March 2009
This issueâ¦
- LEAP in the News
- LEAP Speakers in Action
- Make The LEAP
- Did You Know�
LEAP in the News
LEAP was busy in the media this month: our speakers did no less than 45 radio, TV and print interviews during March, with very smart, savvy and in-depth discussions allowing LEAP's end-of-prohibition pitch to be heard and read by millions. Nationally syndicated columnists and reporters engaged in the debate at length, possibly spurred by the daily dramatic reports coming out of Mexico about warring drug cartels. Terry Nelson, armed with 30+ years of drug interdiction and border patrol efforts across all of Latin America, was in huge demand, even making two trips to Europe to address leaders and anti-prohibition activists. Terry also appeared on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 to discuss why the United States should legalize all drugs. For Terry's CNN appearance and other compelling videos featuring our speakers, please visit LEAP's YouTube channel.Â
LEAP Speakers in Action
Contributed by Mike Smithson, Speakers Bureau Director
Like Admiral Nimitz sending the US submarine fleet out to perform havoc against the enemy in WWII, so too did LEAP dispatch a bevy of speakers to the far reaches of North America and Europe to counter prohibition rhetoric this month. A broad spectrum of interested parties heard from LEAP in March, including Quakers and Unitarian Universalists, the German American Society in New Braunfels, Texas and a panel at the Salt Lake City Library Movie Series in Utah. Universities once again provided numerous opportunities for our speakers, including Richard Amos & John Baeza at the University of Central Florida, Rick Van Wickler at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, Jim Gray at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and Peter Christ at Erie Community College in Buffalo, New York - where one student commented, "We've had speakers that were informative and speakers that were interesting, but this is the first time we've ever had both!"Â
And we were testifying to help make real changes to harmful laws here and now. Norm Stamper worked in Minnesota, and Jack Cole in Rhode Island, continuing an increasing trend to make use of our speakers to support drug policy reform legislation, even on the incremental level. For the first quarter of 2009, LEAP has provided testimony in Texas, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, British Columbia, and to the European Union in Brussels and the United Nations in Vienna.  LEAP may soon be coming to your town, as you'll read below. If not, invite us! On the horizon in April, Executive Director Jack Cole and retired Police Chief Tim Datig will tour for three days in the Green Mountain State, (that's Vermont to the non-New Englander readers). Jim Watkin rides his iron horse into Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Mid West Students for Sensible Drug Policy Conference while Jack Cole speaks at the New England SSDP Conference. Francis Wilkinson will participate in a debate at the illustrious Cambridge Union Society and Peter Christ spends a few days in Ohio, starting with Kent University on April 22. Folks in Australia are begging for a LEAP tour-it's in the works-and a drug policy conference is in the planning stages at a Maryland college. Numerous Connecticut events are hitting the calendarâ¦it's hard to keep up.  For more information on upcoming LEAP appearances, please check our events calendar.
Make The LEAP
LEAP is recognized as a unique and authoritative voice on the need to end drug prohibition, and the demand for our speakers continues to increase. Our ability to accommodate those requests is largely dependent on the generosity of our members, who help us build our movement every day. Please show your support for LEAP by making a one-time or monthly donation today, and we will send you a LEAP badge pin. By making a small donation and proudly wearing the LEAP logo, you can show your support for our speakers, who are fighting on the front lines of the war against the "war on drugs".Â
Did You Know�
The "war on drugs" has been making headlines, and it's more important than ever to tell YOUR lawmakers how you feel about drug prohibition. By visiting www.askyourlawmaker.org, you can sign up for a free account in about 30 seconds, type "war on drugs" into the search engine, and vote for questions by LEAP Administrative Director Bill Fried and Speakers Bureau Director Mike Smithson. The site is still growing, but some highly-ranked questions have received responses from politicians, so it's another great way for LEAP to be heard.
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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