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Just watch this news report and try not to laugh:
My favorite part is at the end when the anchor concludes, "Wow. Well, parents have a very real concern about the nutmeg, but so far there are no reports of deaths from nutmeg overdose." That is classic.
Here's the thing about nutmeg: it sucks. According to Erowid, its effects "are considered unpleasant by most who experience them." I've never heard it compared to marijuana before today. For thousands of years, nutmeg has disappointed people who were stupid enough to try getting high on it.
So, there's actually only one way that an epidemic of nutmeg abuse could ever occur, and that's if someone makes news reports about how you can get high on it, stirs parents into a panicked frenzy, and inadvertently puts the idea in teenagers' heads to go screw around with giant bottles of nutmeg. Nice going, FOX.
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Dear friends,
Today is the final day of D.A.R.E.'s annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Â And they are mad. Â They're losing the drug war, and they are grasping at anything to stop our progress.Â
As the only drug policy reform organization representing students and youth, SSDP is directly countering the propaganda machine at D.A.R.E. Â We're advocating for alternative drug education and prevention programs based on science and compassion, not a rabid ideology. Â
In order to keep fighting their propaganda, we need your support.  Can you help us bring more students to our 2011 SSDP International Conference by making a contribution now? Â
Unlike the D.A.R.E. conference, where attendees spend upwards of $800 on a single registration fee, we raise funds year-round for our conference scholarship fund, to help cover the travel and lodging costs of students from around the world. Â Will you D.A.R.E. to make a donation to SSDP's scholarship fund that will go directly to students? Â (Don't worry, we won't spend it on a custom painted Mustang sports cars or lion costumes, like D.A.R.E. does with your tax dollars.) Â
Help us make SSDP's 2011 International Conference bigger and better than D.A.R.E.'s by making a donation online RIGHT NOW!
Sincerely,
Jonathan Perri
Associate Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
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Help Welcome SSDP's New Executive Director! |
Dear friends,
After an exhaustive three-month search, I'm thrilled to announce that Aaron Houston will be SSDP's next executive director. Aaron has worked for the Marijuana Policy Project for the past seven years, serving as their national field director and director of government relations. He led the way to numerous victories, including the Department of Justice's memo on medical marijuana last year. His notoriety in DC can be measured by his many television appearances, including a universally coveted guest spot on The Colbert Report.
In addition to his work in drug policy, Aaron has experience in student organizing, serving as the executive director for the Colorado Student Association in Denver. Next week Aaron begins what we hope will be the longest ED tenure in SSDP history.
It's thanks to SSDP's explosive growth over the past years and its many local successes that a veteran like Aaron has decided to take the helm. But despite our growth in numbers, our budget has remained relatively unchanged.
We can't take SSDP to the next level without your help.
Ensure SSDP's continued growth and efficacy by making a donation online RIGHT NOW!
Sincerely,Â
Matthew Palevsky
Acting Executive Director
Students for Sensible Drug PolicyÂ
Friend,
What's the most dangerous consequence of using marijuana?
Under our current laws, it can be a bullet in the chest.
Earlier this month, Derek Copp, a Michigan college student, heard a noise at the back door of his apartment. As he went to investigate, his eyes were blinded by a flashlight and a gunshot rang out. The next think he knew, he was in a hospital fighting for his life.
The intruders were police. They had a warrant for drugs, but all they found was "a few tablespoons" of marijuana. Derek had no weapons.
Thankfully, the bullet that tore through Derek's lungs and liver didn't take his life. And every day since that incident, local Students for Sensible Drug Policy members have been standing up for Derek and opposing the polices that made this shooting possible.
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It's during moments like these that I'm as inspired as I am outraged. I'm outraged for the same reason that you probably are: peaceful people like Derek are constantly being put in the line of fire as our government blindly pursues a mythical "drug free" society. But to see why I'm also inspired, you'll need to check out this two minute video of SSDP members taking a stand for Derek: http://www.ssdp.org/derek
In a world without SSDP, this could have simply been a sad news story about police making a terrible mistake. But because a strong network of student drug policy advocates had already been established in Michigan, the media couldn't ignore the fact that Derek is one of many casualties in the destructive War on Drugs.
Please join us in continuing to spread this message by making a contribution today. The first $500 we raise will go straight to Derek for his medical and legal expenses. Anything beyond that will help SSDP expand our outreach staff so we can continue to build the movement to end the War on Drugs. http://www.ssdp.org/derek
Looking forward to the day when good people no longer need to fear the police,
Micah Daigle
Associate Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
P.S. When making a donation, you'll have the option to leave Derek a personal note. I'm sure he'll appreciate any supportive words you have to offer. http://www.ssdp.org/derek
Just Say No to wasteful drug propaganda! |
Dear Friend,
The strangest thing happened to me the other day. I was sitting on a park bench with my girlfriend enjoying some marijuana. While I knew she disapproved, I went ahead and smoked a joint anyway.
Next thing I knew, a flying saucer descended from the sky and we were visited by a space alien! Not wanting to seem ungracious, I offered our new friend a puff of my joint. He declined.
My girlfriend, sick of my pot smoking and enamored by the alien's courage, immediately fell in love with our new little green friend. Before I knew it, she was boarding his flying saucer to fly away together to a far away galaxy where they would live happily ever after, leaving me heartbroken with only my joint to console meâ¦
Does this scenario sound ridiculous to you? Believe it or not, this is an actual an advertisement designed by our government to keep young people from smoking marijuana!
Since 1998 the federal government has spent over $1.5 billion on anti-drug ads targeted at youth that are nothing more than mindless propaganda, mocked by young people as this generation's version of Reefer Madness. Independent studies conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Westat, and Texas State University have all found that these ads actually cause more drug use among teens who view them!
President Obama has pledged to cut wasteful government spending by eliminating programs that are ineffective, and the Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign is an ineffective as government programs get.
While the program will receive $70 million this year, the administration is already developing its spending priorities for 2010. Please join me in sending a letter to Congress, telling them to "Just Say No" to wasteful and counterproductive propaganda: http://www.ssdp.org/justsayno
Thanks to lobbying efforts by SSDP, our friends at the Marijuana Policy Project and Drug Policy Alliance, and you, the ad campaign budget has been cut by 66% since 2002. With your help, we can eliminate the program altogether next year!
Sincerely,
Kris Krane
Executive Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Friends,
The movement to end the War on Drugs is gaining momentum like never before. Every week, Students for Sensible Drug Policy's staff is contacted by dozens of students who are interested in starting chapters on their campuses. Oftentimes, it feels like there are more fish jumping into our boat than we have nets to catch!
But thanks to the generosity of our supporters like you, we're hiring two new staff members to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding chapter network!
Outreach Director - SSDP currently employs two outreach directors, and we are hiring a third. Each outreach director is assigned to a region of the U.S. and is responsible for growing our chapter network and providing assistance to chapters in that area.
http://www.ssdp.org/jobs/outreachdirector
Alumni Director - This is a brand new position with SSDP. The Alumni Director builds and coordinates our alumni network. Only applicants who are current or former members of SSDP's chapters, board, or staff will be considered for this position.
http://www.ssdp.org/jobs/alumnidirector
We also have several internships available all year round. Internships are unpaid, but may be applied toward class credit. http://www.ssdp.org/jobs/intern
I can't tell you how inspired I am that our supporters have enabled us to expand our staff, especially as many nonprofits are struggling because of the economic recession. If you've helped make this unprecedented growth possible, then you've invested in this movement at just the right time. Thank you.
And if you haven't yet made a gift to SSDP this year, but would like to ensure that the growing momentum for drug policy reform is sustained, I invite you to help us create a better future by contributing today. http://www.ssdp.org/donate
Sincerely,
Kris Krane, Executive Director
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
P.S. Please forward this announcement to anybody who might be interested in these positions.
