weyes Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 well, kiddies, the house subcommitte decided to postpone voting on the RAVE Act (that's Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy), a real victory for concertgoers/clubbers/lounge and bar attendees/ravers/anyone on someone else's private property, really, the way it's written. its broad language could actually sentence you to fines of $250,000 or prison time for someone smoking weed in your backyard.the text of the RAVE Act is here:http://www.emdef.org/s2633/and below is an update about what's happening now with it, and what we need to do next - as it has only been, i repeat, postponed. i received it yesterday from the drug policy alliance.==================================================================1. RAVE Act Update2. CAll Your Federal Candidates Today! Help the Alliance CompleteThe Drug Policy Voter Guide==================================================================RAVE ACT UPDATELast week we asked our supporters to call Members of the House Subcommittee on Crime and request they vote against the RAVE Act or postpone consideration of the bill. We are happy to report that the Subcommittee decided not to vote on the RAVE Act, and that the bill is likely dead in the House for the year. While the Subcommittee's decision was based largely on the fact it is unlikely that the full House will have time to vote on the bill before Congress goes out of session, the Drug Policy Alliance's campaign to slow down and stop this bill no doubt played a role. While we are not out of the water yet (the Senate may still consider the RAVE Act this week, and Congress may be back in December and could consider it then), the Drug Policy Alliance's national campaign has likely stopped the bill for the year. We are very thankful to all our supporters who called their elected officials and educated them on the dangers of the RAVE Act. Thank you, thank you, thank you.Although the Subcommittee did not vote on the RAVE Act, it did hold a public hearing on the bill. Graham Boyd, director of the ACLU's Drug Policy Litigation Project, testified against the RAVE Act and made a great case that the RAVE Act and the existing crack house law have problems. A number of Members expressed concerns about the RAVE Act, including Rep. Bobby Scott, Ranking Members on the Subcommittee. Boyd's testimony can be read at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/boyd2002.cfmIf we have sent you this e-mail, it's because you have signed up to receive legislative updates and action alerts. We would like to encourage you to sign up to receive our weekly e-newsletter. This newsletter is sent out every Thursday and updates our supporters on the status of drug policy reform around the country and around the world. To sign up to receive our free e-newsletter, go to: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/...ubscription.asp_____________________________________________________________________CALL YOUR FEDERAL CANDIDATE TODAYThis year, drug policy advocates are facing one of the most critical election seasons ever. That's why the Drug Policy Alliance has initiated the first-ever voters guide devoted to drug policy this year. In order to get a majority of candidates to answer, they need to hear from you, their constituents! That's why we are asking our members and supporters to contact every candidate in the country who has not answered the questionnaire to date. Here's what to do:1) Call their offices! Click here to find out the phone number of candidates near you: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/10_16_02candidates.cfm2) As a constituent, tell them that drug policy issues are important to you and that you request (sometimes demand) they fill out Drug Policy Alliance's voters guide questionnaire.3) Explain that you will likely vote based on their responses, or lack there of.4) Tell them that the survey can be easily filled in less than five minutes by returning it via fax to (202)216-0986, by filling it out online, or by calling us to fill it out orally. 5) Every candidate should have received a copy via email, fax, or both; but if they did not, have them contact our offices immediately by emailing our project coordinator Chris Mulligan at cmulligan@drugpolicy.org or by calling (202)216-0035 x 201. 6) Finally, explain that as a concerned voter in their district, refusal to answer is entirely unsatisfactory. Drug policy reform is increasingly present in the political mainstream. Since 1996 voters and state governments have enacted almost 150 notable drug policy reforms in 46 states. 46 of the 143 reforms were enacted in 2001 alone; and 2002 is proving to be another reform-driven year, with 14 reforms enacted as of August. This survey will serve as a barometer for congressional candidates on these hot-button issues. Constituents deserve to know how candidates feel about these issues and with your help we can accomplish this. So, start calling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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