Saturday the 5th of March, 2011
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” (Gandhi)
Welcome to the first Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Newsletter, Australian Edition.
LEAP Australia was founded in January 2011 and is made up of current and former members of law enforcement who believe the existing drug policies have failed in their intended goals of addressing the problems of crime, drug abuse, addiction, juvenile drug use, stopping the flow of illegal drugs into this country and the internal sale and use of illegal drugs.
A system of regulation rather than prohibition is a less harmful, more ethical and a more effective public policy.
The mission of LEAP Australia is to reduce the multitude of unintended harmful consequences resulting from illicit drug prohibition and to lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by ending drug prohibition.
LEAP’s goals are:
1. To educate the public, the media, and policy makers on the failure of current drug policy by presenting a true picture of the history, causes and effects of drug abuse and the crimes related to drug prohibition.
2. To encourage a greater respect for law enforcement by ending the human and financial costs in a battle of prohibition, that cannot be won.
LEAP’s main strategy for accomplishing these goals is to promote and engage discussion on the impact drug prohibition is having on Australian society and to move it from a morally driven, law enforcement focus, to a health issue.
LEAP supports evidence-informed and cost effective methods for dealing with drug related harms, not punitive and punishment focused.
We will do this by engaging in media discussions, attending relevant functions and conferences and volunteering our participating members who have law enforcement experience to attend meetings as a guest speaker.
If you wish to become a supporter contact LEAP Australia by emailing us at:
THANK YOU
LEAP Australia is made up of current and former members of law enforcement who believe the existing drug policies have failed in their intended goals of addressing the problems of crime, drug abuse, addiction, juvenile drug use, stopping the flow of illegal drugs into this country and the internal sale and use of illegal drugs.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
LEAP Australia – Newsletter 1 – March 2011
About LEAP — The Summary
Founded on March 16, 2002, LEAP is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug policies. Those policies have failed, and continue to fail, to effectively address the problems of drug abuse, especially the problems of juvenile drug use, the problems of addiction, and the problems of crime caused by the existence of a criminal black market in drugs.
Although those who speak publicly for LEAP are people from the law enforcement and criminal justice communities, a large number of our supporting members do not have such experience. You don’t have to have law enforcement experience to join us.
By continuing to fight the so-called “War on Drugs”, the US government has worsened these problems of society instead of alleviating them. A system of regulation and control of these substances (by the government, replacing the current system of control by the black market) would be a less harmful, less costly, more ethical and more effective public policy.
Please consider joining us and helping us to achieve our goals: 1) to educate the public, the media and policy makers about the failure of current policies, and 2) to restore the public’s respect for police, which respect has been greatly diminished by law enforcement’s involvement in enforcing drug prohibition.
LEAP USA http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
