The following is from Shaleen Title, who is the new Speakers Bureau Director for LEAP:
There are so many worthwhile drug policy reform organizations out there, but what makes LEAP different is our Speakers Bureau of credible witnesses to the War on Drugs. We currently have over 70 active Speakers, comprised of current and former police officers, narcotics officers, DEA agents, prosecutors, judges, and other criminal justice professionals who are speaking out about the failure of the War on Drugs.
And now we are recruiting new speakers! LEAP is growing fast - we have three new staff members and dozens of new volunteers who have offered to help book speakers. The support for new speakers is already in place. If you are a current or former criminal justice professional and you agree with LEAP's mission, please help us toward our goals of educating the public, media, and policymakers on the failure of current drug policy and restoring the public's respect for law enforcement!
To apply to become a new speaker, there are only four requirements:
1. That they are current or former members of law enforcement;
2. That they believe the US war on drugs was, is, and forever will be, a failure;
3. That they wish to support alternative policies that will lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by ultimately ending prohibition;
4. That they always give the appearance of a professional speaker.
Because LEAP relies on the credibility of its speakers in everything we do and every bit of progress we make, we do hold our speakers to the highest standard of professionalism. We also ask our speakers to complete one "LEAP action" a month - this can range anywhere from 2 minutes (commenting on a story online and mentioning LEAP) to a couple hours (writing an Op-Ed) to a weekend (attending a conference on behalf of LEAP).
Since starting with LEAP last month, I've had an amazing time working with our talented speakers. Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome. For the past eight years, I've been working with Students for Sensible Drug Policy and other organizations as a student leader and volunteer in Illinois. After a little time in the corporate world, I realized I needed to devote all my effort to helping this cause. The passion that LEAP members have is incredible - I'm thrilled by the outpouring of support we received this weekend after putting out a call for volunteers. We are seeking to grow our Speakers Bureau and have it represent the diversity of the criminal justice and law enforcement communities -- so spread the word that we are recruiting!
would being a law cleark count?
ReplyDeleteHi there - legal experience is sufficient for the requirements of a LEAP speaker if it directly involves enforcing the policies of the War on Drugs. We're looking for former and current drug warriors. So being a judge or a prosecutor would count- clerking for a judge would probably not suffice unless you were somehow directly enforcing drug laws. Feel free to email me to discuss your specific situation!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely wrong idea. What's next? It's ok to rob banks because a lot of criminals would like to do it?! It's weak kneed characters like this group that are causing the downfall of this system. Bring back the death penalty and tighten up the punishments for crime. The rest of us would certainly feel better about our safety if the killers were taken out of the picture and the rest taught a lesson on what the consequences of their actions are.
ReplyDeleteHow about a little concern for honest people for a change and less crying for the rights of the bad guys. Wake up people.
Anonymous at 2:10 - Why don't you look up "consensual crime" on Wikipedia and come back to this blog when you understand the fundamental difference between drug offences and bank robberies.
ReplyDeleteI was open to implementing the death penalty for drug offences when I first began researching drug policy. Then I discovered that Iran routinely executes drug traffickers and yet still has the highest opiate addiction rate in the world. And, really, who wants to live in a country like Iran?
What's next? It's ok to rob banks because a lot of criminals would like to do it?!
ReplyDeleteYou're perspective is seriously flawed and warped if you think ending prohibition is about encouraging people to find pleasure more quickly.
Robbing banks? Haven't you heard about the Golden Rule? You are also obviously ignorant to the fact the overwhelming majority of drug users are otherwise law abiding citizens.
Robbing lives is far worse than robbing banks! What concern do you have over the many people who have been killed in dimwitted drug raids? What concern do you have over the gross disruption of families or individuals who are being forced to sit and be mostly useless in a prison instead of being able to contribute to society like they were before some arbitrary law crushed them?
It's weak kneed characters like this group that are causing the downfall of this system.
The downfall of our system is due to evil greed/jealousy and self-righteous jerks forcing their crooked views of morality on the rest of us! Together it has undermined our whole society and even the world.
Dismantling the evil system of drug prohibition will be like removing a cancer from a patient!
LEAP, be strong. Jesus says it's a blessing when people lie about you, when people persecute you, and fling mud and worse.
Bring back the death penalty and tighten up the punishments for crime. The rest of us would certainly feel better about our safety if the killers were taken out of the picture and the rest taught a lesson on what the consequences of their actions are.
Such outrageous hypocrisy, it's like you don't even know what you're saying, how are you not a killer yourself for wishing death on others?
Mean-spiritited punitive laws, even in overbearing countries like Iran, have not stopped drugs, as David points out.
Yes, all the prohibitionists will be taught a lesson about the consequences of their actions, on Judgement Day by God! Thus all the crying, pain, being cast out, and worse. You'll be joining the suicide bombing terrorists who dreamed they were doing God's will.
You will find that God hates that you all call his plants a crime! It is not an affront to God to grow plants, but it sure is to imprison them because of it!
How about a little concern for honest people for a change and less crying for the rights of the bad guys.
They are very concerned for the honest people. This evil drug war has brought death, destruction, disease, corruption, the scarlet letter, and many other ills to people who do not deserve such treatment.
Why don't you do a little reading about The Golden Rule. No religion is required to follow it, or recommend it to others. So if you are not religious then you should read this essay: The Golden Rule: No Religion Required.
If you are religious, a Christian, then I encourage you to check out this website: ChristiansAgainstProhibition.org.