I have enjoyed using marijuana for over 27 years. I have also enjoyed
using a variety of other illegal substances during that time.
I am fortunate that I have never been charged with either possession or
distribution of anything illegal. Of course not everyone of the millions
of Americans who likewise enjoyed using the same substances I did has been
so lucky due to the insanity known as Prohibition.

I am blessed with a good education based in communications and journalism
but was not aware of how to use this education to help change drug policies
until I first went cyber in the fall of 1998. I was pleased to make
contact with and enjoy about an 18 month cyber and mail relationship with
Peter McWilliams. Peter's writings had helped me during the early 1990s
when I went through about a five year period of abusing some of the drugs I
had enjoyed for over a decade, most notably alcohol and cocaine. His books
and poetry were a major part of how I came to amend my behaviors to a more
healthy lifestyle. He directed me to Richard Cowan and the greatness of
Marijuananews.com and Dick pointed me to Richard Lake and the folks at MAP.

Thanks to not only the resources MAP has created, but also to the generous
welcome MAP gave to my volunteer services, I have been able to affect local
and national thinking on drug policy and Prohibition in a way I could never
have imagined just five years ago.

My words and opinions on drug policy have appeared nationwide, in Canada,
Europe and Australia. I have been inspired by a host of other excellent
writers and communicators who I've met thru my work at MAP. The skills
they have helped me to develop have in the past 18 months allowed me to
more effectively communicate in other areas as well and to make a
difference in helping people and projects outside DPR.

Peter and many others helped me to a more healthy life and MAP has provided
me with the direct and powerful vehicle to best utilize that health for the
benefit of others.

Peace from Clearwater,

Stephen Heath

Public Relations Director

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

The Drug Policy Forum of Florida is working to encourage accuracy, honesty,
and common sense in matters involving the failed, expensive, and
destructive "War on Drugs."

http://www.dpffl.org