Ask Gov. Brown to sign SB 649 and help end the failed "war on drugs"

[Glia]

Two groups have sent out action alerts today regarding SB 649, which will revise the state penalty for drug possession for personal use from a felony to an alternate misdemeanor/felony, giving local prosecutors the option to charge simple possession as a misdemeanor or a felony. The legislation will not change the penalties for sale, transportation, manufacture, or possession for sale.

This historic, bi-partisan drug sentencing reform bill will save taxpayer dollars and reduce overcrowding in our prisons by allowing prosecutors to charge non-violent drug possession as a misdemeanor, rather than as a felony. Freeing up these funds will lead to more money spent on rehabilitation and less time behind bars for low-level drug offenders.

However, there is no guarantee the Governor will sign the bill. Gov. Brown says he is committed to rehabilitation, but his misguided prison expansion plan shows we can’t assume he will make the right call.

The Drug Policy Alliance
https://secure2.convio.net/dpa/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1009&autologin=false

The Courage Campaign
Take a stand against the so-called "War on Drugs" by e-mailing Gov. Brown to sign SB 649, drug sentencing reform by clicking here:
https://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/GovBrownDrugsSB649/

[Dixon]

Hey, Kirsten, thanks for posting this. I signed the first petition you linked to, but refrained from signing the second one as it looked like that'd be redundant, since they're both directed to Gov. Brown and asking him to do the same thing. Is it your understanding that there's some value to signing both of them? I'm concerned that signing two virtually identical petitions directed to the same person may look like "stuffing the ballot box".)

[Glia]

Howdy Dixon,

Well... more than likely nobody is really checking the signatures that closely, although your concern about the appearance of "voting early and often" is a valid one.

Some folks may be more comfortable with taking action through one of these organizations over the other; for example, many people are familiar with the Courage Campaign but not so much with DPA. Posting both links provides a convenient option.

thanks for signing and asking!


Hey, Kirsten, thanks for posting this. I signed the first petition you linked to, but refrained from signing the second one as it looked like that'd be redundant, since they're both directed to Gov. Brown and asking him to do the same thing. Is it your understanding that there's some value to signing both of them? I'm concerned that signing two virtually identical petitions directed to the same person may look like "stuffing the ballot box".)