VIBES
Thu Jun 12, 2003, 01:51 PM
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** DEA Uses RAVE Act to Stop a Benefit to Raise Money for Marijuana
Reform
**Fax the DEA and Tell Acting Administrator William Simpkins to Stop
Using the RAVE Act Against Political Events
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=40190&l=2008
Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been
used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate
the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined
benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).
One of the biggest reasons the Drug Policy Alliance waged a national
campaign to stop the RAVE Act was that we feared it would be used to
shut down political events like this.
On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA
agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning
them that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found
in the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the
venue - were also approached and warned that their participation in the
event could result in a fine.
Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided to
cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously
designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the
American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA
will be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like,
such as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and
circuit parties.
Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other
organizations in our campaign to pressure the DEA to stop using the RAVE
Act to shut down political events.
ACTIONS TO TAKE
1) Fax the DEA. Urge Acting Administrator William Simpkins to stop using
the RAVE Act to harass innocent business owners and stifle free speech.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=40190&l=2008
2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists and
post it in chat rooms.
BACKGROUND
Sponsored by Senator Biden (D-DE), the RAVE Act (also known as the
Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act) was first introduced last year. It
proved so controversial then that two of its original co-sponsors
withdrew their support because they feared it would send innocent
business owners to jail. Business owners collected over 20,000
signatures in opposition to the bill. Protests against it were held
around the country and tens of thousands of voters urged their elected
official to oppose it. Controversy over the bill stalled it last year,
but Senator Biden attached it to the popular "Amber Alert" bill without
public debate or a vote of Congress earlier this year and snuck it into
law.
The RAVE Act expands federal law to make it easier to jail and imprison
event organizers and property owners that fail to stop drug offenses
from occurring on their property - even in cases when they take serious
steps to reduce drug offenses. It applies to "any place", including bars
and nightclubs, hotels, apartment buildings, and homes. Legal experts
warned that the law was so broad that it could be used to shut down not
only raves and electronic music events, but also Hip Hop, rock, and
country music concerts, sporting events, gay and lesbian fundraisers,
political protests, and any other event federal agents do not like.
On May 30th an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told
managers of the Eagle Lodge in Billings, Montana that the Lodge could be
fined $250,000 if anyone smoked marijuana during a planned benefit to
raise money for a campaign to change Montana's medical marijuana law.
After consulting their attorneys, the Eagle Lodge canceled the event.
For more information on the RAVE Act see
THATS A LOT OF PEN-E-Z
Name Type Save View
Message text/plain Save
** DEA Uses RAVE Act to Stop a Benefit to Raise Money for Marijuana
Reform
**Fax the DEA and Tell Acting Administrator William Simpkins to Stop
Using the RAVE Act Against Political Events
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=40190&l=2008
Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been
used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate
the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined
benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).
One of the biggest reasons the Drug Policy Alliance waged a national
campaign to stop the RAVE Act was that we feared it would be used to
shut down political events like this.
On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA
agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning
them that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found
in the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the
venue - were also approached and warned that their participation in the
event could result in a fine.
Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided to
cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously
designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the
American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA
will be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like,
such as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and
circuit parties.
Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other
organizations in our campaign to pressure the DEA to stop using the RAVE
Act to shut down political events.
ACTIONS TO TAKE
1) Fax the DEA. Urge Acting Administrator William Simpkins to stop using
the RAVE Act to harass innocent business owners and stifle free speech.
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=40190&l=2008
2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists and
post it in chat rooms.
BACKGROUND
Sponsored by Senator Biden (D-DE), the RAVE Act (also known as the
Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act) was first introduced last year. It
proved so controversial then that two of its original co-sponsors
withdrew their support because they feared it would send innocent
business owners to jail. Business owners collected over 20,000
signatures in opposition to the bill. Protests against it were held
around the country and tens of thousands of voters urged their elected
official to oppose it. Controversy over the bill stalled it last year,
but Senator Biden attached it to the popular "Amber Alert" bill without
public debate or a vote of Congress earlier this year and snuck it into
law.
The RAVE Act expands federal law to make it easier to jail and imprison
event organizers and property owners that fail to stop drug offenses
from occurring on their property - even in cases when they take serious
steps to reduce drug offenses. It applies to "any place", including bars
and nightclubs, hotels, apartment buildings, and homes. Legal experts
warned that the law was so broad that it could be used to shut down not
only raves and electronic music events, but also Hip Hop, rock, and
country music concerts, sporting events, gay and lesbian fundraisers,
political protests, and any other event federal agents do not like.
On May 30th an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told
managers of the Eagle Lodge in Billings, Montana that the Lodge could be
fined $250,000 if anyone smoked marijuana during a planned benefit to
raise money for a campaign to change Montana's medical marijuana law.
After consulting their attorneys, the Eagle Lodge canceled the event.
For more information on the RAVE Act see
THATS A LOT OF PEN-E-Z