End the Drug War

[naaman fletcher]

I'm not a Stossel fan, but I think it's important whenever we can reach across all party lines for the good of the country, which is why I am posting this.

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2010/06/16/end_the_drug_war

I'm confused. When I walk around busy midtown Manhattan, I often smell marijuana. Despite the crowds, some people smoke weed in public. Usually the police leave them alone, and yet other times they act like a military force engaged in urban combat. This February, cops stormed a Columbia, Mo., home, killed the family dog and terrorized a 7-year-old boy -- for what? A tiny quantity of marijuana.

(..the rest is at the link.)

[lfairban]

1. Good article

Seems to be a right wing web site.

Occasionally, a conservative will have the same disgust for the Drug War as progressives.



Have you renewed your NORML membership yet?

[naaman fletcher]

2. It is a right wing site...

But, for decades there have been libertarian leaning republicans at the forefront of opposing the WOD. Of course the Christians have kicked most of them out of the GOP.

[Fumesucker]

3. Gil Kerlikowske

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Kerlikowske

Richard Gil Kerlikowske (born November 23, 1949) is the current Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a position generally referred to as the United States "Drug Czar". He assumed office on May 7, 2009.

(...)

In a May 22, 2009 interview on KUOW radio, he said any drug 'legalization' would be "waving the white flag" and that "legalization is off the the charts when it comes to discussion, from my viewpoint" and that "legalization vocabulary doesn't exist for me and it was made clear that it doesn't exist in President Obama's vocabulary." Specifically about marijuana, he said, "It's a dangerous drug" and about the medical use of marijuana, he said, "we will wait for evidence on whether smoked marijuana has any medicinal benefits - those aren't in."

[naaman fletcher]

4. what a jackass. nt

[Fumesucker]

7. Who chose him for the position he's in?

What does that say about the person who chose him?

[SocialistLez]

5. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander is a must read. NT

[Romulox]

6. I smell pot in public all the time (people often mix it with their tobacco cigarettes.)

"Usually the police leave them alone, and yet other times they act like a military force engaged in urban combat."

The Drug War is just a pretext. They know full well that pot is harmless, but it gives them the "right" to seize one's home, car, and other possession to fund some fatso cop's retirement while simultaneously making sure that aforementioned fatso cop doesn't have to confront any truly dangerous individuals.