Donate to LEAP

It's Time to Take a Real Look at the Drug War

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) recently introduced a bill, S.714, to create a blue ribbon commission to look at the reasons we have so many people behind bars in America.

We know the reason: drug prohibition.

Now we have an opportunity to make sure this important commission gets off the ground and looks at the right issues. Please take one minute to fill in your information below, edit the letter if you want, and click to send this important message to your one U.S. House representative, your two U.S. senators and President Barack Obama . Then, tell your friends to do the same!

May 25, 2013

Subject:

As your constituent, I urge you to support S. 714, the bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Jim Webb and Arlen Specter, which would form a blue ribbon commission to investigate the problem of overcrowding in the United States prison system.  Senator Webb’s assertion that prisons are vastly overcrowded with drug addicts and the mentally ill is accurate.  In fact, America is the number one incarcerator in the world, and drug prohibition is a major force behind the prison industry.

Incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders is an extremely costly expense, and the burden falls on the taxpayers.

The American people deserve to have a national discussion on the failure of our current drug policy.  Tens of billions of our tax dollars are being wasted every year on a policy that has been proven ineffective.   We are wasting money and time on the arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of nonviolent drug offenders.  Meanwhile, drugs are more potent, easier to obtain, and less expensive than ever before.  By upholding a policy of drug prohibition, our government has given power to the illegal drug cartels and gangs, and the only way to regain that power is to implement a system of legalized regulation.

Three out of four Americans, including President Obama, have said the war on drugs has failed, and all Americans who pay taxes or want to have safe streets are impacted by drug prohibition’s failure.  Again, I ask that you support a blue ribbon commission to review the efficacy of our current drug policy.  Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this important matter.

We will add your signature from the information you provide.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Street*

Street 2

City*

State/Province*

Zip/Postal Code*

Please personalize your letter before you send it for added impact.