Materials from Eric E. Sterling
2
2011 International Drug Policy Reform Conference Materials from Eric Sterling Overview of Drug Policy and Sentencing Speaking to Members of Congress, top Justice Department officials, congressional staff and reporters in the U.S. Capitol in June 2009, Sterling argued for drug legalization and analyzed the politics of sentencing reform after summarizing the history of drug use and Federal drug laws in the late 20th century. (2009) http://www.cjpf.org/CBC092909.pdf Economics of Drug Prohibition “A Businessperson's Guide to the Drug Problem.” in The New Prohibition. Accurate Press. This paper argues that drug prohibition hurts the business climate, profits, and investor returns. Drug prohibition both raises costs and reduces revenues. Important costs to business include the crime caused by the illegal drug market and the effects of enforcement. Business will be an essential ally to enact reform in Congress and the legislatures. (2004) See also, “Eleven Ways the War on Drugs is Hurting Your Business” (2008) http://www.cjpf.org/businesspersonsguide.pdf http://www.business-council.org/elevenways2008print.pdf War on Drugs Maintains White Privilege “Drug Policy: A Challenge of Values.” in Criminal Justice: Retribution vs. Restoration. New York: Haworth Press. Anti-drug legislation has dramatically increased punishment and incarceration since 1970, especially for African-Americans. This paper argues that the war on drugs functions as the substitute for segregation. Drug prohibition is an immoral social force in our society. Drug prohibition must be replaced by regulation. Creating such a system involves a complex balance of competing values. (2004) http://www.cjpf.org/booksandresources/challengeofvalues.pdf Framing Reform for a Sober Audience “Friendly Fire.” in Haverford College Alumni Magazine. Written from a Quaker perspective, this article discusses increased violence and racial discrimination, environmental degradation and public health problems that result from current drug policy. It proposes a replacement policy of regulation and control. Many people of faith oppose the use of drugs. However, many of their other deeply held concerns can convince them that, on balance, drug policy is more moral than prohibition. (2000) http://cjpf.org/booksandresources/friendlyfireoptimized.pdf Mandatory Minimums and Drug Courts A brief submitted to the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding C-15, An Act to Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This statement recounts the human and financial costs of mandatory minimum drug sentencing in the US, suggests modifications to a proposed Canadian drug court program and argues that cannabis use should not be punished. (2009) http://cjpf.org/CanadaSenateOctober2009.pdf
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A compilation of writing by Eric E. Sterling, handed out at the DPA 2011 conference.
Transcript of Materials from Eric E. Sterling
2011 International Drug Policy
Reform Conference
Materials from Eric Sterling
Overview of Drug Policy and Sentencing Speaking to Members of Congress, top Justice Department officials, congressional staff and reporters in the U.S. Capitol in June 2009, Sterling argued for drug legalization and analyzed the politics of sentencing reform after summarizing the history of drug use and Federal drug laws in the late 20th century. (2009) http://www.cjpf.org/CBC092909.pdf
Economics of Drug Prohibition “A Businessperson's Guide to the Drug Problem.” in The New Prohibition. Accurate Press. This paper argues that drug prohibition hurts the business climate, profits, and investor returns. Drug prohibition both raises costs and reduces revenues. Important costs to business include the crime caused by the illegal drug market and the effects of enforcement. Business will be an essential ally to enact reform in Congress and the legislatures. (2004) See also, “Eleven Ways the War on Drugs is Hurting Your Business” (2008) http://www.cjpf.org/businesspersonsguide.pdf http://www.business-council.org/elevenways2008print.pdf
War on Drugs Maintains White Privilege “Drug Policy: A Challenge of Values.” in Criminal Justice: Retribution vs. Restoration. New York: Haworth Press. Anti-drug legislation has dramatically increased punishment and incarceration since 1970, especially for African-Americans. This paper argues that the war on drugs functions as the substitute for segregation. Drug prohibition is an immoral social force in our society. Drug prohibition must be replaced by regulation. Creating such a system involves a complex balance of competing values. (2004) http://www.cjpf.org/booksandresources/challengeofvalues.pdf
Framing Reform for a Sober Audience “Friendly Fire.” in Haverford College Alumni Magazine. Written from a Quaker perspective, this article discusses increased violence and racial discrimination, environmental degradation and public health problems that result from current drug policy. It proposes a replacement policy of regulation and control. Many people of faith oppose the use of drugs. However, many of their other deeply held concerns can convince them that, on balance, drug policy is more moral than prohibition. (2000) http://cjpf.org/booksandresources/friendlyfireoptimized.pdf
Mandatory Minimums and Drug Courts A brief submitted to the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding C-15, An Act to Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This statement recounts the human and financial costs of mandatory minimum drug sentencing in the US, suggests modifications to a proposed Canadian drug court program and argues that cannabis use should not be punished. (2009) http://cjpf.org/CanadaSenateOctober2009.pdf
Since 1989, CJPF has been educating the public and policymakers about drug policy and criminal justice.
• www.ResistGlobalWarming.org Prohibition drug policy has caused one-quarter of the Amazon’s deforestation thus increasing global warming. Environmentalists should be anti-prohibitionists.
• www.Pro-Control.org There are many alternatives to
prohibition. One is control and regulation. This is the “hunting license” model of marijuana legalization.
• www.StopFundingTerrorists.org Our drug prohibition policy
funds crime and terrorists. Until we control and regulate the drug trade, illegal profits will kill U.S. soldiers.
• www.Business-Council.org
o One out of nine American men has a felony conviction. If
they have a job, they earn less. 2,500,000 in prison: they don't buy cars, houses, or anything else.
o America’s workers are losing jobs and its investors are losing profits.
o Use “Eleven Ways the War on Drugs is Hurting Your Business” available at http://www.business-council.org/elevenways2008print.pdf
• www.CJPF.org Information about foundation activities.
The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation educates the public about the impact of drug policy and the problems of policing on the criminal justice system, neighborhoods, businesses and families. We provide information and advice to policy makers, criminal justice professionals, and the public through consultation, presentations, publications, the news media and the Internet. CJPF’s president, since 1989, is Eric E. Sterling. 8730 Georgia Ave, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910 tel: 301.589.6020 fax: 301.589.5056
[email protected] www.cjpf.org
