May 2, 2013
Mike Gray, who passed this week, was a prolific writer, producing screenplays, books, and documentaries.
Right from the beginning of our movement, Mike was a major player in drug policy reform. His 1998 book, Drug Crazy: How We Got into this Mess and How We Can Get Out,
which was among the first to parallel alcohol and drug prohibition, was
both historical and solution-oriented. The book was a brilliant work of
journalism that instantly became a mainstay in drug policy libraries
all over the world.
In the early days of the Lindesmith Center (which later became the Drug
Policy Alliance), the highly accessible writing that characterized Drug Crazy
provided an invaluable resource for our focus on public education. To
this day, the history outlined in this “classic” is required reading for
newcomers in search the origins of America’s misguided drug policy.
Mike spoke passionately at conferences, forums, and fit right in at
meetings of organizations such as the Elks Club, where he looked as if
he could be a member. He was straightforward and succinct, and knew how
to connect with and educate both conventional and unconventional
audiences. Perhaps that’s because Mike was a “man’s man” who could be
gruff and humorous in the same sentence, and used terms like “doll”
without sounding chauvinistic. He was part of a (literally) dying breed
of smart guys who came of age in the 1950’s and managed to grow with the
changing times.
For his colleagues in the reform movement, Mike was generous. He was
willing to help with others’ projects, interested in the latest
developments, and always enthusiastic.
For me, Mike was more than a colleague. He was a friend. I feel so
lucky to have had Mike Gray as an ally in our mutual struggle and will
miss very much this humble, good-natured activist-scholar, who greeted
me warmly with “Hello Doll, what’s new?”
Marsha Rosenbaum is director emerita of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance.
Reform Conference 2013
Join your colleagues in Denver from October 23-26 to learn, network and
strategize at the world’s leading drug policy reform conference!
Victory: Lifesaving Legislation in NJ
A new law will encourage people to call for help if someone overdoses, and expand access to an overdose antidote medication.
DPA's Honorary Board
The DPA Honorary Board includes prominent figures from both the left
and the right who are renowned for their leadership in the fields of
law, health, business, media and politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment