D. IS NOT FOR DRUGS

He doesn't care if you smoke dope. He doesn't advocate that you do. He is
far from a slacker, no turn-on and dropout type. He works as a union
laborer on the East Side and has grandkids. Doesn't go out much. Really
can't be bothered. He also moonlights tirelessly, burning up the Internet
constantly seeking to reform the current drug laws, especially concerning
marijuana, which he defines as a medicine, not a drug.

We'll call him "D." In fact, that's what his friends call him. A fuller
identification would be no favor to him, given the repressive political
climate that surrounds criminalized drugs.

His labors as an activist are many. He edits the Web site for The Media
Awareness Project, archiving all of its published letters and managing its
media database that lists, he says, "I don't know how many papers,
magazines, and other publications from around the world. It's interesting
to read that most countries are not following the U.S. lead and are moving
toward more sensible policies." His newest endeavor is another Web site,
the Drug Policy Forum of Illinois. (Note: a good search engine, such as
Google, should lead you to these resources.)

He is also thinking about manning a "hempformation" booth at the Illinois
State Fair. "I hope I'm not mentally ill," he jokes, alluding to the public
nature of such a gesture.

How did he get into this?

D. Says, "That's an easy one. I read a newspaper article about two dudes
who added a drug to baby formula they manufactured that killed 38 babies -
six months and a $130,000 fine. Followed by a small article about two East
St. Louis men facing life in prison for marijuana distribution. I've
carried them in my wallet since. Needless to say, it's not dated and is
faded real bad after 20 years, but with effort it can be read."

What effect has any of it had?

He says that his Web sites combine to receive nearly 3,000,000 hits a month
and attract more visitors than The Office of National Drug Control Policy,
The Partnership for a Drug Free America, The Center for Addiction and
Substance Abuse and DARE combined. "No site supporting existing policy even
comes close to the DrugSense/MAP sites for relative popularity and number
of visitors," he notes.

Nevertheless, D. says, "I have no grand illusions of changing the world
overnight. I'd really much prefer people don't listen to me (in a way) and
just educate themselves. I'm just trying to make it easier for them to find
the information."

Among that information is heartrending stories about people who never
smoked pot for pleasure but did develop debilitating illnesses, such as
glaucoma, that are uniquely eased by cannabis, and who fight for their
lives (and often languish in prison) trying to get access to the one drug
that helps them. Also, many stories about non-violent offenders expensively
clogging our prison system.

"I really need to explain I'm not pro-drug!" D. emphasizes. "I am
pro-reform. It seems to me the current laws cause more harm than good. With
Bush denying student loans when someone has been arrested for pot, I find
it bizarre. I think harm reduction is my real goal, and that means a major
overhaul of the current drug laws."

It's a goal he takes seriously, laboring at his computer for hours at night
after manning a jackhammer or pouring concrete all day to support his family.

D. says, "I also get up at 4 a.m. to get in a couple of hours before work.
I've said for 20 years if someone can prove to me I'm wrong, I'd be more
then happy to stop and just live my life like everyone else. I'm still
waiting!"