Like many people who are often changed by an event in their life that makes them revise their perspective on things, Dean Becker was motivated by a life experience to become an activist in the fight to end the United States' war on drugs. In 1971, three of his friends were pulled over and jailed for possessing a joint.

One of them spent 90 days in jail. The second joined the Army and died fighting in Vietnam. The third was a 17-year-old who was later convicted. On the day of his sentencing, he put a gun to his head and took his own life.

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