Green Party leader to receive award from the Drug Policy Alliance for leadership in drug law reform

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, December 3, 2007

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Clifford Thornton, national co-chair of the Green Party, 860-657-8438, efficacy@msn.com

Cliff Thornton of Connecticut will receive the Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action on December 8

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party congratulates Connecticut Green Clifford Thornton on an award he will receive from the Drug Policy Alliance <http://www.drugpolicy.org> for his leadership in the movement to reform drug laws.

Mr. Thornton, co-founder of the drug law reform organization Efficacy, Inc. <http://www.Efficacy-online.org>, is a national co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. In 2006, he ran on the Green Party ticket for governor of Connecticut.

"Cliff Thornton's work for the reform of US drug policy is in line with Green opposition to the War on Drugs, unjust and draconian drug laws, and the use of drug laws to fill up prison cells with black, brown, poor, and young Americans. We're proud that Cliff is a member of the Green Party," said Alfred Molison, co-chair of the Green Party's national Black Caucus <http://gpblackcaucus.blogspot.com>.

Excerpts from a November 29, 2007 Drug Policy Alliance press release announcing the award:

"Longtime Connecticut drug policy reform advocate and activist Clifford Thornton will receive the Robert C. Randall Award for Achievement in the Field of Citizen Action from the Drug Policy Alliance. The award honors citizens who make democracy work in the difficult area of drug law and policy reform.

Thornton will be among leading advocates that work courageously to promote and implement more sensible drug policies who will be honored at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference, in New Orleans, December 5-8. The conference is organized by the Drug Policy Alliance and dozens of other organizations. The Drug Policy Alliance is the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs and promote new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights. The winners will be honored during an awards ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8....

Thornton is the primary speaker for Efficacy, Inc. -- a non-profit organization that has concentrated on drug policy reform. Thornton ran for governor in Connecticut in 2006 on the Green Party ticket. His campaign centered on drug policy reform. Thornton has done over 400 radio shows on drug policy. Thornton has spoken to over 300,000 people in some 450 venues about the drug war as it relates to health, economics, race, class, and white privilege. Efficacy is partially responsible for the removal of D.A.R.E. from the Ocean City, NJ school system in 2001. Thornton gave a presentation to the board of education that received great reviews and helped facilitate its demise. Thornton taught a graduate-level course, "Illegal Drugs and Public Policy" at Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 2002."

Media contacts for Drug Policy Alliance <http://www.drugpolicy.org>: Tony Newman, 646-335-5384; Tommy McDonald

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Green Party News Center
http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml

Green Party Speakers Bureau
http://www.gp.org/speakers

Green candidate database for 2007 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml

"War on drugs is a war on youth, people of color Green Party press release, May 16, 2007
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_05_16.shtml

"Green Party says racially biased US justice system needs drastic overhaul"
Green Party press release, July 25, 2007
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_07_25.shtml

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