Fwd: Sign the petition: We need drug policy reform

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mother Jones <do_not_reply@motherjones.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 10:30 AM
Subject: Sign the petition: We need drug policy reform
To: technologiclee@gmail.com

The following sponsored message from the Drug Policy Alliance has been sent to you via Mother Jones.

 

We need drug policy reform. Sign the petition.     Dear Lee, As a Mother Jones reader, you make it a priority to stay informed on issues that mainstream new sources don't always report. That's why we thought you'd be interested in the Smarter Sentencing Act, a comprehensive piece of drug law reform legislation which would shorten federal mandatory minimum sentences for drug law violations and help thousands of people who have already served long sentences to leave prison early. In the coming weeks, the U.S. Senate could vote on this unprecedented legislation that will roll back harsh drug laws and get us closer to ending the war on drugs. Due to harsh mandatory minimum sentencing policies, tens of thousands of people are in federal prison — sometimes for life — for low-level nonviolent drug offenses. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) seeks to roll back excessive sentencing, block new, harmful initiatives, and promote sensible drug policy reforms like the Smarter Sentencing Act. As a result of their work, hundreds of thousands of people have been diverted from incarceration to drug treatment programs, and hundreds of thousands of sick and dying patients can safely access their medicine without being considered criminals under the law. Sign DPA's petition now to support the Smarter Sentencing Act — it will be a key step in the fight to end the war on drugs. Draconian drug sentences have corrupted the criminal justice system and unfairly impacted African American and Latino communities. Although rates of drug use and selling are comparable across racial and ethnic lines, people who are black or Latino are far more likely to be arrested, convicted and sentenced more harshly for drug law violations. Like marijuana enforcement, mass criminalization of people for low-level drug offenses is a profound waste of scarce resources. It results in unfair disparities, destroys families, and creates outcomes far worse than the drugs themselves. The Smarter Sentencing Act is one of the only bipartisan efforts that is moving forward in Congress — with the Senate poised to vote as early as next month. Change won't happen unless people like you speak up. Sign the petition to Congress urging them to reform harsh mandatory minimum drug laws now. Thanks, Bill Piper Director, Office of National Affairs Drug Policy Alliance       Connect with us.

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