California Proposition 215: ACTION ITEM

215Now.com is a new website launched by the Libertarian Party of California.

It is named after Proposition 215, the groundbreaking voter initiative that legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal use in California back in November, 1996.

Specifically, Proposition 215 exempted patients from arrest as long as the patient had written or oral recommendation from a physician to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Other states have passed similar measures: Arizona, Alaska, Washington state, Nevada, and Oregon. In 1998, voters in Colorado and the District of Columbia passed non-binding resolutions expressing support for medical marijuana. More states are considering medical marijuana legislation.

When Proposition 215 was passed in California, medical marijuana patients breathed a sigh of relief. But the problems were just beginning.

The federal government immediately announced that it would prosecute doctors who "recommended" marijuana for patients. California's then- Attorney General Dan Lungren, a Republican, declared his intention to implement Proposition 215 as narrowly as possible.

Even today, two and a half years since the passage of Proposition 215, patients in California and other states live in fear of harassment, arrest, and prosecution.

In July, 1998, LP member, best-selling author, and AIDS patients Peter McWilliams was arrested in his Los Angeles home -- three weeks after giving a speech at the Libertarian National Convention.

In January, 1999, Steve Kubby -- the 1998 Libertarian candidate for governor of California -- was arrested along with his wife Michele. Despite being legitimate medical marijuana patients, the Kubbys now faces felony drug charges.

Enough is enough.

The Libertarian Party of California decided to take action and launch 215Now.com because:

• Patients are not getting access to the medicine they need
• Patients are being harassed by law enforcement officers, arrested, and prosecuted
• Doctors are afraid to recommend marijuana for their patients for fear that the federal government will revoke their Scheduled-drug prescription license
• State governments are at odds over how to proceed

This is a matter of life or death for thousands of patients. You can help with just a few clicks of the mouse.

215Now.com has already produced over 7,400 emails to targeted officials in federal government! But more action is needed TODAY!

You do NOT have to live in California to sign the online petition -- anyone in the 50 states can sign!

After you have signed the petition, an e-mail will be sent in your name to our four targeted federal government officials:

1. Dr. Jane Henney, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner
2. Donna Shalala, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
3. Janet Reno, United States Attorney General
4. Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy

WHY THESE TARGETS?

Phase I of our Internet campaign is called "Reschedule Marijuana NOW!"

The biggest hurdle to implementing state medical marijuana initiatives -- those that have passed and those that may soon pass in your state -- is the legal status of marijuana at the federal level.

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 established five "Schedules" where drugs are listed according to their addictive properties and accepted medicinal value. Schedule-I drugs are considered most dangerous while Schedule-V drugs are most benign.

Marijuana is currently a federally-listed Schedule-I drug, making it illegal for doctors to prescribe marijuana for patients. By comparison, cocaine -- considered by many a far more addictive and dangerous drug than marijuana -- is listed as Schedule-II, and doctors can prescribe cocaine for certain specific conditions.

Our four targets have the power to change marijuana's legal status at the federal level. Your petition will urge them to "Reschedule marijuana NOW!" so that doctors can legally prescribe marijuana for their patients.

ACTION: WHAT TO DO!

We want to flood our targets' offices with thousands of e-mails. And time is running out.

We are planning on launching Phase II of our campaign June 1st. So we need you to act NOW during Phase I -- and sign the online petition before May 31.

1. Go to http://215Now.com
2. Sign the petition to reschedule marijuana NOW!
3. Pass a note to your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and associates directing them to 215Now.com. Ask them to sign the petition as well, and to pass it on to folks in their e-mail address book.
4. Do this before May 31!

Remember -- we want to show the federal government that this isn't just a California issue. The more petition signers from all across the country, the better!

Your state may want to pass a medical marijuana initiative in the near future -- and will face the same problems California is facing unless you act NOW!