rave act uced against medical pot/political activism. . .repost

DEA Uses RAVE Act to Stop a Benefit to Raise Money for Marijuana Reform
**PLEASE DO THIS!!! IT’S SUPER IMPORTANT!!!** Fax the DEA and Tell Acting Administrator William Simpkins to Stop Using the RAVE Act Against Political Events http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=29594&l=2008

Only two months after the RAVE Act was passed by Congress it has been used by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to intimidate the owners of a Billings, Montana, venue into canceling a combined benefit for the Montana chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). One of the biggest reasons the Drug Policy Alliance waged a national campaign to stop the RAVE Act was that we feared it would be used to shut down political events like this. On the day the fundraiser was set to take place a Billings-based DEA agent presented the venue owners with a copy of the RAVE Act warning them that they could face a fine of $250,000 if illicit drugs were found in the premises. The bands - most of which regularly played at the venue were also approached and warned that their participation in the event could result in a fine.

Rather than risk the possibility of enormous fines, the venue decided to cancel the event. This blatant intimidation by the DEA was obviously designed to shut down the marijuana reform fundraiser. Unless the American people speak out against this attack on free speech, the DEA will be emboldened to use the law against other events they do not like, such as all-night dance parties, hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, and circuit parties.

Join the Drug Policy Alliance, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and numerous other organizations in our campaign to pressure the DEA to stop using the RAVE Act to shut down political events.

ACTIONS TO TAKE
1) Fax the DEA. Urge Acting Administrator William Simpkins to stop using the RAVE Act to harass innocent business owners and stifle free speech. http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=29594&l=2008
2) Forward this alert to friends and family. Send it to e-mail lists and post it in chat rooms.

For more information on the RAVE Act see: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=29594&l=1989
For more information on the DEA and the Eagle Lodge see: http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=29594&l=1990