Georgians Opposed to Prohibition

What was the GOP Lobby supposed to be?

From the previous website:

The GOP Lobby is a Georgia-based conservative think tank. Our broader purpose is to research and lobby for legislation, reflecting principles of conservatism, to resolve social issues. Our specific focus is on the failure of status quo prohibitionist drug policies. We support the use of free market capitalism, beliefs in the ideals of the original intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States of America regarding inalienable rights, confidence in certain traditional conservative values, and commitment to a fair and strong criminal justice system.

In the coming months and years the GOP Lobby will be on the front lines of major state and local policy battles regarding the war on prohibition. We research and identify legislative solutions for effective ways to deal with prohibition, given state resources. While our main function is pro-active lobbying, we also initiate re-active lobbying to kill wasteful legislation efforts by supporters of prohibitionist policy.

We will educate the legislature on the true core of the drug problem: the unregulated black market and its direct harm to our citizens. We favor the conservative solution of removing the profit potential for the illegal drug market. The level of corruption and violence rampant within law enforcement and society connected to this situation mandates a cautious and incremental approach. we know that entrenched bureaucracies and drug lobbyists profit from the status quo, but believe everyone profits from our solution.

In early 2003, through a convergence of a broad political spectrum of resources, the GOP Lobby was launched to spearhead an application of conservative principles to enact a more efficient and effective drug control policy on the state level. We utilize concerned citizens who seek a legitimate grass roots organization to enact change in this area of policy. our mantra is "if it's fair, fund it: if it fails, fix it."

Since I was elected President of GOP Lobby, Inc near the end of first quarter 2006 by election by the Board of Directors, I've seen the wheels of the state and national movements continue to spin in the face of absent progress, with a few notable exceptions. As a passionate supporter of a wide variety of public policy reform including drug policy, this has been a frustrating time to take the helm of an organization and a regional movement in desperate need of committed leadership. My personal career has dominated my schedule and in the year that I've been acting in the capacity as president of the organization, the only thing that has been certain about the GOP Lobby is that there is going to be change.

In the coming weeks, you will see the new online face of Georgians Opposed to Prohibition. However, this is not just a new look for an old idea. Welcome to the new hub for the fight for truth and against drug prohibition. As founder Rick Day told me when I accepted the position, "This is your ship now; you can take it wherever you want it to go." To that end, I want to go into this with a plan for success where we have previously had failure. I want to go into this with an honest look at drug prohibition, as well as an honest look at its advocates and adversaries. If I succeed, you will be able to gain new insight into the fight against drug prohibition and ultimately be exposed to a variety of perspectives. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be motivated to act.

Welcome to the new "Georgians Opposed to Prohibition." I hope you'll stick around.

Thanks for reading,

Zach
President
Georgians Opposed to Prohibition