Drug Policy Forum of Kansas: Action Alert April 25, 2007

Take Action! - Help Repeal Higher Education Act Drug Provision Take Action! - Ask Congress to Allow Medical Marijuana Research Take Action! - Support Second Chance Act for Drug Offenders ACLU Forum: Wakarusa '07 - Privacy Rights in Public Places Today, April 25, 2007, at the Lawrence Public Library, 7pm. Panelist include, DPFKS Executive Director Laura Green, Charles Branson, DG County DA, Skip Griffey, DG County Bar Association, and Lt. Kari Wempe, DG County Sheriff's Office. Wakarusa Music Festival Volunteer Sign-up DPFKS members interested in volunteering to work a few hours a day at the Wakarusa Music Festival should send go to the web site and click on Frequently Asked Questions for more information. The festival takes place June 7-10 at Clinton State Park outside of Lawrence. Next Volunteer Meeting April 28, 1 p.m. at the DPFKS offices, 941 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, first floor. We will discuss plans for the booths at Wakarusa Music Festival. Tell Senator Pat Roberts to REPEAL THE HEA DRUG PROVISION! The Higher Education Act Reauthorization bill being considered by the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee of which Kansas Senator Pat Roberts is a member. Repealing the Aid Elimination Penalty, also known as the "Drug Provision" would reinstate aid to aspiring students by removing the confusing drug conviction question from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as recommended by Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. Read our policy paper for more information on the HEA drug provision. In a letter to committee chair Senator Kennedy, the Drug Policy Forum of Kansas, along with more than 335 organizations around the country have called for a full repeal of the provision. Read the text of the letter on the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) website. What you can do: Call Senator Roberts and tell him: The Higher Education Act Drug Provision harms otherwise well performing students in Kansas and should be repealed by his committee. Senator Robert's office number is 202-224-4774. Alternatively, you can send a form letter to Senator Roberts from the CHEAR website. DEA Resisting Own Recommendation to Allow Medical Marijuana Research! The DEA's own administrative law judge ruled last month that marijuana could be grown at the University of Massachusetts so it could be provided for legitimate medical research. (For more information on the ruling, go to the web site, http://www.maps.org/) So far DEA Chief, Karen Tandy, has not allowed the recommendation to go forward. A sign-on letter is being distributed to members of Congress urging Administrator Tandy to allow the marijuana to be grown and distributed to licensed researchers, so the confusion surrounding marijuana's benefits as a medicine can finally be settled. What you can do: Call your Representive and tell them: Please sign on to the letter Sponsored by Rep. John Olver (pron. Ol-ver) urging the DEA to allow marijuana to be grown for medical research! Rep. Boyda: 202-225-6601 Rep. Moore: 202-225-2865 Rep. Moran: 202-225-2715 Rep. Tiahrt: 202-225-6216 Don't know who your Representative is? http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Give Formerly Incarcerated Drug Offenders a Chance! From Kansas Families Against Mandatory Minimums: The Second Chance Act of 2007 has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and is moving quickly through the legislative process. Show your support for formerly incarcerated people by supporting these bills! Among other things, the Second Chance Act would provide reentry funding on the state and local level to support the needs of formerly incarcerated people for housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, employment and rebuilding family and community ties. Every year, approximately 650,000 people leave prison unprepared for the transition into society. It is no surprise that nearly two-thirds of them will be rearrested within three years. They deserve a better second chance, and H.R. 1593 and S. 1060 will help give them that. Next Volunteer Meeting Saturday, April 28, 1 p.m. at the DPFKS offices at 941 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, KS 785-841-8278 for more information. Won't you help us research and promote cost effective drug policies in Kansas by sending your tax-deductible donation today? Become a member. Add yourself to our mailing list by going to our web site www.dpfks.org.