Drug Policy Alliance

MATCH MY GIFT

Friend,

Making sure you see this: 4/20 ends at midnight and so does our special 4/20 match to power the next chapter of our work together.

When we hear Vice President Kamala Harris say, “Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed,” it’s a positive sign of progress. But her and President Biden’s call for rescheduling marijuana is not enough, and we know supporters like you know it.

Because people across the country are still being harmed by criminalization, even as states continue legalizing marijuana. And rescheduling marijuana doesn’t make it legal or keep people who smoke it from going to jail. We owe it to everyone who still can’t celebrate 4/20 to keep up this work.

That’s what you’ll do when you join before midnight, Friend. You’ll deliver TWICE the resources to fight for decriminalization and repair the damage of prohibition.

Thank you in advance for your support,

Joe Salas
Membership Director
Drug Policy Alliance

--------Forwarded Email--------
From: Kassandra Frederique
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2024
To: [email protected]
Subject: I want to tell you about Keeda

MATCH MY GIFT

Friend,

Keeda Haynes knows what it’s like to be criminalized by our nation’s drug war. After graduating from college, Keeda signed for some packages for her boyfriend, without knowing they contained marijuana.

Soon enough, Keeda was prosecuted and incarcerated for a crime she didn’t know she was committing. And this former Girl Scout and star student found herself struggling against prosecutors and judges who were more focused on punishment than justice.

On 4/20, many people now have the freedom to celebrate the growing legalization of marijuana in states across the nation.

But we cannot forget the people who still lack that freedom. Who continue to be harmed by prohibition and criminalization. Those who are yearning for reasons to celebrate. Those who are still incarcerated.

Today, we’re asking you to dedicate 4/20 to them—because when you join the the Drug Policy Alliance today, your support will be matched up to $42,000 to fight for decriminalization and long overdue repair.

MATCH MY GIFT

During her incarceration, Keeda decided to pursue justice.

As a federal inmate, she studied for the LSAT while successfully petitioning the United States Supreme Court to reduce an extreme sentence handed down by a zealous judge.

Once she was freed, Keeda fought to reclaim her right to vote and stood before a panel to “prove her character” to practice law as a public defender.

But there are so many more people still incarcerated on federal marijuana-related charges. Despite marijuana being legal in many states, it is still one of the most commonly arrested offenses. And Black Americans are arrested 3.5 times more than white people for possessing marijuana, despite similar rates of use. In 2021, over 80% of people sentenced for federal marijuana charges were Black and Latinx.

“I am calling on all of us to reimagine the legal system; to envision a world that meets people’s struggles with care, not cages—resulting in a “justice system” worthy of the name.” – Keeda Haynes

Today, Keeda is a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform. And she knows that legalizing marijuana is the only way forward—because she has experienced the injustice of prohibition firsthand.

We’re counting on your support to fund crucial work, like decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level, and advocating for resentencing and expungement of marijuana convictions.

Let’s keep up this fight together, Friend, in solidarity with Keeda and everyone who has paid the price for our nation’s unjust and inequitable drug laws. Make your 4/20 donation before midnight tonight, while it will be MATCHED for double the impact!

Thank you,

Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance

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