The new book Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts A Review of the Scientific Evidence, by Lynn Zimmer, Ph.D. and John Morgan, M.D., was the source of much activity for ReconsiDer during the past couple of months when ReconsiDer arranged a promotional book tour across New York State. The results were extraordinary.

First, ReconsiDer sent copies of the book, along with an excellent press kit provided by the book’s publisher, The Lindesmith Center, to five high school libraries across the state, in cities with a Reconsider presence: Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Binghamton. A letter from ReconsiDer accompanied the package, offering free copies of the book to the libraries.

Simultaneously, with the help of members in those cities, a book tour was arranged, including radio talk shows, public appearances, television and newspaper interviews.

By the start of the tour, the Albany and Rochester high school librarians had rejected the book, claiming it was "not balanced," Binghamton had accepted it and Syracuse and Buffalo were still reviewing it. The tour went well. Kicked off with a good article in the Albany paper about the library’s rejection, the tour featured good radio and television interviews along the way. Later, the Syracuse school district’s health committee rejected the book. A few weeks following the tour, Buffalo, too, rejected the book.

ReconsiDer member Shay Gunther and his fellow Rochester Institute of Technology students arranged for co-author Lynn Zimmer to speak at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Their outstanding publicity efforts drew a standing-room-only crowd of 250 people, and Ms. Zimmer’s talk was well received.

The tour ended in Buffalo, with a talk organized by ALT, a Buffalo weekly newspaper, and the ACLU, but the big news was still to come.

The Associated Press wrote an excellent story about how New York State school libraries are banning the book. This prompted a media frenzy, resulting in at least a dozen interviews. As a result, the story of the book- banning appeared in two dozen newspapers across New York State, and received extensive, state-wide television and radio coverage as well.

The story ran as well in the Boston Globe, and was broadcast on National Public Radio News. While many of the excesses of the Drug War go unchallenged by the media, it seems that book-banning is still something many Americans are still willing to fight against and discuss.

ReconsiDer members Nicolas Eyle, Mike and Isla Roona, William Aiken, Patrice Foley, Clare Regan, Shay Gunther, and Karen Trimper helped establish media contacts in each city, and helped with the logistics of organizing this five-city publicity campaign. Great job! Thanks to each of you!

Stay tuned for further updates on this campaign.