. Not the case. Expect a very busy month from LEAP before we head off to New Orleans for the Drug Policy Alliance Conference in December.             

We need YOUR help to continue doing all that we do.

If you aren’t already, please consider volunteering your time or donating to LEAP. Together we can End Prohibition Now! 

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