Criminal JusticeAsset Forfeiture, Collateral Sanctions (College Aid, Drug Taxes, Housing, Welfare), Court Rulings, Drug Courts, Due Process, Felony Disenfranchisement, Incarceration, Policing (2011 Drug War Killings, 2012 Drug War Killings, 2013 Drug War Killings, 2014 Drug War Killings, 2015 Drug War Killings, 2016 Drug War Killings, 2017 Drug War Killings, Arrests, Eradication, Informants, Interdiction, Lowest Priority Policies, Police Corruption, Police Raids, Profiling, Search and Seizure, SWAT/Paramilitarization, Task Forces, Undercover Work), Probation or Parole, Prosecution, Reentry/Rehabilitation, Sentencing (Alternatives to Incarceration, Clemency and Pardon, Crack/Powder Cocaine Disparity, Death Penalty, Decriminalization, Defelonization, Drug Free Zones, Mandatory Minimums, Rockefeller Drug Laws, Sentencing Guidelines)CultureArt, Celebrities, Counter-Culture, Music, Poetry/Literature, Television, TheaterDrug UseParaphernalia, Vaping, ViolenceIntersecting IssuesCollateral Sanctions (College Aid, Drug Taxes, Housing, Welfare), Violence, Border, Budgets/Taxes/Economics, Business, Civil Rights, Driving, Economics, Education (College Aid), Employment, Environment, Families, Free Speech, Gun Policy, Human Rights, Immigration, Militarization, Money Laundering, Pregnancy, Privacy (Search and Seizure, Drug Testing), Race, Religion, Science, Sports, Women's IssuesMarijuana PolicyGateway Theory, Hemp, Marijuana -- Personal Use, Marijuana Industry, Medical MarijuanaMedicineMedical Marijuana, Science of Drugs, Under-treatment of PainPublic HealthAddiction, Addiction Treatment (Science of Drugs), Drug Education, Drug Prevention, Drug-Related AIDS/HIV or Hepatitis C, Harm Reduction (Methadone & Other Opiate Maintenance, Needle Exchange, Overdose Prevention, Pill Testing, Safer Injection Sites)Source and Transit CountriesAndean Drug War, Coca, Hashish, Mexican Drug War, Opium ProductionSpecific DrugsAlcohol, Ayahuasca, Cocaine (Crack Cocaine), Ecstasy, Heroin, Ibogaine, ketamine, Khat, Kratom, Marijuana (Gateway Theory, Marijuana -- Personal Use, Medical Marijuana, Hashish), Methamphetamine, New Synthetic Drugs (Synthetic Cannabinoids, Synthetic Stimulants), Nicotine, Prescription Opiates (Fentanyl, Oxycontin), Psilocybin / Magic Mushrooms, Psychedelics (LSD, Mescaline, Peyote, Salvia Divinorum)YouthGrade School, Post-Secondary School, Raves, Secondary School
CorruptionFinancial Corruption, Glamorization of Criminality, Government CorruptionCrime & ViolenceCivil Conflict, Drug Trade Funding Terrorists, Increased Illegal Gun Prevalence, Police/Suspect Altercations, Property Crime, Turf WarsDisorderDrug Trade in Schools, Open Air Markets, Police-Community Tensions, Political InstabilityEnvironmental HarmDeforestation, Meth LabsFutile PursuitsBusts & SeizuresHarm IntensificationDisease, Increased Drug Potency, Overdoses, Poisoned Drug Supply, Popularization of Worse Drugs
AcademicsElectoral PoliticsBallot Measures (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020), Candidates/RacesFederal GovernmentCongress, Executive Branch (DEA, ONDCP), Federal CourtsLaw EnforcementLegal CommunityOur SideOrganizations (Changing Minds 2009, Changing Minds 2010, Director's Blog), Political LeadersPolitics Outside USCanada, Philippines, United NationsPollingState & Local GovernmentState & Local Executive Branches, State & Local Legislatures, State CourtsThe Drug DebateDecriminalization, Legalization (Legalization Supporters, Marijuana Legalization), Media, Medicalization, Moderates, Prohibition, Public Opinion, Regulation of Legal Drugs, Spending Priorities, Tax and Regulate, Treatment Not JailThe Other SideBarry McCaffrey, Jim Sensenbrenner, John Walters, Mark Souder
There is no difference on the drug war
This issue has never been about one party, good things can be done by either a democrat or republican, and bad things are done by democrats and republicans. In Zeese's case his two opponents take the exact same position on the war on drugs, not to mention they are both "stay the course guys" though the democrat now says he is not, and they both support the patriot act. So show me one issue on which there is an important difference.
vote for individuals, not against parties
I think it's very important to be single-issues voters and look at individual candidates. Will *this* candidate improve the law on *my* issue? If instead our votes are based on keeping the other party out, we run the risk of continuing to be a "core constituency": a group that the party we support doesn't have to address.
As long as anti-drug war voters are willing to vote for candidates whose "nibbling at the margins" actions are really covers for not doing anything at all (i.e., supporting "more studies" vs. not supporting more studies--we already know from a century of experience what "more studies" really means), then those candidates don't need to address our issues.
Consistently, compassionate use/medical marijuana polls above 50% throughout the United States. I think that the reason there's been very little progress except at the referendum level is that voters who support compassionate use don't care enough about it to vote that way at the candidate level. Republicans don't expect to gain votes by supporting compassionate use, and Democratics don't expect to lose votes by not actively supporting it.
3rd Party Politics
I live in Maryland and I intend to "throw my vote away" on Zeese.
I think, in general, Democrats are slightly better on drug issues than Republicans. It's a good thing that votes for Zeese will likely come from voters that would otherwise vote for Cardin. It shows the Democrats how much support is in drug law reform (Zeese is largely a one issue candidate). The more votes candidates like Zeese pull, the more that Democrats will notice drug reform issues. This is especially true if this ends up costing Democrats the election. Maybe that's the best thing that can happen. We can't support the lesser of 2 evils and expect to make progress. Even if it ends up worse in the short run, supporting 3rd party candidates allows progress in the long run. Sucking votes from the more sympathetic party is how 3rd parties exert their influence.
races that count
How about the Kinky Friedman race in Texas? He favors marijuana decriminalization and is semi-competative. Latest numbers I saw have him at 12%. This is significate because the Democrat is only 8 to 10 points down in bumping off the Republican governor in TEXAS.
While Zeese likely wont affect the election that much, Friedmans run is very real and important.
I Saw in Tx Freeman is in third
It was the Rep, "grandma", Kinky, and then the Dem.
I dont remmember the #'s.
In MD, the latest Zogby is
Cardin 51
Steel 35
Zeese 6
Maryland
It is important to point out that Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R) has supported medical marijuana and signed a medical marijuana bill into law despite pressure from the Bush administration. He has also worked to reform sentencing for drug offenders to try to keep them out of jail. He has done more for drug reform than any other elected official in Maryland. Drug reformers ought to consider him as well as Michael Steele. What the hell is a Green/Libertarian/Populist anyway?
Previous comment (Maryland)
Indeed, I believe Ehrlich is the superior candidate for governer. Ehrlich has supported the changes you mentioned. His opponent, O'Malley, while mayor of Baltimore has a program of making many small-time (some say illegal) arrests.
However, Steele is much more of a "Bush Republican" than Ehrlich. Steele hasn't said much about his drug policy, but his website says:
"End Drug Trafficking:
* Increase and expand the High Intensity Drug Trafficking grant the Baltimore-Washington area receives, so police have the resources they need to target drug dealers and gang members who traffic narcotics.
* Increase funding for programs that rehabilitate drug addicts and get them the help they need to return to being productive members of society. "
Post new comment