Phogg 3 Point Plan

End The Drug War Now!

War ends when peace is made.
Here is a program for at first a “cease-fire”, and then a permanent end to the war on drugs.
We want to promote a national discussion of drug war policies. This discussion should include all drugs, legal and illegal; & have as its primary goal protecting children and families from harm. These ideas could save millions of dollars, which would be used to fund education, and/or balancing the budget while creating jobs and job training.

1. End the War on Drugs At Home & Abroad.

  • Stop locking up nonviolent drug offenders (including distributors of free, clean needles or distributors of medical marijuana).
  • Stop revoking probation and parole for nonviolent drug use
  • Institute treatment and restoration (see #2), rather than prison time, for nonviolent "hard" drug users while providing community service sentencing for violence-free drug offenders.
  • End Publicly funded Drug Testing.
  • Legalize medical marijuana nationwide.
  • Stop seizing property of nonviolent drug offenders. Stop funding law enforcement through property forfeitures.
  • Stop spraying poison and destroying the environment in Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, etc. End all U.S. support (financial, technical, and military) for eradicating poppy, coca, and marijuana crops in other countries.
  • End sanctions against countries who want their drug laws to differ from ours.

2. Peace Now!
Create a domestic peace corps of nonviolent drug offenders. They would qualify for restorative justice and community service, with appropriate training and provided supervision. Local government, neighborhoods and communities would decide what services they need and want.

  • Building and repairing homes, schools, & playgrounds.
  • Helping keep public spaces clean.
  • Assisting at hospitals, hospices, & community centers.
  • Helping home bound elderly or handicapped people.

3. Bring Home Our Own Prisoners of War.

  • Release all nonviolent drug offenders held in federal, state and local jails and prisons and allow them to complete their sentences in community service, under appropriate supervision (see #2) without threat of going back to jail for nonviolent drug use or failing a drug test.
  • After successfully completing community service, restore all voting rights to nonviolent drug offenders.
  • Provide counseling and social service options for offenders and their families (who may need such as a result of their family member's incarceration).
  • Build Schools, Not Jails; Hire Teachers, Not Prison Guards!

Comments on YES / Phogg's Peace Plan to End the War on Drugs
"Of course we endorse the peace program, list us any way you want!"
- Charles and Pauline Sullivan, National CURE

"NORML/NORML Foundation supports Phogg's 'Drug War Peace Plan', as most of it NORML's advocated for 33 years."
- Allen St. Pierre, NORML Foundation

"I was impressed with your important proposal for a 'cease fire' in the war on drugs. I have long thought the 'drug war' was wrong. We lock up people and make a huge industry out of building more prisons... As you said, we should be hiring more teachers, not more prison guards! I liked what you wrote about... alternative... 'punishment' for drug offenders."
- Millard Fuller (Habitat for Humanity International)*

"Austin Harm Reduction Coalition is proud to work with you in the fight against the injustice of the war on drugs."
- Lynne LaFontaine, Austin Harm Reduction Coalition

"Your drug proposals sound good... My friend from Columbia was in town recently, so I know what you're talking about: deforesting the rain forest and providing weapons to encourage murder and mayhem are not exactly beneficial human contributions."
- Jennifer Long (Casa Marianella)

"The Observer has been (writing) and will continue to write about the drug war and its human and economic costs... both in features, Political Intelligence items, and editorially... We have focused several stories on drug task forces in Chambers, Hays and other Texas counties. We have also written about disproportionate sentencing. We are proud that our June 23, 2000 feature on Tulia led to an FBI civil rights investigation still ongoing and Texas legislation to require independent corroboration of drug informants' testimony."
- Charlotte McCann (Texas Democracy Foundation/Texas Observer)

"For more than 40 years, Amnesty has worked to protect the civil and political rights of people across the globe. Recently... we have expanded our mission to incorporate the broadest spectrum of human rights into our work... currently, we are debating which (economic, social, and cultural rights) issues we will undertake in the next several years. While issues related to the 'War on Drugs' are under consideration, firm decisions are yet to be made."
- William F. Schultz (Amnesty International USA)

*Organizations in parentheses are shown for identification only. Many groups are prohibited by their by-laws or charter from endorsing programs outside their specific field of activity, and, while we respect this restriction, we particularly appreciate the contributions of individuals who work with such groups in helping refine our Drug War Peace Plan. In addition, some individuals listed may no longer be associated with groups shown; we are collecting endorsements over a period of time and activists don't stand still! If any group or individual should be removed from this listing, please advise us by e-mail: phogg4@juno.com.
- YES, Inc./Phogg Phoundation Board of Directors

"We are also happy to join you by endorsing an 'End to the Drug War Now!' As a former political prisoner, I know too well how this massive imprisonment torments individuals, families, and whole communities."
- Claude Marks, The Freedom Archives

"Please feel free to add 'George Cofer' and 'Save Barton Creek Association' to the list of individuals and organizations endorsing the peace program... I commend your efforts to end the incredibly wasteful, misguided 'war on drugs."
- George Cofer, Save Barton Creek Association

"The Gray Panthers wholeheartedly endorse this 'peace program'... Working on the drug war is specifically new to Gray Panthers, but we will be happy to assist in any way..."
- Charlotte Flynn and Clint Smith, Gray Panthers of Austin

"I am excited that you are addressing the drug war and I would be very happy to personally endorse your campaign... You ask for suggestions. My only one is to calibrate the wording to the intended audience."
- Hannah Frisch (Support Team for Textileras [STITCH])

"My recommendation... would be to shift the emphasis... from lawyers and legal discussions...(to) health care professionals in discussions of medical marijuana and heroin for pain patients; prison reform should be fronted by ex-wardens and prison bureaucrats who oppose the status quo; patients themselves to explain their perspective, to put passion and compassion in the discussion; botanists and ethnobiologists should talk about the environmental issues... A national clearing house, a speakers bureau... would be a powerful tool in effecting media content and level of language..."
- Al Byrne (Patients Out of Time)

"I appreciate the proposal to "End the Drug War Now!'... We believe one of the misperceptions about the 'war on drugs' is that current drug laws and prosecutions are focused on drug kingpins and serious traffickers. We are conducting a study which profiles drug prisoners. Our findings are that a large number of people imprisoned for drug offenses are, as you point out, non-violent individuals. The report based on this study... will be available on the web and in print. We... hope that it will contribute to your program of 'peace' in the war on drugs."
- Malcolm C. Young, The Sentencing Project

"Although progress on the (Slim Butte Land Use Association's [LUA]) demonstration hemp house was slowed for lack of funds, work has resumed... Suspending its involvement in industrial hemp agriculture while continuing educational efforts, LUA is proud to have assisted the Oglala Sioux Tribe in joining 19 states' legislatures who support agricultural hemp."
- Lauren Haas (Running Strong for American Indian Youth)

"The drug war is certainly analogous to the Vietnam conflict, or the 'war on terror'. To challenge the basic tenets of the war on drugs will require a strong and mostly unified effort... (T)his issue should have a diverse support base - some more radical who push the envelope and others to help to change mainstream public opinion, such as religious groups, etc. I am curious, what are your plans for this... proposal?"
- Stacey Folsom (INFACT)

The Real Question Is, "How Can We Work Together to End the War on Drugs?"