Update!!! Update!!! Update!!!
Please tune in to NORML’s podcast tonight at 4:20pst when host Russ Belville will interview former Seattle Police Chief and NORML Advisory Board Member Norm Stamper regarding the selection of colleague Gil Kerlikowke as Drug Czar.
According to just published news reports, President Barack Obama has tapped Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske to be the nation’s next ‘Drug Czar.’
From Seattle’s top cop to ‘drug czar’
via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
[excerpt] Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has been appointed to a law enforcement post within the Obama administration, which would return him to Washington, D.C., after almost a decade as Seattle’s top cop, sources said Tuesday.
… Kerlikowske came to Seattle in 2000 after serving as deputy director in the Justice Department, overseeing the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program. A military veteran with 36 years in law enforcement, he spent four years as Buffalo’s police commissioner after starting his career in Florida.
On the positive side, Kerlikowske hails from Seattle — a city that has elected to make the enforcement marijuana crimes cops’ lowest priority. And although the police chief spoke out against the initiative effort — which passed with 58 percent of the vote in 2003 — he’s abided by the will of the people since then. As a result, there are now fewer marijuana-related arrests in Seattle than in virtually any other major city in the United States.
On the negative side, Kerlikowske is first and foremost a cop. He’s served 36 years in law enforcement, and it is foolish to assume that he will in any way embrace our issue with open arms. That said, I find myself in cautious agreement with NORML Board Member (and longtime Seattle resident) Dominic Holden, who believes that Kerlikowske may bring a “progressive” approach to an agency that has, almost since its inception, operated in the ‘Dark Ages.’
The day the U.S. government finally — and properly — recognizes that drug use is a public health problem and not solely a criminal justice issue will be the day that the President appoints a White House ‘Drug Czar’ who possesses a professional background in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.
But until that day arrives, perhaps the best we reformers can hope for is a cop who appreciates that pot poses less of a danger to the public than alcohol, and who recognizes that from a practical and fiscal standpoint, targeting and arresting adults who engage in the responsible use of cannabis doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. At first glance, Obama’s pick — unlike his predecessor John Walters — appears to possess both of these common sense qualities.
http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/02/11/leagalization-groups-warm-to-reported-drug-czar-pick/
February 11, 2009
Leagalization Groups Warm to Reported Drug Czar Pick
@ 2:59 pm by Michael O’Brien
The man the Obama administration is looking at to possibly become the next Drug Czar is being met with cautious optimism by proponents of the decriminalism of marijuana and a treatment-based national drug policy.
Seattle Police Chief Gil Gil Kerlikowske is being looked at for a job in the Obama administration, a Democratic official confirmed Wednesday, while the Seattle Times reported that Kerlikowske had accepted the position tasked with crafting drug policy, likely assuming the position in spring or summer.
The nomination received positive, though measured, reactions from groups advocating the end of the War on Drugs.
“I would clearly identify it as a step in the right direction,” said Norm Stamper, who preceded Kerlikowske as Seattle’s chief of police, and now serves on the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). “He is a thoughtful individual; i think he can be influenced by research and would be more inclined than previous drug czars to rely on evidence-based solutions.”
“This is a police chief that’s had to work with users of medical marijuana and growers; he lives in the real world,” said Allen St. Pierre, the executive director of NORML. “It would mark a clean break from the Barry McCaffrey and John Walters style of leadership on this issue,” he added, in reference to earlier drug czars whose tenures had emphasized a law enforcement approach.
“Based on what I have read, the nominee would be a far better choice than anyone the Republicans would have put forward for the position,” said William Redpath, the chairman of the Libertarian Party of the United States, who said he was not previously familiar with Kerlikowske. “The best choice of all for this post…would have been to nominate nobody and to announce that the Administration was going to work with the Congress to end federal drug prohibition in order to pass responsibility to the states, which is what occurred at the end of the federal prohibition of alcohol.”
Stamper said that he hopes the move will mean an end to the War on Drugs, though he is not optimistic, and added that he had not spoken with Kerlikowske about the job.
Several organizations supporting a law enforcement-based approach for U.S. drug law could not immediately be reached for comment.
Oh boy !!! I’m first to comment !
Walters was dumb . Brainwashed by the Alcohol , Drug companies so , the new drug czar brings new hope . I think it’ll be a good change . I am dissapointed in , Obama though for not keeping his campaign promises .
“baby steps”….
I, at a first glace, do not like the decision of Obama to appoint Gil Kerlikowske as our new drug czar. It just seems like this man will do exactly what Walters did – lie and do it a lot. I especially do not like that our tax payers’ dollars are paying for someone to:
“(12) shall ensure that no Federal funds appropriated to the Office of National Drug Control Policy shall be expended for any study or contract relating to the legalization (for a medical use or any other use) of a substance listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and take such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use of a substance (in any form) that–
1. is listed in schedule I of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812); and
2. has not been approved for use for medical purposes by the Food and Drug Administration;”
That Drug Czar article really makes me mad! What a waste of money! The more in-depth that you get into with reform of marijuana laws, more absurd and ridiculous red tape will smack your face and leave you in a dead end. I really hope I’m wrong about what I said. I hope he does a good job. I just honestly don’t think that will happen…
were F*cked
He kind of looks like an undercover stoner. Im pretty sure he’s chewin on a stem in that pic. 😉
God help us.
We need to ask Obama if this was his choice, or Bidens. That will tell the whole story.
I think Obama has failed us with this pick. Yeah medical marijuana may not be raided anymore, but no doubt that marijuana smokers will continue to be arrested. Change? This sounds like the status quo to me. Maybe people will start to wake up that Obama really is a fraud and has no intention of bringing any real change to Washington.
Maybe The New Drug CzaR…
Will Speak The Truth About Marijuana
http://www.realchangenews.org/2007/2007_05_09/officers,video.html
This is disturbing.
Living in Seattle I can agree first hand that the Police Chief has had his fair share of incidents that may/may not have put a tarnish to his shining admaration for our local communities. That being said, he is a man that continues to uphold the citizen voted effort to make cannabis the lowest priority and is open to community input.
Transitioning from Seattle, no doubt an epicenter for the cannabis community, I believe that he has experienced first hand cannabis’ affects (which statistically hasn’t been linked to crime) and he understands his jobs is to enforce public safety and justice of the people – if the people don’t want it enforced, he won’t overrule with his personal opinions.
Funny how our political appointees tend to think we “appoint them to uphold THEIR beliefs”, when we appoint them to uphold OUR beliefs – thus the POINT of public office; SERVE the PUBLIC not YOURSELF.
Finally something from the Obama administration.
I’d expect Norm Stamper (former Seattle police chief, after all) might have some ideas to discuss with Mr. Kerlikowske.
he looks high in that photo lol
Maybe we finally WILL get “change” we can believe in.
We can only go “up” from where we are today.
I’d be interested to see Seattle’s law enforcement expenditures; specifically with regard to Cannabis related crimes.
Maybe the new “Czar” (a very touchy term,, IMO, given our new “Socialist” administration:) can finally talk some sense into the D.C. Blowhards that oppress our liberty year after year via Prohibition: Legalize it, tax it, STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, CREATE JOBS, and make room for actual criminals in the jails!
LEGALIZE FREEDOM!!!
First and foremost I would like to commend the President with his choice of “Drug Czar”. Compared with what the last administration had in place, perhaps we have an honest peace officer who understands that prescription drugs are in fact TOXIC and deadly even when used as prescribed. I know many cops and stigma has it against the peace officer yet being an officer comes down to being a human who just lives in the area in which he polices, he just wants it to be nice and orderly. The unwanted burden of Marijuana Prohibition places on Peace officers is unneeded. Much more Violent crimes, Unsafe acts of living I.E. Driving fast, Off Road vehicles actions that many of us should probably use with more caution could be done with more caution say if the Fed’s had a different policy in policing period. We the nerds of NORML know that its not in the interest of the state weather that be state govt. or Federal govt to impose on the lives of Citizens, Natives, Voters and Humans. Its the Duty of the institution that we pay and elect for cater to our needs and desire they know what we want they just don’t hear it loud enough. Norml poke your head out in DC bigger and accept that your supposed to be in DC repersenting the rest of America. Arnold I know California needs to be representing what they believe in so do it!.
w00t! Score another for omnibus culture! GO OBAMA!
I would like to know what is so progressive about being part of the Clinton Justice Department that gave America a world record prison population.
My take on our new Czar.
The Hunt for Gil Kerlikowske – Drug Czar
http://drugwartreason.blogspot.com/
2009/02/hunt-for-gil-kerlikowske-drug-czar.html
Have him fix the information on the government usdoj website, which states…
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/ongoing/marinol.html
“Medical marijuana already exists. It’s called Marinol.”
Marinol is not Marijuana, it is THC. That is like saying rubbing alcohol is beer. It is false and deceptive.
If that were true, they would admittedly have proven, that, “Marijuana”, as stated on that page, has a “Known and medically accepted value”, known by congress. It is “Smoked marijuana”, which has no accepted medical value. So, only smoked marijuana is a federal crime?
Also have him check-out the statement…
“For one thing, smoking is generally a poor way to deliver medicine.”
For one, that is an opinion, not a fact. Which is illegal to list on a government document, which clearly indicates that the contents of this document are, “Medical Marijuana – The Facts”.
One last thing… Why are they researching…
“That’s why the DEA has registered seven research initiatives to continue researching the effects of smoked marijuana as medicine.”
When they have already established that “Smoking is not an acceptable method of medication delivery”.
They are admitting to government waste!
Again…
“At this time, however, neither the medical community nor the scientific community has found sufficient data to conclude that smoked marijuana is the best approach to dealing with these important medical issues.”
They have not found sufficient data to suggest it is harmful either. With statements like… “May cause cancer”, “Could impair judgement”, “Suggested long-term damage”.
One last thing…
“The most comprehensive, scientifically rigorous review of studies of smoked marijuana was conducted by the Institute of Medicine, an organization chartered by the National Academy of Sciences. In a report released in 1999, the Institute did not recommend the use of smoked marijuana, but did conclude that active ingredients in marijuana could be isolated and developed into a variety of pharmaceuticals, such as Marinol.”
The most comprehensive… So no other study was comprehensive enough to make a determination… so, they admit that the other studies determinations were not comprehensive enough to, um… create a law against the chemical use?
Again, the result of that, “Most comprehensive study”, concluded that there was a medical use, which is known and accepted by congress, for THC/Marijuana. (As it clearly states in the beginning, that THC is Marijuana.)
But the fact is… Marijuana is not only THC, and THC, synthetic or extracted, does not hold any comparison to the consumed marijuana it attempts to replace. As all scientific and medical studies, post 1999, which were not attempting to gain patents for the government.
Is our government a mafia?
If Kerlikowske truly considers marijuana a low-priority for law enforcement, maybe he would also consider the possibility that the DEA is in violation of human rights every time they treat marijuana users like hard-core criminals and seriously support the need for reforms.
Oh, and ask him to define, “Medicine”…
By all accounts, medicine is a substance used to cure, alleviate, alter, or mediate any condition.
Literally, in the “Medical world”, it is defined as, “The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease.” and, “Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a medicament; a remedy; physic.”
AKA, “By medicine, life may be prolonged.”
How would viagra, lithium, opiates, anesthesia, cough-syrup, alcohol, or ritalin fit into that picture? None of those “prolong life”.
As for the other definition… Marijuana, even smoked marijuana, is a medicine, by definition.
They say…
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/marijuana_position.html
“The proposition that smoked marijuana is ‘medicine’ is, in sum, false.”
Medical value is an opinion, not a fact. However, a certified medical evaluation may indicate a lack of sufficient medical value, as the certification or the evaluation stipulates.
Bananas have medical value to patients with diabetes. Peanuts have anti-medical value, to those allergic to them. Neither of them are illegal, and contribute to more deaths than marijuana.
Where are those facts?
I see they admit, “For some ailments, the IOM found ‘…potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation.’ However, it pointed out that ‘the effects of cannabinoids on the symptoms studied are generally modest, and in most cases there are more effective medications [than smoked marijuana].'”
They didn’t say there was “No medical value”, or that, “The claims were false”. They said, “On the symptoms studied… there are more effective medications than ‘smoked marijuana'”.
More effective, but not cheaper. Again, only on the studied symptoms, which are not listed. They listed all symptoms, but only tested some of them. Again, only the “Smoked marijuana”, was the less effective comparison. They failed to mention the success of the ingested or vaporized marijuana.
It also failed to mention the “Side effects”, or even the names of the “more effective”, drugs.
I hope this guy has better judgement than Czar.
Though I like Seattle — ugh.
Wow! This seems like it’s a very positive direction for the marijuana movement in my opinion. I hope he gets confirmed.
A move in the right direction? Perhaps. I hope he is an intelligent thinking rational Drug Czar who will refuse to engage in deceitful or stereotypical tactics. Lies & misinformation continue to blur the line between “soft” & “hard” drugs thus making it difficult for indivduals to make the right choices. Once a person realizes how benign and “cool” pot is then many make the asumption (incorrectly) that somehow they were deceived about cocaine or herion and they too might be enjoyable to partake in. They will soon find out that with hard drugs come real addictions. Deal truthfully with the public and they will respect what you have to say. That would be my advice to the incoming Drug Czar since we are still in a position where people still seem to think we need to control a free individual’s choices. J. Velasco Brownsville Texas
So is this welcome or unwelcome news? Upon the public announcement do we contact our Senators to support Gil K. or denounce him and hold out for better?
So, anybody have any predictions for how this man will view pot?
I’m not sure if this is good or the same thing we had before…
Czar Struck: Obama’s Brilliant Pick for Drug Czar
Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 7:20 PM
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/02/11/czar_struck_obama_s_brillia
Obama choosing Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske to become the next drug czar in Washington, D.C., at first, looks like the same old
beltway logic: cops and prison terms are the snake-oil cure for drug
addictions. Some change, Obama. Right?
Under Clinton’s and Bush’s drug czars, the United States experienced
the steepest spike drug arrests in its history (contributing to the
fattest swell of anti-drug spending). Drug arrests jumped over 80
percent since 1992. And despite the effort, the White House reports
that drug use has risen.
But Kerlikowske, since he became chief in 2000, has been at the police
department’s helm while Seattle made some of the most aggressive
reforms to drug enforcement in the country—allowed under federal law. He never stood in the way. And now Kerlikowske is poised to become the most influential person in federal government to set new drug laws.
The needle-exchange test: The Obama administration has already
identified this as its most pressing drug issue. Last week, Obama sent
American negotiators to the UN orders to reverse Bush’s block on
needle exchange. He wants to allow clean needles—in Europe and in the US. What’s Kerlikowske’s record?
“There has been long-standing support in the community as a whole and from SPD for our continued operation of the needle exchange,” says James Apa, a spokesman for Seattle King County Public Health, which
runs one of first and the nation’s largest needle-exchange programs.
Seattle IV drug users have some of the lowest HIV-infection rates in
the country, he says. But acceptance of the controversial program
hasn’t been that long standing.
“What we would find is that police would hang around the exchange site
and watch who came and went,” says Kris Nyrop, former director of
Street Outreach Services, a pioneering needle exchange group that
operated a table in downtown Seattle in the late 1980s. “Their
presence itself would be somewhat intimidating … people would see
four police officers halfway down the block and they would turn around
and go home,” he says. “Harassment like that happened routinely up
until the mid ’90s.”
But under Kerlikowske, “It has been a laissez-faire thing and the
police basically leave needle exchanges alone,” says Nyrop.
Pot arrests have plummeted under Kerlikowske’s watch. When he took
office in 2000, Seattle police arrested 332 people for misdemeanor
marijuana possession (.pdf); by 2006, the number had dropped to 148.
Some of that decline is likely due to Seattle passing Initiative 75,
which made marijuana enforcement the city’s lowest law-enforcement
priority. But Kerlikowske didn’t try to block I-75. While City
Attorney Tom Carr joined Bush’s Drug Czar John Walters at a press
conference to oppose the measure—and Carr campaigned against the
measure for months—Kerlikoske was mum. And after voters passed the law
in 2003, SPD told a City Council Marijuana Policy Review Panel that
“officers [had] been verbally advised during their roll calls that
investigation and arrest of adults for possession of cannabis intended
for personal use is to be their lowest priority.” At Hempfest—where
tens of thousands of people smoke pot in unison—SPD sergeant Lou Eagle told a reporter, “We are not out there to enforce the marijuana laws.” And medical-marijuana patients, who could still be arrested despite the state’s medical-pot law, found Kerlikowske fair. Had Kerlikowske chosen, SPD could have maintained or increased pot arrests. But he didn’t.
In striking contrast, Walters’s number-one priority was marijuana.
“[N]o drug matches the threat posed by marijuana,” his office wrote in
a letter telling federal attorneys to ratchet up prosecutions (.pdf).
And under Walters, the Drug Enforcement Administration and federal
prosecutors made a point of busting medical pot collectives in
California. But for Kerlikowski, pot was his lowest priority.
Hold on—Obama’s not about to legalize pot.
The bigger issue—and safer issue, politically—is replacing enforcement
with public services. On that issue Kerlkowske has incubated a
revolution. Seattle implemented two programs that get drug users off
the street before they get arrested. Most notably, the Get Off The
Streets (GOTS) program hatched in the Central District when Sergeant
John Hayes (now a captain) set up a table as an arrest-free area that
people with criminal warrants could visit for health and human
services.
“That was, at that time, a very edgy approach, and the chief was
willing to let one of his people staff the program,” says City Council
Member Nick Licata, who soon seized on the idea, passing legislation
to fund the project permanently. “It was a stage where Gil could have
stopped it from [getting funding], but he allowed it go forward,” he
says.
“He’s not saying we should do away with the drug war, but I think he
recognizes that it has not been a success and I think he is open to
other strategies,” Licata continues. “That may be due to some of his
experiences here. Seattle may get some credit for exposing him to
real-time experiments, such as I-75, as to what could happen
nationally.”
And nationally, Kerlikowske could be a drug czar who pushes to lift
the federal ban on funding needle exchange, stops the medical pot
raids in California, overhauls our nonsensical anti-drug commercials,
and enthusiastically seeks funding for drug-treatment programs.
The brilliance of Obama’s pick for drug czar is not just finding
someone who is open to new strategies, but someone who nonetheless
holds undeniable qualifications as a cop. Nobody can claim Kerlikowske is a public-health nut who doesn’t know the impact of drugs on the
streets. Like many Americans, he agrees that drugs should be illegal.
But he understands the place for low priorities and public health—and
he’s willing to step back where enforcement alone has failed.
*cross’s fingers*
Finally, someone who at least understands that cannabis laws are harsh and unjust.Hopefully he’ll recomend loosening cannabis laws.
I don’t know much about this guy, and didn’t really find much that excites me – I live in a non-medical marijuana state.
But you guys are excited, Norm Stamper seems to support him, so suppose it’s cause for some celebration.
Maybe I’m just paranoid on this issue, but I think this is going to bite us worse, not make things better. Hope is something that can only be afforded to those with nothing to gain.
Hey wake up.
Obama is not going to change anything. Keep marijuana illeagel lets the CIA sell more marijuana for cheap.
This weed grows any where the only thing that gives it value is the drug war.
Obama is a puppet to few wealthy families trying to enslave the world.
If everyone would please call and flood President Barack Obama’s own message line at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 and tell him we want him to REPEAL our Federal marijuana/hemp laws now, every day until our Federal Gov. Repeals all marijuana/hemp laws, then “We the people’s voices will be finally heard loud and clear! Copy this and pass it along! MAKE A DIFFERENCE! CALL
Obama should open the gates to the WH and let in his supporters. I think he would if the people pushed ahrd enough. If the people who voted for change don’t give him the support he needs, he’s stuck inside the WH with a bunch of federalist party fascists and he’ll have no choice but to let the corporate pigs rule over his entire administration.
If the people who voted for change don’t march on the WH again soon, he’ll have no recourse but to let the corp-pigs rule over the govt again. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss – doesn’t have to be that way, not if the people force the WH gates to open for their support.
Why do we even need a drug Czar and a drug war?
It is apparent after over forty years of waging war on drugs it has become a lost cause.
The only thing that has changed is the cost.
The war on drugs cost taxpayers $600.00 per second.
Just google the drug war clock and watch the numbers go on and on, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week after week, year after year, the cost of war rages on.
Now imagine if we did not have a war on drugs what America could do with that money?
The cost of the contraband itself is another cost we must consider as well as the cost of the lives.
Look at all the jails and prisons filled,clogged court systems,the mandatory minimums,the longer prison sentences,the expansion of the prison industrial complex,the private corporate run correction facilities,more police, more alphabet agencies, more legislation, it is a never ending nightmare of more. Nothing has changed but the propaganda and lies and the cost. All of this will be paid for by the taxpayer and that is you and me.The numbers look real good in the newspapers or goverment statistical data sheets of how many were arrested in a drug sting or a raid it should be the opposite if it was a successfull war. But the actuality is all of these professionals that are involved in this lair of systematic assembly line justice merely support or increase the price of the contraband that they are determined to be rid off.
A giant control system grid created for outlawed molecules.
The foundation of career building that is as endless as time itself.
We must ask ourselves as Americans How much more can this go on for?
How much more shall we be taxed?
How much can we spend on a failed policy?
How much more of our constitutional rights and freedoms shall be eroded for fear or manufactured crime?
How much cost of not only money but lives must be sacrificed?
If we do not ask some very serious questions the war on drugs will be an infinite forever with Orwellian scenarios.The Inquisition and the witch hunt conducted by the self-righteous thought police with impunity.
As an American I do not want to keep paying for our only failed war and the most costly war in our country’s history. As an American you must ask yourself these questions, it is your money and your responsibility and it is your right if not then you will be asking yourself later this question,
Why did I not ask when I had the chance to make a difference?
Then it will be too late and that is not American.
“Your mistake is failing to recognize that the very measures you favor are a major source of the evils you deplore.” Milton Friedman
Truly democratic Americans need to support minority democratic leaders now more than ever before. The strength of Obama is the strength of minority democratic leaders. They are everywhere, and they need OUR support NOW!!!!!! Understand?????
I’ve lived in the Shoreline Washington, just north of seattle during the period of Norm Stamper and Gil Kerlikowske. I feel kerlikowske is willing to think outside of the cop mind set to activily consider the communities pleads for drug reform. I feel he is open minded to I-75(which makes marijuana smoking of adults a low prority for the seattle police) and washingtons medical marijuana program. Gil Kerlikowske will implement Idea’s of the Obama administration just the same as he did with I-75.
You need to help me to stop this craze, please.Someone in this country has to help us.
I want a more reasonable outcome for my son Adrian: he wants to go back to school at Truman State University in MO and work to pay for tuition while getting professional help for his depression caused in part by being punished with 5 years probation and 400 hours of community service for possession of a few mg of Adderall. He was 19.
Over 2 years ago he was stopped in Scotland County on his way to Truman University, because of speeding. He had a sandwich bag with a few Adderall pills. Why the pills? Well, Adrian’s friend had a prescription of Adderall, a drug that keeps you awake. His friend gave him a few of these pills because Adrian was having trouble sleeping and needed something to stay awake while studying for Midterms. He did not pay for the pills and he had no idea that taking in them, it was a serious offense.
He could not keep up with the strict probation rules for such a long time.
He is back in jail because of multiple “Probation Violations”. By the time of the first Hearing with the Judge he will have spent 6 weeks in jail doing nothing but watching TV and playing cards, as a nonresident offender “waiting” in your jails and in your state, using your resources and clogging your system.
And he faces either 7 years in prison or 4 months of Shock Treatment in a Correctional followed by another 5 years of Probation. This is crazy!
This is a true failure of the system to not look at the real reason for targeting innocent people and then creating criminals where there were none. There are far more guilty perpetrators out there and furthermore, Adrian would not be in this hopelessness if the system had not insinuated itself in his and his family’s life so emphatically.
Current drug laws don’t work; locking up people on drug dealing charges who aren’t dealing drugs drains our treasury and saps our system of legitimacy.
I became a memeber DRCNet: The Drug Reform Coordination Network in Washington DC. A quick look at their research shows you how Legislators are beginning to work in making more reasonable “drug-laws” all over the country.
Money that goes to locking up Adrian is not being used to prosecute real drug dealers. You know that.
Doing nothing in the face of a clearly unfair system makes us look irresponsible to our constituents.
Loading up the criminal justice system with minor –naïve- offenders taxes that system in a way that leads to more dysfunction of the system.
Please advise what steps I can take to voice my concern and to get my son Adrian out of the criminal system as soon as possible. He needs a hand up not a lock up. Please don’t make him a criminal.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks a lot for your attention.
Thanks a lot for your attention.
Nora Garda, 319 400 4695 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City IA noragarda@gmail.com
MS Analytical Chemistry.
Chemist at the University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmacy.
Artist, videographer. Festivals Producer.
Adrian’s Dad: Juan Marcos, PhD in Chemical Engineering, Developer at Pearsons Education
Nora Garda 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City, IA 52240 319-400-4695 noragarda@gmail.com
Wall Street Journal, May 14 and May 15, 2009
The idea that there’s anything controversial about moving towards a more moderate drug policy is just false on its face. The opposite is true. Americans are tired of the “tough criminal justice approach” and they elected a president who said he’d bring a new perspective to this issue.
Obama made repeated statements in favor of various drug policy reforms on the campaign trail, including support for medical marijuana, treatment over incarceration, needle exchange, and fixing the crack/cocaine sentencing disparity. In a hard-fought campaign, these were among his least controversial positions.