International - Drugs-Forum's role in drug policy change

[Alfa]

With an ever growing member base and reader count*, it may be time to gently start thinking about a more active role of Drugs-Forum in regards to drug policy change. This thread may be used as a place to brainstorm and ponder this concept. How do you think we may utilize the expose of this many members and readers into effective press releases?

Should we monitor trends and if so; how?


* Within 5 weeks we will reach 40.000 members & 150.000 readers per month.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thanks for starting this excellent thread.

[umbra1010]

Maybe a petition? If the world sees how many people want change, then maybe they might take things seriously. Some super powers like the US and Britain probably won't do anything at first, but maybe if the outcry was big enough, it would cause a few seconds of thought about reform. Then those seconds could turn into minutes etc. I guess Im a bit of an idealist.

The forum could also support other groups and could work in unison with other groups about starting pro drug rallies etc. Just my two cents.

[Paracelsus]

Pro drug rallies? That is something I would never imagine this site associated with. Drug policy reform - yes, but promotion of drug use?

We could watch out for important news and formulate letters to send to editors of the newspaper(s) they were published in.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Originally Posted by Paracelsus

Pro drug rallies? That is something I would never imagine this site associated with. Drug policy reform - yes, but promotion of drug use?

We could watch out for important news and formulate letters to send to editors of the newspaper(s) they were published in.

Pro drug rallies wouldn't be the right word for it in my opinion.Anti drugwar rallies would be a much better thing to call them.Pro drug makes it sound like everyone here is encouraging everyone to use drugs.

[umbra1010]

when I say pro drug rallies, I mean just a protest about drug reform. I don't mean going out there to promote drug use, just drug legality.

[Metomni]

I like the idea of writing letters to the editors of important articles/journals.

I suppose the first step of that would be searching out those articles and picking out the correct ones to respond to. I don't know if that's something we want to pursue, but I would be happy to help with the endeavor if we want to get it off the ground.

[Lunar Loops]

It's an interesting possibility, but how we would go about it is another matter entirely. I do not believe that petitions (and particularly those of an online nature) ever really achieve anything. The numbers involved, even when they are in the tens of thousands are not sufficient to change the mindsets of policy makers. There is also the aspect of faceless names on paper being somewhat suspect as to their authenticity (not to mention the fact that a large number of people wishing to express their views on drug policy would want anonymity).

One possibility would be fostering and strengthening links with existing organisations who are already pushing for change. There is no sense in re-inventing the wheel and I feel part of the problem with the push for drug policy reform is the fact that there are many disparate voices shouting their case, when perhaps a more unified approach would be more beneficial. Funding for campaigns for change has always been a problem as many groups are grasping for a share of the same apple.

I have noticed that we already have some members who are involved in existing organisations (ENCOD being an example). Perhaps this is an avenue that could be explored and discussions could take place between interested organisations and ourselves?

Just throwing out thoughts for discussion here really..........

[Alfa]

Originally Posted by Lunar Loops

The numbers involved, even when they are in the tens of thousands are not sufficient to change the mindsets of policy makers.

That's a good reason why I want this site to grow to proportions beyond imagination.

Originally Posted by Lunar Loops

One possibility would be fostering and strengthening links with existing organisations who are already pushing for change.
Perhaps this is an avenue that could be explored and discussions could take place between interested organisations and ourselves?

We have already entered that avenue. More on that in the coming months. Hopefully sooner. So many projects, so little time in a day...

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by Alfa

We have already entered that avenue. More on that in the coming months. Hopefully sooner. So many projects, so little time in a day...

Didn't doubt it for one minute Alfa. You guys are always one step ahead of the game. You'd have to warp time itself to understand how you can devote so much time to this site and have an 'outside' life.

[Alfa]

My title explains this.

[Shampoo]

The idea of DF working in a more organized fashion towards reform of drug-policy/paradigm shift of consciousness liberty makes my toes tingle. Perhaps, as Lunar Loops mentioned, contact with an organization like MAPS or NORML, as well as those more prominent outside of north-america, could further this. My current application as a research assistant intern to MAPS has been underway for some time, and if a position is earned, I will be sure to strengthen or create this bond. As for letter writing, perhaps the creation of some forum or thread in which people can post articles and potential letters for approval, feedback, or signatures from members of the greater community, would aide the process of amassing sufficient and appropriately high-caliber literary responses. There are marches for Cannabis policy reform throughout my area on a relatively regular basis, is there somewhere I can post these events, reviews or invitations?

Reputation Comments on this post:

Fantastic!

[~lostgurl~]

Originally Posted by Shampoo

There are marches for Cannabis policy reform throughout my area on a relatively regular basis, is there somewhere I can post these events, reviews or invitations?

Events can be posted in the Calender here: http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/calendar.php
Threads can be created with invites and reviews in the Drug Culture Forum.

Also the ideas in this thread could be expanded upon with hopefully some interesting results: Drugs-Forum Drug Ads Workshop

[rainharp]

The way to make a difference is to understand why and how the current status of "prohibition" in this country came about. What is the purpose behind the laws and how they make the government money and power, all the while decreasing our freedom a little at a time. It is a very important time as a generation to come together to ensure our freedom, and keep it as the most precious blessing we have. The right to make your own decisions about individual habits, or medications or whatever one chooses to do on a personal level has to be protected. When one loses this he/she is no longer free. There is hope to regain these things, and to seek them should be our right.

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by Shampoo

My current application as a research assistant intern to MAPS has been underway for some time, and if a position is earned, I will be sure to strengthen or create this bond.

Keep us posted.

Originally Posted by Shampoo

As for letter writing, perhaps the creation of some forum or thread in which people can post articles and potential letters for approval, feedback, or signatures from members of the greater community, would aide the process of amassing sufficient and appropriately high-caliber literary responses.

Obviously any form of respone that is seeking publication and put forward as the voice of the forum needs to be looked over by the powers that be and agreed upon. If we are serious about going down this route then we will need a point of contact for the media.

Originally Posted by Shampoo

There are marches for Cannabis policy reform throughout my area on a relatively regular basis, is there somewhere I can post these events, reviews or invitations?

Here, as Alfa has said, is the perfect place to advertise any such events. Perhaps we could develop sub-forums relating to various organisations campaigning for change across the globe?

[fnord]

Maybe those that do harm reduction/pill testing at events could be used as spokespeople for DF? no so much speak for the forum but hang a DF poster/sign at there table.

Theres several events in Maine every year where drug use/sale is openly tolerated with a focus on drug education and trying to get others involved with legalization,cant post a link to the site because its commercial but heres apicture of when i was helping with a puppet show.

[Alfa]

Yes, you can post all in this forum.

[fnord]

I think what were doing with youtube and salvia,is a great start we have already seen some success with stopping a vendor from promoting salvia experiences on youtube.

Other then that maybe a place where people can download generic letters they can send to there law makers that focus on particular problems? IE salvia bans,needle exchange/needle access laws,info on why marijuana should be decriminalized etc etc etc. DF users that go to conferences could maybe hand out leaflets explaining what DF is about and how the site wants to get more involved with drug policy change.

Talk to leap,and any other drug policy group and try to begin a Link exchange.

More reports from members that go to conferences,protests,speak outs etc.

[Powder_Reality]

We could watch out for important news and formulate letters to send to editors of the newspaper(s) they were published in.

I like this idea. Part of the problem with current drug policy is all of the misinformation that gets spread about drugs/drug use. Perhaps we could start a separate thread or subforum in the drug news section where members can post news articles they find that are full of such misinformation. After the articles are posted, members can write letters or small essays that publicly call out the article (with sources cited to disprove the article). This already happens anyways, maybe we should figure out a way to make such proclamations more public (perhaps through larger organizations if we are able to get connections with them).

Not sure how effective this would be or how it would work, but it's an idea.

[Nucking Futs]

Hi all,
I think that a major problem here is which drugs should be delt with. By all aiming for the same thing we have a greater chance of hiting the mark.
I think it would be a good idea to (fundning is an issue) creat fetes and other community based activities.If we could inbed the notion that not all drugs will turn you into a theith,crazy or otherwise lesser person than you are into the psyce(spelling) of "normal" every day people and they don't see drugs as a threat then this will inbed in the population that we are working for something thats good.
Another problem as I see it is which country/s are we going to concentrate on?
It is a mamoth task but one that I would very much like to be a part of.

Regards,

Me.

Ps congratz to all who have made DF a place where people want to be.

[fnord]

Rep points for photographed letters to lawmakers.

[Nucking Futs]

Originally Posted by fnord

Rep points for photographed letters to lawmakers.

One rep point for each post ! Not looking at any one inparticular FNORD lol.

I believe that there is a drugs ralley in London every year. Maybe a sponsorship of this site or something like that?

On a serious not also, None of us or our readers takes drugs, Yet we take the time to describe how to. This is very usefull for research but it has to be said any antis looking at this site would use that against ALL of us no matter which part of the forum is your usual haunt.

Regards,

ME.

[Mint boi]

I think letters are a good idea, although I think if they are to mention DF in anyway there should probably be some ground rules set down so as to avoid a bad letter making the community look bad.

[Paracelsus]

Of course nobody should just write a letter and mark the name of Drugs-Forum on it. I would say that a group or a forum with restricted access would be a good place for members to work on letters.

[Nucking Futs]

Originally Posted by Paracelsus

Of course nobody should just write a letter and mark the name of Drugs-Forum on it. I would say that a group or a forum with restricted access would be a good place for members to work on letters.

I would agree with this. It could then be put into an open forum for any extra suggestions/ideas to be filtered through to the author.

[fnord]

I was not thinking of people referencing DF in the letters, only using DF for a place for people to learn about effective letter writing and a resource for downloading generic letter templates.

If they then uploaded photos of there letters a mod would then give them a few rep points based on how effective the wording of the letter seems. Many users would take advantage of this seeing as it would be a quick and easy way to gain reputation while fighting the war on cognitive freedom.