DING DONG, THE BONGS ARE GONE? PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE DrugSense FOCUS Alert #263 Friday, 28 Feb 2003 Federal officials said Monday that they had shut down the biggest paraphernalia suppliers in the United States in a series of nationwide raids. In all, 55 people were charged with manufacture and/or distribution of items alleged to be used for illegal purposes. Additionally, a number of websites are being shut down by the Feds without anyone yet being convicted of a crime in a court of law. The DEA intends to redirect these websites to a government-sponsored site, a chilling and Orwellian action if not challenged. What other websites which the government views with disapproval will be next on the list? The absurdity of using major tax dollars to fund a multi-agency effort against these otherwise law-abiding and tax-paying businesses can hardly be put into words. Each of us likely has our own way of expressing the frustration felt when our federal officers carry out such missions. This especially applies when one of the most obvious illusions is the suggestion that these raids will make one iota of difference on the number of illegal drugs that are regularly exchanged and used in a country where tens of millions of people enjoy using them. Of course the paraphernalia industry will rebound, smaller perhaps, smarter and more aware of the law. After all these devices have been used to smoke tobacco and other legal herbs throughout history. Users can turn to the internet to find instructions on how to make their own. Unfortunately home made paraphernalia if made of the wrong material can increase harm. And vaporizers - which have been shown to reduce harm because the substances are not actually burned - will be harder to obtain. Attorney General John Ashcroft defends the action by reminding us that, "It's a federal law." Curious bystanders watch with confusion. Why does a particular federal law have the attention of the nation's most powerful law officer at a time when our nation is at an elevated risk of a terror attack? Please use the link below to pull up an easy to use list of stories archived at MAP that cover this story. Thanks for your effort and support. It's not what others do it's what YOU do PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter, email messages, etc.) Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent letter list () if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to if you are not subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit. This is _Very_ Important as it is one very effective way of gauging our impact and effectiveness. Subscribing to the Sent LTE list () will help you to review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing efforts. To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm and/or http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form CONTACT INFO Clicking the following link will bring up a list of news articles. Those listed at the top going on down the list to the ones dated 24 Feb 2003 are, with few exceptions, appropriate targets for your letters to the editor. Just click on the link to bring the article up, then on the contact line for the article, and write your letter, please. http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Paraphernalia SAMPLE LETTER (Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it at least somewhat so that no newspaper receives numerous copies of the same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work.) Dear Editor: While Homeland Security issues alerts varying from medium to high danger, Attorney General John Ashcroft organizes a multi-agency effort to crush the bong industry in America. He suggests the paraphernalia business "has invaded the homes of families across the country without their knowledge." Gee, I guess the millions of bongs and pipes just magically appeared without their owners who made the voluntary purchase realizing what was up? Ashcroft must be high himself if he actually believes he has reduced the number of smoking implements in America. Does he not realize smokers will simply turn to the millions of potters and glass-blowers for their products, not to mention every hardware store in the country? Much like his brethren at the NYPD, Ashcroft has learned arresting anyone and anything related to marijuana makes for easy statistics which help perpetuate funding for low-impact law enforcement careers at all levels. Respectfully submitted, (SIGNATURE) (Always include your address and phone number for newspaper verification. Most papers will not print your letter otherwise. ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts, please see: Writer's Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/ TO SUBSCRIBE, DONATE, VOLUNTEER TO HELP, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL SEE http://www.drugsense.org/hurry.htm TO UNSUBSCRIBE SEE http://www.drugsense.org/unsub.htm Prepared by: Stephen Heath, Drug Policy Forum of Florida http://www.dpffl.org Focus Alert Specialist

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