DrugSense FOCUS Alert # 125 September 15, 1999 "The Nation" Magazine Devotes Issue to Drug Policy Reform TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, DONATE, VOLUNTEER TO HELP OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS PLEASE SEE THE INFORMATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS FOCUS ALERT PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE DrugSense FOCUS Alert # 125 September 15, 1999 "The Nation" Magazine Devotes Issue to Drug Policy Reform This week's issue of The Nation features a number of articles on drug policy reform. Activists will find many ideas to support, while they may also find a few ideas they would like to challenge. Either way we need to let editors at the publication know that we appreciate the broad coverage offered on these important issues. Several of the articles are now available at the MAP archives. Use the links below to read some or all of the articles. Then please write a letter to The Nation generally thanking them for shining a spotlight on reform issues. Feel free to praise any articles you found particularly good, or to criticize any articles you feel were off base. Thanks for your effort and support. WRITE A LETTER TODAY Don't Think About it - Just DO It! You CAN Make a Difference PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter, Phone, fax etc.) Please post a copy your letter or report your action to the MAPTalk list if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to Your letter will then be forwarded to the list with so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit This is VERY IMPORTANT as it is the only way we have of gauging our impact and effectiveness. CONTACT INFO Source: Nation, The (US) Contact: Pubdate: 20 Sep 1999 Source: Nation, The (US) Copyright: 1999, The Nation Company Contact: Website: http://www.thenation.com/ Note: This list should make finding the articles in our archives easier. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n963.a03.html THE NATION - SPECIAL ISSUE "BEYOND LEGALIZATION - NEW IDEAS FOR ENDING THE DRUG WAR" Editorial: Beyond the Drug War http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n954.a12.html It's Time for Realism Michael Massing http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n957.a01.html Life of a Scandal Peter Kornbluh http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n958.a04.html Perils of Prohibition Mike Gray http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n958.a03.html Yes, Treatment, But... Elliott Currie http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n955.a03.html Michael Massing Responds http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n955.a02.html An Old City Seeks A New Model - Baltimore Moves Toward "Medicalization" Joshua Wolf Shenk http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n957.a02.html Does Europe Do It Better? Lessons From Holland, Britain and Switzerland Robert J. MacCoun and Peter Reuter http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n955.a01.html ----- George Soros's Long Strange Trip A Philanthropist Defies Drug War Orthodoxy Russ Baker (posted in two parts) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n959.a11.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n962.a06.html Marijuana Made Easy Armies of Experts Sell a Little White Pill Cynthia Cotts http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n962.a05.html The Road to Reform Activists Need Fresh Strategies to Win Carol A. Bergman http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n958.a05.html SAMPLE LETTER (sent) Dear Editor, Hearty congratulations for your in depth coverage of the debate on our failed drug war. An open dialogue on alternatives to this wretched policy is precisely what is needed to move us back in the direction of a sane drug policy. I was very surprised, however, that your articles completely missed mentioning two of the deepest, most popular, and most informative web sites on drug policy available on the web. http://www.drugsense.org/ The DrugSense web site, offers a vast array of information and what may be the most informative weekly newsletter and news synopsis on drug policy developments in the world. http://www.mapinc.org/ The Media Awareness Project (MAP) web site also offers a huge information database including more than 25,000 news articles on drug policy from all over the world all completely searchable on any subject in seconds. It also offers an archive of more than 2,000 published letters to the editor and opeds on drug policy. Missing these sites when writing about drug policy was tantamount to writing about book sales on the Internet and not mentioningAmazon.com Mark Greer Executive Director DrugSense (MAP Inc.) IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone number Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work. ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts 3 Tips for Letter Writers http://www.mapinc.org/3tips.htm Letter Writers Style Guide http://www.mapinc.org/style.htm Prepared by Stephen Young - http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus Alert Specialist

Focus Alert Archive