(no subject)
Thanks for all the participation and input you've given us on the RAVE Act campaign. We're working with you to win the fight against this biased law.
We understand that many people have concerns about writing to the DEA. It also seems that your faxes have either overloaded the DEA's fax machines or the machines have been turned off because your letters are no longer getting through. So, we've decided to shake things up at the source. Senator Biden (D-DE) - the man behind the RAVE Act - is a national political figure considering running for the Democratic nomination for President. He told critics of the law that he expected it to only be applied to "rogue" promoters that sold drugs. He needs to know that everything voters like you warned would happen has happened. It took less than two months for the law to be used against a political fundraiser and we're holding him accountable. As a possible Presidential candidate Biden needs to know that voters across the country care about this issue and won't stop until he repeals or reforms the RAVE Act. You can fax him a letter for free from our website
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269. Copies of the fax will also go to the Members of Congress who represent your district.
It only takes one minute to fax Senator Biden:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Also, our new action alert is below. Please forward the alert to your friends, family, e-mail lists, etc.
You're making the difference!
==============================
*** Tell Senator Biden, "Repeal the RAVE Act"
*** Send a Free Fax:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).
On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning them that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found in the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the venue - were reportedly also approached and warned that their participation in the event could result in a fine.
Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided to cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA will be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like, such as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and circuit parties.
Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other organizations in our campaign to pressure the sponsor of the law to repeal or reform it.
ACTIONS TO TAKE
1) Fax Senator Biden: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Urge him to repeal the RAVE Act or amend it to better protect innocent business owners, public health, and free speech. Copies of the fax will also go to the Members of Congress that represent your district.
2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists and post it in chat rooms.
BACKGROUND
Sponsored by Senator Biden (D-DE), the RAVE Act (also known as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act) was first introduced last year. It proved so controversial then that two of its original co-sponsors withdrew their support because they feared it would send innocent business owners to jail. Business owners collected over 20,000 signatures in opposition to the bill. Protests against it were held around the country and tens of thousands of voters urged their elected official to oppose it. Controversy over the bill stalled it last year, but Senator Biden attached it to the popular "Amber Alert" bill without public debate or a vote of Congress earlier this year and snuck it into law.
The RAVE Act expands federal law to make it easier to jail and imprison event organizers and property owners that fail to stop drug offenses from occurring on their property - even in cases when they take serious steps to reduce drug offenses. It applies to "any place", including bars and nightclubs, hotels, apartment buildings, and homes. Legal experts warned that the law was so broad that it could be used to shut down not only raves and electronic music events, but also Hip Hop, rock, and country music concerts, sporting events, gay and lesbian fundraisers, political protests, and any other event federal agents do not like.
On May 30th an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told managers of the Eagle Lodge in Billings, Montana that the Lodge could be fined $250,000 if anyone smoked marijuana during a planned benefit to raise money for a campaign to change Montana's medical marijuana law. After consulting their attorneys, the Eagle Lodge canceled the event.
For more information on the RAVE Act see:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2267
For more information on the DEA and the Eagle Lodge see: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2268
We understand that many people have concerns about writing to the DEA. It also seems that your faxes have either overloaded the DEA's fax machines or the machines have been turned off because your letters are no longer getting through. So, we've decided to shake things up at the source. Senator Biden (D-DE) - the man behind the RAVE Act - is a national political figure considering running for the Democratic nomination for President. He told critics of the law that he expected it to only be applied to "rogue" promoters that sold drugs. He needs to know that everything voters like you warned would happen has happened. It took less than two months for the law to be used against a political fundraiser and we're holding him accountable. As a possible Presidential candidate Biden needs to know that voters across the country care about this issue and won't stop until he repeals or reforms the RAVE Act. You can fax him a letter for free from our website
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269. Copies of the fax will also go to the Members of Congress who represent your district.
It only takes one minute to fax Senator Biden:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Also, our new action alert is below. Please forward the alert to your friends, family, e-mail lists, etc.
You're making the difference!
==============================
*** Tell Senator Biden, "Repeal the RAVE Act"
*** Send a Free Fax:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).
On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning them that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found in the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the venue - were reportedly also approached and warned that their participation in the event could result in a fine.
Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided to cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA will be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like, such as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and circuit parties.
Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other organizations in our campaign to pressure the sponsor of the law to repeal or reform it.
ACTIONS TO TAKE
1) Fax Senator Biden: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2269
Urge him to repeal the RAVE Act or amend it to better protect innocent business owners, public health, and free speech. Copies of the fax will also go to the Members of Congress that represent your district.
2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists and post it in chat rooms.
BACKGROUND
Sponsored by Senator Biden (D-DE), the RAVE Act (also known as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act) was first introduced last year. It proved so controversial then that two of its original co-sponsors withdrew their support because they feared it would send innocent business owners to jail. Business owners collected over 20,000 signatures in opposition to the bill. Protests against it were held around the country and tens of thousands of voters urged their elected official to oppose it. Controversy over the bill stalled it last year, but Senator Biden attached it to the popular "Amber Alert" bill without public debate or a vote of Congress earlier this year and snuck it into law.
The RAVE Act expands federal law to make it easier to jail and imprison event organizers and property owners that fail to stop drug offenses from occurring on their property - even in cases when they take serious steps to reduce drug offenses. It applies to "any place", including bars and nightclubs, hotels, apartment buildings, and homes. Legal experts warned that the law was so broad that it could be used to shut down not only raves and electronic music events, but also Hip Hop, rock, and country music concerts, sporting events, gay and lesbian fundraisers, political protests, and any other event federal agents do not like.
On May 30th an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told managers of the Eagle Lodge in Billings, Montana that the Lodge could be fined $250,000 if anyone smoked marijuana during a planned benefit to raise money for a campaign to change Montana's medical marijuana law. After consulting their attorneys, the Eagle Lodge canceled the event.
For more information on the RAVE Act see:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2267
For more information on the DEA and the Eagle Lodge see: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=5509&l=2268