Read about the RAVE act and then do something about it!

[ReformMaryJaneLaws]

Dear UUDPR participants,

Greetings! Now that Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform is
giving public witness to the UUA's new drug policy Statement of
Conscience, we encourage you to take action to oppose the most dangerous
drug policy legislation currently moving through Congress. The action
alert pasted below was written by the Drug Policy Alliance. (For more
information, see http://www.drugpolicy.org .)

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

All the best,

Charles Thomas, executive director
Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform
http://www.uudpr.org
301-938-1577


ACTION ALERT:


As you may know already, the Senate may soon
vote on the RAVE Act, a dangerous bill that is a
threat to free speech, property rights and public
health. Groups that SUPPORT THE DRUG WAR have
launched a campaign to get voters to write their
Senators in support of the RAVE Act. It is
extremely important that you write your Senators
and tell them to oppose the bill. Senators need
to hear that the RAVE Act will punish innocent
business owners, hurt the very people it's meant
to help, and squash events that federal prosecutors
don't like.

IT IS URGENT THAT YOU ACT RIGHT AWAY. The Senate
could be voting on the RAVE Act as early as
September 3rd.

ACTIONS TO TAKE

** Write your Senators today. To find out who your
Senators are go to:
http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm.

Talking points and a sample letter are below
(although it's best to use you own words).

For more information on the RAVE Act see:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/action/RaveBill.html

** Please forward this e-mail to friends and family.
Thousands of pro-drug war voters are writing their
Senators in support of the RAVE Act. Senators need
to get thousands of letters from opponents of the
RAVE Act.

ACT NOW!

TALKING POINTS FOR LETTERS TO SENATORS

*** I am writing to express my opposition to the
S.2633, the "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to
Ecstasy Act of 2002" (RAVE Act), which is a threat
to free speech, property rights and public health.

*** The RAVE Act will hurt the very people it's meant
to protect. We need to protect teens from the dangers
of drugs. Unfortunately, the RAVE Act will drive
raves and other musical events further underground
and away from emergency care and hospitals. Moreover,
by insinuating that selling bottled water, offering
air-conditioned "cool off" rooms and having ambulances
present is proof that owners and promoters know that
drug use is occurring at their events, the bill may
make business owners too afraid to implement the kind
of safety measures that will save lives.

*** The RAVE Act unfairly punishes businessmen and women
for the actions of their customers. It is too broadly
written and could subject innocent business owners to
enormous fines or prison sentences, especially restaurant
and nightclub owners, concert promoters, landlords, and
real estate managers. Business owners could be
prosecuted even if they took steps to stop drug use on
their property.

*** While some supporters of the RAVE Act are trying to
distort the debate over this bill by saying it has
nothing to do with free speech, the RAVE Act will
stifle musical expression and is clearly a threat to
free speech and the right to dance. If the bill
becomes law, property owners may be too afraid to rent
or lease their property to groups holding all-night
dance parties, rock or Hip-Hop concerts, or any other
event rightly or wrongly perceived as attracting drug
users (essentially any event that attracts a young
crowd.)

SAMPLE LETTER

The Honorable (full name of Senator)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator (last name):
I am writing to express my opposition to S.2633, the
"Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of
2002" (RAVE Act), which is a threat to free speech,
property rights and public health. While a number of
groups are trying to claim that the RAVE Act isn't
about attacking one kind of music or punishing innocent
business owners, it is clear from reading the bill and
examining recent case law that they are wrong.

The RAVE Act will hurt the very people it's meant to
protect. We need to protect teens from the dangers of
drugs. Unfortunately, the RAVE Act will drive raves and
other musical events further underground and away from
emergency care and hospitals. Moreover, by insinuating
that selling bottled water, offering air-conditioned
"cool off" rooms and having ambulances present is proof
that owners and promoters know that drug use is
occurring at their events, the bill may make business
owners too afraid to implement the kind of safety
measures that will save lives.

The RAVE Act also unfairly punishes businessmen and
women for the actions of their customers. It is too
broadly written and could subject innocent business
owners to enormous fines or prison sentences,
especially restaurant and nightclub owners, concert
promoters, landlords, and real estate managers.
Business owners could be prosecuted even if they took
steps to stop drug use on their property. The
government can't even keep drugs out of its own
prisons, yet it's seeking to punish business owners
for failing to stop their customers from using drugs.

Please oppose S.2633, the RAVE Act. Drug abuse is a
serious problem that demands serious attention, but
this bill will do more harm than good.