JOIN THE ADVOCACY NETWORK

The Public Policy Office has kicked off DPF's new Advocacy Network to keep members informed about breaking news and pending legislation. Any current DPF member may sign up to receive either by fax or email timely "Action Alerts" and the monthly Network News, a compilation of news related to state and federal drug policy legislation.

On May 29, Network members received an "Action Alert" urging them to contact their representative to support Rep. Henry Hyde's Managers Amendment to H.R. 1965, the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act. The July Network News included information about H.R. 3745, the "Money Laundering Act of 1998," S. 2203, the "Drug-Free Workplace Act," H.R. 2031, the "Crack Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act of 1997," and Sen. Joseph Biden's (D-Del.) call for hearings to expose legalization. Copies of these inaugural publications are available to DPF members.

To join the Advocacy Network, send us your email address and/or your fax number (send email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Due to time and budget constraints, DPF cannot yet mail these materials.

DPF REPRESENTED AT THE UNITED NATIONS MEETING

When the United Nations General Assembly held its first special session on drug policy June 8-10, DPF was invited by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom to participate in the presentations by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Whitney A. Taylor represented the foundation on a panel in the U.N. Church building that included perspectives by women from both drug demand and drug supply countries. Taylor summarized injustices under the U.S. policy and alternatives that can be implemented globally. As an example, she recounted the case of federal prisoner borothy Gaines, who is serving a mandatory minimum sentence on conspiracy charges — despite the lack of any concrete evidence that she handled illegal drugs (see Winter 1998 DPL, p. 17).

"Women cannot be viewed only as victims of the war on drugs. Women must use their strength and work together to change the drug policies around the globe that victimize us all," Taylor said.

On June 8, the Lindesmith Center published a two-page ad in the New York Times that was signed by 500 people from around the world calling on the U.N. secretary general for a "frank and honest evaluation of global drug control efforts" (see News in Brief, p. 21). Lindesmith Director and DPF Board member Ethan Nadelmann helped coordinate the worldwide effort to gather signatures. Signatories included Executive Director Sher Horosko and many other members of the Board of Directors, including its Board Chairman Ira Glasser, Richard Dennis, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Joseph McNamara, Patrick Murphy, Mayor Kurt Schmoke, Judge Robert Sweet, and Arnold Trebach.

MONEY LAUNDERING ANALYSIS PUBLISHED

Associate Editor Scott Ehlers recently wrote "Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering," which was published by the Interhemispheric Resource Center and the Institute for Policy Studies as part of their "Foreign Policy in Focus" series. The publication summarizes key points about drug trafficking, money laundering, anti-money laundering laws, and what can be done by the international community to reduce drug trafficking and money laundering.

Copies are available for $2.50 (10 for $12) from the Interhemispheric Resource Center, (505) 388-0208.

12TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN 1999

Come visit the nation's capital in the spring at DPF's 1999 International Conference on Drug Policy Reform. Here is a list of deadlines:

January 25, 1999: Paper & Panel Abstracts Due
March I, 1999:    Early Bird Registration Completed
April 1, 1999:    Scholarship Requests Due
April 7, 1999:    Student Paper Entries Due

The conference staff is developing legislative trainings and Capitol Hill visits as well as a technical assistance programs for reform organizations and service providers. For more information, please contact Whitney A. Taylor (taylor@dpforg) or Kerry Hopkins ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

AWARDS FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF DRUG POLICY REFORM

DPF is now accepting nominations for its Achievement Awards. Nominations must be made by December 11, 1998. The Achievement Awards have recognized heroes and heroines in the reform field since 1988. There are seven awards, but there may be more than one recipient each category:

•    The Richard Dennis Drugpeace Award for Outstanding Achievement
•    The Edward Brecher Award for Journalism
•    The Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for Law
•    The Alfred Lindesmith Award for Scholarship
•    The Robert Randall Award for Citizen Action
•    The H.B. Spear Award for Control and Enforcement
•    The Norman Zinberg Award for Medicine and Treatment

To make a nomination or for more information, call or write Ruth Lampi ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or visit DPF's web site (www.dpf.org).

NEW FACES AT DPF

Once again, DPF welcomes two new staff members and bids farewell to a friend who has been with us from the beginning.

Bill North-Rudin became director of Membership and Marketing on July 6. North-Rudin, formerly of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and People for the American Way, brings to DPF over 12 years experience in the direct mail, membership, and marketing profession.

Also on July 6, ChanA Montague began as DPF's receptionist and administrative assistant. Montague most recently worked for the Department of Transportation through the Student Temporary Employment Program, sponsored by the DOT administrator's office.

Pam Griffin, director of administration, relocated to New York City in June. Griffin developed DPF's annual awards program, guided the grant-writing campaign, and kept the office running for over a decade. She will be greatly missed by all of us.

MEMBERSHIP TRACKING

Want to know when your subscription expires? From now on, members will see a date code above their names on mailing labels. The month-year code (e.g., 0998 for September 1998) will indicate when your subscription expires. DPF will also send reminder letters so you can renew in time to keep getting The Drug Policy Letter and other DPF mailings.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Early July — In response to the federal government kick-off of a five-year, $2 billion anti-drug media campaign, DPF received a barrage of calls. Hearst/Argyle Television interviewed Rob Stewart on July 9 for its network of local news stations. Stewart also debated two opponents on the 24-hour Fox News Channel on July 10. Stewart was a guest on radio shows in New Orleans and in Wilmington, Delaware. Scott Ehlers appeared in the Boston Globe (Louise Palmer, "White House unveils $2b antidrug campaign," July 10) and on WLAC radio in Nashville, Tennessee on July 13. DPF also provided background to ABC's "Nightline," CNN's "Crossfire," and several news services.

July 7 — The New York Times' Christopher Wren ("Subway advertisement for needle-exchange program provokes debate") reported on Positive Health Project's new subway ad campaign about syringe exchange programs in the city. Grants from DPF and the Harm Reduction Coalition supported the ads.

July 6— In response to a National Institute of Mental Health study showing that cannabidiol, a chemical in marijuana, could potentially help stroke and Alzheimer's patients, Stewart was interviewed by Conus TV, a service for television news stations throughout the country.

July 2 — Ehlers was quoted by the Baltimore Sun about a plan by the Westminster district attorney requiring hospital personnel to report heroin overdose patients to the police.

June 30 — DPF issued a press release opposing DARE's continued funding under the Department of Education's new "Principles of Effectiveness" for Safe and Drug-Free School grants. H. Alexander Robinson was interviewed by Conus TV. Other staff were interviewed by the Boston Globe, The Oregonian, and Gannett News Service.

June 23 — United Nations Radio interviewed Ehlers about money laundering.

June 16 — Whitney Taylor discussed the new U.N. global anti-drug strategy on the syndicated radio program, Our Americas: The Weekly Report on Latin America and the Caribbean.

June 14 — Stewart quoted by the Las Vegas Sun regarding the proposed medical marijuana initiative in Nevada and its relationship to overall reform. Stewart also was quoted in the Sunday Post-Star (Judy Bernstein, "Drug-testing rule set for House vote") in Glens Falls, N.Y., objecting to Rep. Gerald Solomon's proposal to expand drug testing.

June 9 — Taylor interviewed by United Nations Radio on the effects of international drug policy on women and families