Here is the reply about my concerns from Senator Graham.
“January 10, 2011
Thank you for contacting me regarding our criminal justice system. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from you on this critical issue.
I understand your concern that some federal prison facilities are ill-equipped to accommodate the high volume of inmates. While I support a system of federal incarceration that effectively enforces our nation’s laws, I recognize that such enforcement requires adequate prison facilities. I also recognize that many of our nation’s prisons are filled with non-violent offenders who tax limited resources and who may be more effectively and efficiently served by a combination of limited incarceration, rehabilitation, and addiction treatment services.
You may be interested to learn of my cosponsorship of S. 714, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, introduced on March 26, 2009. This legislation will create a blue-ribbon commission charged with undertaking an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of our entire criminal justice system. The commission will propose concrete, wide ranging reforms designed to responsibly reduce the overall incarceration rate; improve federal and local responses to international and domestic gang violence; restructure our approach to drug policy; improve the treatment of mental illness; strengthen prison administration; and establish a system for reintegrating ex-offenders. S. 714 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, I was pleased to participate in a hearing on S. 714 on June 11, 2009. During the hearing, testimony was provided by a diverse group of experts including legal professionals and academics, members of the law enforcement community, and prison ministry representatives, all of whom offered unique and valuable perspectives on proposed criminal justice reforms. I am hopeful that the full Senate will have an opportunity to review this important bill soon.
Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. If I may be of further assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to call on me.
Sincerely,
Lindsey O. Graham
United States Senator”
In ascending order as sent with date.
5. Subject: Support The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2010
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Barrett
Message text follows:
(My name and address)
December 24, 2010
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I am writing today to urge you to support House Bill 1866, The Industrial
Hemp Farming Act of 2010, which would grant states the authority to
license and regulate the commercial production of hemp as an industrial
and agricultural commodity.
Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa that
contains only minute (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),
the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Passage of HR 1866 will
grant farmers access to a viable, alternative economic crop without
altering or interfering with existing state laws discouraging the
recreational use of cannabis.
According to the U.S. Congressional Resource Service, the United States is
the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an
economic crop. As a result, U.S. companies that specialize in hempen goods
-- such as Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Patagonia, Nature's Path, and Nutiva
-- have no choice but to import hemp material from foreign sources, such
as Canada, Europe, and China. These added production costs are then passed
on to the consumer who must pay artificially high retail prices for hemp
products.
Passage of HR 1866 is a common-sense bill that will help to stimulate the
economy, create jobs, and enable U.S. farmers to grow a low maintenance
alternative crop.
Once again, I urge you to support House Bill 1866, The Industrial Hemp
Farming Act of 2010.
Sincerely,
(My name and phone number)
4. Subject: Support Federal Marijuana Law Reform
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Barrett
Message text follows:
(My name and address)
December 24, 2010
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I'm writing to urge your support for common sense marijuana law reform.
Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsor Texas
Republican Ron Paul, has introduced legislation to limit the federal
government's authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.
The measure, entitled an "Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use
of Marijuana by Responsible Adults," would remove federal sanctions for
minor marijuana offenses - making the prosecutions of these offenses
strictly a state matter.
Otherwise law-abiding citizens who use marijuana responsibly are not part
of the crime problem, and we must stop treating them like criminals under
federal law. According to nationwide polls, three out of four voters agree
that adults who possess marijuana should not face arrest or jail, and one
out of two now believe that cannabis should be regulated like alcohol.
Once again, I urge you to support the passage of this act, and I hope that
you will consider co-sponsoring this important legislation.
Sincerely,
(My name and phone number)
3. Subject: Support The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act
Message sent to the following recipients:
Representative Barrett
Message text follows:
(My name and address)
December 24, 2010
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I'm writing to urge your support for HR 2835, The Medical Marijuana
Patient Protection Act.
This legislation seeks to amend the discrepancy between federal law and
the laws of over a dozen states that have enacted regulations governing
the therapeutic use of cannabis. At the same time, passage of The Medical
Marijuana Patient Protection Act will not alter or interfere with already
existing federal laws discouraging the non-medical, recreational use of
marijuana, nor would it legalize the physician-supervised use of medical
cannabis in states that have not already approved it.
The use of marijuana as medicine is a public health issue; it should not
be part of the war on drugs. Nearly half of all doctors with opinions
support legalizing cannabis as a medicine, and over 80 state and national
health care organizations -- including the American Nurses Association,
American Public Health Association, the American College of Physician, and
The New England Journal of Medicine -- support granting qualified patients
immediate legal access to medical cannabis.
To deny an effective medication to the sick and dying in order to "send a
strong message to kids" against drug abuse is cruel and unconscionable,
and improperly interferes with the relationship between a patient and his
or her physician. State and federal laws already allow the medical use of
many drugs, such as cocaine and morphine, which can be abused in a
non-medical setting. Basic compassion and common sense demand that we
allow the seriously ill to use whatever medication provides safe and
effective relief. That is why 8 out of 10 American voters now say they
support the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes.
Fourteen states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland,
Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont,
Washington and the District of Columbia -- have enacted laws protecting
medical marijuana patients from state prosecution. The citizens and
representatives from these states, as well as from additional states that
seek to regulate the controlled use of medicinal marijuana, should be
allowed to act in a manner that is free from federal interference.
Once again, I urge you to support HR 2835, The Medical Marijuana Patient
Protection Act.
Sincerely,
(My name and phone number)
2. Subject: Vote 'No' on the Nomination of Michele Leonhart
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator DeMint
Senator Graham
Message text follows:
(my name and address)
December 24, 2010
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I urge you to vote 'no' regarding the nomination of Michele Leonhart to
direct the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
As interim director, Ms. Leonhart has obstructed efforts to end the
destructive conflict between federal and state medical marijuana laws
while overseeing federal raids and arrests in disregard of state law -
contrary to the present policy of this administration.
Furthermore, Ms. Leonhart has blocked scientific research on medical
marijuana, in disregard of this administration's pledge to let science,
rather than ideology, guide public policy.
In particular, Ms. Leonhart has neglected to reply to an eight-year old
petition to reschedule marijuana for medical use, as called for by the AMA
and a growing number of states and federal judges.
She has further denied the application of the University of Massachusetts
to establish a research facility for FDA development of marijuana,
overruling the recommendation of the DEA's own administrative law judge
that this was not in the public interest.
Ms. Leonhart has incomprehensibly called the rising death toll of
civilians attributable to the U.S./Mexican drug war "a signpost of the
success" of her agency's policies.
Ms. Leonhart's actions appear to be incompatible with the public interest
and the stated policies of this administration. I urge you to vote 'no' on
her nomination.
Sincerely,
(My name and phone number)
1. Subject: Support The National Criminal Justice Act
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator DeMint
Senator Graham
Message text follows:
(My name and address)December 24, 2010
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I am writing you today to urge your support for Senate Bill 714, The
National Criminal Justice Commission Act.
Senate Bill 714 will establish a `National Criminal Justice Commission' to
"undertake a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system ... and
make reform recommendations for the President." I believe that this
evaluation is sorely needed.
The United States has the highest reported incarceration rate in the
world, imprisoning a higher percentage of its population than any other
country. The American incarceration rate is five times the world's average
incarceration rate. A total of 2,380,000 people are in prison.
The number of persons on probation and parole is equally alarming. There
are 7,300,000 Americans incarcerated or on probation or parole, equal to 1
in every 31 adults, an increase of 290 percent since 1980.
During this same time period, drug offenders in prisons and jails have
increased 1200 percent. Nearly a half million persons are in Federal or
State prison or local jail for a drug offense, compared to an estimated
41,100 in 1980. A significant percentage of these offenders have no
history of violence or high-level drug selling activity.
Finally, minorities make up a disproportionately large share of prison
populations. African American males have a 32 percent chance of serving
time in prison at some point in their lives; Hispanic males have a 17
percent chance. By contrast, white males have a 6 percent chance.
The National Criminal Justice Commission will evaluate these and other
criminal justice trends, and make recommendations to Congress on ways to
improve public safety, cost-effectiveness, and fairness in the
implementation of the America's criminal justice system. On Tuesday, July
27, US Representatives passed the House version of this act by a voice
vote. The Senate should follow suit.
I urge you to vote 'yes' on S. 714.
Sincerely,
(My name and phone number)
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