The Senate Appropriations Committee must decide today whether to approve legislation allowing the National Guard to join forces with state law enforcement officers in anti-drug operations. The bill, introduced by Rep. Dale Wells (D-33 District), previously passed the House by a 95-0 vote.
“It is against the spirit and the letter of the law for the military to be involved in domestic law enforcement,” NORML Executive Director R. Keith Stroup, Esq. said, referring to guidelines set forth in the Posse Comitatus Act of 1879. “Men and women who volunteer for the National Guard do so to protect their country, not to work arm and arm with state anti-drug operations.”
House Bill 2596 authorizes the Governor to “request volunteers of the National Guard to provide assistance to federal, state and local law enforcement officers, within or outside the boundaries of this state, in drug interdiction and counter-drug activities.” Oklahoma presently ranks as one of the leading states in marijuana eradication activities; however, these efforts primarily target wild growing marijuana patches known as “ditchweed.” This strain of marijuana will not get users “high” when smoked.
“House Bill 2596 not only compromises long-standing principles of federal law, but is an utter waste of taxpayer dollars as well,” Stroup added.
The bill’s sponsor declared that the passage of the legislation is “necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.” The bill further declares a “state of emergency” in Oklahoma.
For more information, please call either Michael Pearson of Oklahoma NORML @ (405) 840-4366 or Paul Armentano of NORML @ (202) 483-5500. To ask the status of H.B. 2596, please call (405) 521-5642. Copies of the NORML position paper: National Guard Involvement in the Drug War are available upon request.
