MAPTalk-Digest Thursday, December 28 2006 Volume 06 : Number 151
001 LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Richard Lake <>
002 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Herb <>
003 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Steve Heath <>
004 Barry Cooper and 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Richard Lake <>
005 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Herb <>
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Subj: 001 LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:54:30 -0800
At 11:54 AM 12/27/06, leap wrote:
>Dear Friends,
>
> After holding a board meeting last night on the subject
>of Barry Cooper representing LEAP as a speaker, LEAP has posted the
>following Press Release.
>
>LEAP does not endorse "Never Get Busted Again"
>
>While LEAP is in sympathy with millions of people who have their lives
>damaged or destroyed by the failed policy of drug prohibition, LEAP in
>no way endorses the violation of the law, or any efforts to frustrate
>the hard work of those sworn to uphold the law.
>
>When former police officer Barry Cooper was accepted as a LEAP speaker
>the Executive Director and most Board members of LEAP were not aware of
>the fact that Mr. Cooper was planning to distribute a for-profit DVD
>titled, "Never Get Busted Again". Upon learning of the sale of the DVDs
>LEAP, which is an international nonprofit educational organization, held
>a board meeting where it was decided that LEAP cannot in any way be
>associated with this enterprise.
>
> An excerpt form a document sent to each prospective
>speaker explains the following requirements for LEAP speakers:
>
>LEAP relies on the credibility of its speakers in everything we do and
>every bit of progress we make. Because our organization would be nothing
>without that credibility, we require that our members always appear
>professional, well dressed, neatly groomed, and free from the influence
>of any intoxicants while representing LEAP. We will be watched closely
>by everyone so we must maintain the highest standards as far as obeying
>the laws and standards of morality of the countries in which we make
>LEAP presentations. We must not be late for any speaking engagements and
>must not use those engagements as platforms to espouse any personal
>views other than those relating to drug-policy.
>
>Our speakers don't earn a salary for the many hours they put in to
>educate the public about LEAP's goals of ending drug prohibition. We
>have worked for four years to build our reputation based on ethics and
>integrity. The only reason people listen to us is because they believe
>we are unbiased and present the truth about the war on drugs. Much of
>that belief is based on the fact that we are not a moneymaking
>organization.
>
>LEAP feels that Mr. Cooper could not speak for LEAP without his product
>automatically being associated with us. We cannot have that so we are no
>longer listing Barry Cooper as a LEAP speaker.
>
>Peace,
>Jack
>
>Jack A. Cole
>Executive Director
>Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
>27 Austin Road, Medford, MA 02155
>www.leap.cc
>"You can get over an addiction but you will never get over a
>conviction."
>
>To join go to http://www.leap.cc/members/index.htm
At 11:28 AM 12/22/06, Keith Stroup wrote:
>Colleagues:
>
>Let's not kid ourselves that this ex-narc is suddenly a champion for
>civil rights; he is just trying to make a fast buck.
>
>I would be cautious before inviting him to join LEAP or any other
>reform organization. We should learn what we can about beating the
>drug dogs, but we should not trust this scumbag who worked for years
>locking people like us up.
>
>Regards,
>
>Keith
>
>Keith Stroup, Esq.
>NORML Legal Counsel
>
>www.norml.org
>
>NORML
>..working to reform marijuana laws
>Join online today at www.norml.org
------------------------------
Subj: 002 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Herb <>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:08:49 -0800
At 10:54 AM 27/12/2006, Richard Lake posted:
Richard and MAPstars,
I was waiting for the reaction from LEAP.
I know very little about this ex-narc, but I don't think it is
appropriate to throw around words like "scumbag".
>At 11:28 AM 12/22/06, Keith Stroup wrote:
>>Colleagues:
>>
>>Let's not kid ourselves that this ex-narc is suddenly a champion
>>for civil rights; he is just trying to make a fast buck.
Maybe, but what proof does Keith have?
Are LEAP speakers not allowed to own any business?
Sounds like LEAP needs clear guidelines.
>>I would be cautious before inviting him to join LEAP or any other
>>reform organization. We should learn what we can about beating the
>>drug dogs, but we should not trust this scumbag who worked for
>>years locking people like us up.
Does this mean we should not trust any LEAP members?
Does this mean that all LEAP members are "scumbags" who "worked for
years locking people like us up"?
>>Regards,
>>
>>Keith
>>
>>Keith Stroup, Esq.
>>NORML Legal Counsel
>>
>>www.norml.org
>>
>>NORML
>>..working to reform marijuana laws
>>Join online today at www.norml.org
Where does NORML draw the line?
Can one speak for NORML or be a member and have a business?
Does NORML agree that it in "no way endorses the violation of the
law, or any efforts to frustrate the hard work of those sworn to
uphold the law"?
Herb
------------------------------
Subj: 003 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Steve Heath <>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:49:58 -0800
At 04:08 PM 12/27/2006, Herb wrote:
>I know very little about this ex-narc, but I don't think it is appropriate
>to throw around words like "scumbag".
SH: I concur. That epithet did not eminate from LEAP.
Herb: Are LEAP speakers not allowed to own any business?
SH: Of course, but they can't advertise those businesses in tandem with
their LEAP affiliation. LEAP is a non-profit educational org.
Herb: Sounds like LEAP needs clear guidelines.
SH: And they pretty much have them as you saw from their press release
earlier today.
Herb: Does this mean we should not trust any LEAP members?
>Does this mean that all LEAP members are "scumbags" who "worked for years
>locking people like us up"?
SH: I believe it means we should not immediately trust someone just because
they say, "I am an ex-cop and I speak for LEAP" when in fact he does NOT
speak for LEAP.
LEAP office told Barry Cooper in the two weeks prior to his going live with
his DVD advertising that he was not authorized to use the LEAP affiliation
in his advertising and promotions.
He disregarded that counsel and included it anyway.
Steve
------------------------------
Subj: 004 Barry Cooper and 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:20:17 -0800
Watching the discussion about Barry Cooper and "Never Get Busted
Again" there appears to be facts that have been missed, or are not
known by everyone.
My understanding is that Barry Cooper 'discovered' LEAP two or three
weeks ago, and presented LEAP with credentials which appeared to
qualify him as a speaker. Mr. Cooper told LEAP about his video and
asked if he could mention LEAP in connection with it. LEAP told him
NO, very clearly. Yet Mr. Cooper not only put LEAP's name all over
his website, he also went on TV shows and radio, using the LEAP name,
saying he was a speaker - yet he has never made a presentation as a
LEAP speaker.
His target audience for his video (or videos, there are indications
that it is a series, with more to come before you will have all his
knowledge about how not to be busted) is clearly folks who do not
want to be busted because they are either using or selling currently
illegal drugs.
So you buy his video. He then has a mailing address to mail it to
you. Oh, you MUST buy it with a credit card, no money orders, postal
or otherwise accepted.
With these two items of information a government agent could easily
work with local law enforcement, monitor your activities and your
bank account, to see if you in fact are doing something illegal.
Can anyone say for sure, beyond any doubt, that Mr. Cooper has simply
not obtained a position at a higher level of law enforcement, the DEA
perhaps, and is simply running an scheme to help find more folks to bust?
His lack of integrity in his dealing with LEAP should lead prudent
folks to be concerned, I would think.
Perhaps Keith Stroup has called it correctly? Who knows for sure?
Richard
------------------------------
Subj: 005 Re: MAP: LEAP and NORML on 'Never Get Busted Again'
From: Herb <>
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:32:04 -0800
Steve,
At 03:49 PM 27/12/2006, Steve Heath wrote:
>At 04:08 PM 12/27/2006, Herb wrote:
>
>>I know very little about this ex-narc, but I don't think it is
>>appropriate to throw around words like "scumbag".
>
>SH: I concur. That epithet did not eminate from LEAP.
True.
>Herb: Are LEAP speakers not allowed to own any business?
>
>SH: Of course, but they can't advertise those businesses in tandem
>with their LEAP affiliation. LEAP is a non-profit educational org.
I agree with that position.
However, here is what the LEAP press release said:
LEAP feels that Mr. Cooper could not speak for LEAP without his product
automatically being associated with us. We cannot have that so we are no
longer listing Barry Cooper as a LEAP speaker.
In other words, LEAP does not want to be associated with his
particular private business.
If he had written a cookbook, no problem.
>Herb: Sounds like LEAP needs clear guidelines.
>
>SH: And they pretty much have them as you saw from their press
>release earlier today.
I don't think they are clear enough.
Here is another example.
The LEAP Press release said:
LEAP does not endorse "Never Get Busted Again"
While LEAP is in sympathy with millions of people who have their lives
damaged or destroyed by the failed policy of drug prohibition, LEAP in
no way endorses the violation of the law, or any efforts to frustrate
the hard work of those sworn to uphold the law.
This implies that the "Never Get Busted Again" video does not support
the above LEAP position.
How it does not support the above position is not made clear.
From Barry Cooper's website:
Q. Is Barry teaching us how to break the law?
A. Absolutely not. Barry explains and shows in detail how he made
arrests and what factors contributed to the arrests. Barry
discourages any person from breaking the law.
http://www.nevergetbusted.com/faq.php
>Herb: Does this mean we should not trust any LEAP members?
>
>>Does this mean that all LEAP members are "scumbags" who "worked for
>>years locking people like us up"?
>
>SH: I believe it means we should not immediately trust someone just
>because they say, "I am an ex-cop and I speak for LEAP" when in fact
>he does NOT speak for LEAP.
>
>LEAP office told Barry Cooper in the two weeks prior to his going
>live with his DVD advertising that he was not authorized to use the
>LEAP affiliation in his advertising and promotions.
>
>He disregarded that counsel and included it anyway.
That was wrong of him.
>Steve
Bottom line > The video is too controversial for LEAP to handle and
people will incorrectly associate the video with LEAP.
LEAP does not want to be seen as "helping" marijuana smugglers
because "LEAP in no way endorses the violation of the law".
Professional, well dressed, neatly groomed, and no Barry Cooper videos!
Herb
p.s. I don't intend to buy the video but if it ends up on YouTube or
whatever I'll have a look.
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End of MAPTalk-Digest V06 #151
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