[Courtesy of Drug Policy Forum of Kansas]
Action Alert
March 10, 2008
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a bill to make the second possession of ecstasy a FELONY in Kansas even if the first offense was under a city ordinance - such as they have in Wichita. This bill passed the House 117-2.
Not only will this bill not deter drug abuse in Kansas, it is expensive and was put forward by legislators who only seek more people in our prisons - to allow the private prison industry to start building in Kansas.
Implementing this bill is expected to cost between $700,000 and $1,300,000 this year alone. Money that could be used for re-entry programs in the state. More information on HB 2545 can be found here, http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/searchBillNumber.do [5]
Would you please take one minute to call or write a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell them to oppose the HB 2545 which makes possession of Ecstacy a felony in Kansas?
Click here [6]to send an email to all the members at one time, or call --
Committee Chair, Senator John Vraitl, R-Overland Park, 785-296-7361
Vice Chair, Senator Terry Bruce, R-Hutchinson, 785-296-7300
Senator Barbara Allen, R-Overland Park, 785-296-7353
Senator Les Donovan, R-Wichita, 785-296-7385
Senator Phil Journey, R-Wichita, 785-296-7367
Senator Julia Lynn, R-Olathe, 785-296-7382
Senator Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, 785-296-2497
Senator Duane Umbarger, R-Thayer, 785-296-7389
Senator Greta Goodwin,R-Winfield, 785-296-7381
Senator Donald Betts, R-Wichita, 785-296-7387
Senator David Haley, D- Kansas City, 785-296-7376
Sample letter or phone call:
Dear Senator, I am opposed to HB 2545, a bill to make the second-time possession of ecstasy a felony in Kansas.
This bill will not reduce drug abuse in Kansas in will only put more drug offenders in our prisons.
Reducing drug abuse can only be accomplished through some of the following; spending more on drug treatment programs in our prisons, providing effective drug education in our schools and early childhood education programs.
According to the governor's budget director, this bill will add an additional one million dollars to the corrections budget this year alone. This money could be better used to expand re-entry programs across the state.
Please support effective programs to reduce drug abuse in Kansas, not legislation designed to put more people in prison.
Please help us promote innovative drug policies by sending your tax-deductible donation [7] today.
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