DRUG PEACE IN 2007

Dear friends,

It has long been argued that the most effective harm reduction
measure is ending the costly and ineffective "War on Drugs." Because
of the federal government's unflagging support of drug prohibition:

. substance use is stigmatized, and users continue to face arrest;

. needle-exchange is under-funded or otherwise blocked;

. the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst substance users continues to expand;

. substance use education and/or treatment is largely
abstinence-based or unavailable;

. research into approaches toward harm reduction is stymied.

As we've all learned through experience, the most powerful harm
reduction tool is education. At DrugSense, we're committed to making
the most up-to-date online resources and drug war news available to
the harm reduction community, including:

a. The Media Awareness Project (http://www.mapinc.org), an archive
of over 175,000 drug-related news stories that can be accessed
through a powerful search engine or reviewed via our DrugSense Weekly
Newsletter (http://www.drugsense.org/nl/2006/).

b. Our Activism Center (http://www.mapinc.org/resource/maf.htm),
where you can access useful information on how to get your story
covered by the media. You then contact the outlets of your choice
using our FREE Media Contact on Demand database (http://www.mapinc.org/mcod).

c. The MAP OnAir event list (http://www.mapinc.org/onair) that
allows your org to add its upcoming print, TV, and radio appearances,
as well as find out about similar media appearances all over North America.

d. Drug Policy Central (http://drugpolicycentral.com), which offers
free web design, hosting, email discussion lists, and technical
support to qualified non-profits. We currently host The National
Harm Reduction Coalition, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP),
the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, the November Coalition
and so many more...

All of these services are absolutely FREE of CHARGE, but they're not
free to produce, so please consider giving to DrugSense this year by
going to http://drugsense.org/donate and making a tax-deductible donation!

Your check or money order can also be mailed to:

14252 Culver Drive #328

Irvine, CA 92604-0326

Please note that, as a DrugSense is a 501(c)(3) educational
non-profit, your donation to DrugSense is tax deductible to the
extent provided by law.

Also, due to the generosity of a long time DrugSense funder we have
secured a matching funds grant! This means that for a limited time
anything you contribute to DrugSense and the Media Awareness Project
will be matched, thus doubling the effective amount of your contribution.

Let's make 2007 the year that we finally put an end to this ongoing
war on our civil rights and personal liberties. Please support harm
reduction and evidence-based drug policies. Give to DrugSense and
help us to move towards a "drug peace" in 2007!

Philippe Lucas is our Director of Communications. He is the founder
and director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society
http://www.thevics.com , a Canadian non-profit therapeutic cannabis
research and distribution center; and founder of Canadians for Safe
Access http://www.safeaccess.ca , the nation's largest medicinal
cannabis patients rights organization.