BLOG
President Obama's New Drug War Strategy and the Low-Down on 'America's Trillion Dollar Dope Game'
Houston-area journalist Clarence Walker reflects on the occasion of a trillion dollars spent on the failed US drug war. No other has spent more money on the dope trade than our own U.S. Federal Government. Even the richest of drug barons and associated players, dead and alive, cannot or could not have competed with the avalanche of paperwork doled out by the government in its fight against this monster. Even the once ruthless - and now dead - Pablo Escobar and his Medellin Cartel, the Cali Cartel or the Mexican Drug Cartels cannot match the money they have earned from the drug trade with the amount the Federal Government has allocated for years in its battle to stem the flow of illegal drugs into America. And what is the cost for our government in its fight against this narcotics epidemic, a war raged now for some four decades? By all means have a guess, but here is the figure according to The White House: One trillion dollars. The war on drugs is the longest war the American government has ever fought, longer than World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. And even after 40 years, the battle to enforce the laws of the land that prohibits "getting high on dope", this poisonous, addictive trade continues to thrive with the ferocity of an earthquake across the planet. Quite obviously, there is no clear-cut victory in sight. From the outset, if the intent driving the war on drugs, beginning in 1970 under President Nixon's Administration, was to create a drug-free America, we can see that after the spending of a trillion dollars, culminating in millions of arrests, the creation of a burgeoning health care system with which to effectively treat addicts, and the billions spent on law enforcement's task of arresting drug dealers and the prison system in housing the millions of nonviolent drug offenders alongside thousands who have brought violence and death, the "war on drugs" nevertheless remains a dismal failure.
Gary Johnson Says Legalize Marijuana on MSNBC
If you want to legalize marijuana as badly as I do, it's time to start paying attention to Gary Johnson. This MSNBC interview is just a preview of the awesomeness that's going to happen when he runs for president in 2012.
Rand Paul & Medical Marijuana [Updated]
See updates below.[image:1 align:left caption:true]Mike Meno at MPP points out that Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul no longer supports medical marijuana. That's right, folks. Rand Paul, son of the famously libertarian-leaning and pro-marijuana-reform Congressman Ron Paul, is now in favor of arresting sick people for medical marijuana.
Is Obama Planning to Allow More Medical Marijuana Raids?
In the aftermath of a couple very questionable DEA raids of medical marijuana providers, not to mention the nomination of notorious drug warrior Michele Leonhart to head the DEA, we're forced to question once again whether President Obama intends to abide by his pledge to tolerate medical marijuana in states that have legalized its use.
The Drug Czar's Only Job is to Oppose Legalization (And He Sucks at It)
Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske is back in damage control mode again following Mexican President Felipe Calderon's call for a debate on legalizing drugs.
Grandmother's Death in Botched Drug Raid Leads to $4.9 Million Settlement
The 2006 killing of Kathryn Johnston gave the American public a window into the rampant incompetence and needless violence that so often characterizes modern drug enforcement. A massive settlement announced today will hopefully serve as a vivid reminder to police that dirty tactics can carry a heavy price.Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The city of Atlanta will pay $4.9 million to the family of Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old woman killed in a botched November 2006 drug raid, Mayor Kasim Reed's office announced Monday. Johnston was shot to death by narcotics officers conducting a "no-knock" warrant. Investigators later determined the raid was based on falsified paperwork stating that illegal drugs were present in the home. In the four years since Johnston's death, we've seen equally dramatic national controversies emerge from Berwyn Heights, MD and Columbia, MO, as well as countless other disturbing events that for whatever reason failed to generate national outrage. I can only imagine that the next great drug raid fiasco is just around the corner. Until the drug war is brought to an end, the loss of innocent lives will continue and the cost of cleaning up the mess will fall on every one of us.
Searching Black People for No Reason Isn't Police Work, It's Discrimination
If you don't think racial profiling is a real problem, I'd like to introduce you to some young men who beg to differ. Anyone in the black community who opposes marijuana legalization should see this video:
If We Legalize Marijuana, We'll Bankrupt Canada's Pot Economy
It's an open secret that the Canadian economy has long been propped up by substantial marijuana exports to the U.S. market.
Drug Legalization Debate Erupts in Mexico
You can't call it a fringe idea when heads of state are bringing it up. Following Mexican President Felipe Calderon's call for a debate about legalizing drugs, his predecessor Vicente Fox is going a step further and calling for outright legalization.
Is it Illegal to Legalize Marijuana?
It may sound like a dumb question, but opponents of marijuana reform have been arguing for years that federal law somehow prevents states from enacting their own marijuana policies.
Five Ways the Drug War Hurts Kids
This Reason.tv interview with LEAP Executive Director Neill Franklin makes a number of strong points:
If You Think Marijuana Legalization Helps Drug Cartels, Think Again
One of the most enduring disconnects in the legalization debate is the question of what will become of those nasty drug cartels when we end marijuana prohibition. Here's how Tim Rosales of the No on Prop 19 campaign framed it in a debate with Jane Hamsher on CNN:
Mexican President Calls for Drug Legalization Debate
After presiding for years over the bloodiest drug war escalation in history, Mexican President Felipe Calderon is finally ready to discuss legalization.
Crazy Man Leads Opposition to Marijuana Legalization in California
Bishop Ron Allen has been one of the loudest opponents of Prop 19. As this interview shows, he's also a raving paranoid nutjob who knows next to nothing about drug policy:
If Lowering Penalties for Crack Isn't Controversial, What Is?
Earl Ofari Hutchinson at New America Media notes that last week's major reform of crack cocaine sentencing guidelines failed to meet with much opposition from the right. It's another powerful sign that drug war politics are changing before our eyes.
Just Say Now: It's Time to Legalize Marijuana
FireDogLake and Students for Sensible Drug Policy are officially launching the Just Say Now campaign this week. It's an exciting new effort to amplify the marijuana legalization debate and bring out the vote leading up to California's Prop 19 in November, as well as future initiatives in 2012.
If You Like Cartoons and Hate Marijuana Prohibition, You'll Love This
Pete Guither at Drug War Rant calls it an "absolutely brilliant video." Jon Berry at MPP says it's "a must-watch for marijuana policy reform activists." And I think it's pretty good, too. This is called The Flower by Haik Hoisington and it deserves all the viral traffic it's been getting:
How Can We Prevent Pot Growing in Our National Forests?
There is some seriously messed up stuff going down in the woods:
Big Week in Washington
We are publishing a lot of stuff on our new web site -- read about it here -- but it was a really big week for drug policy reform in Washington, and we want to make sure that the very latest big news does not drive the really really big news too far down on the screen for people to notice. And so, a brief wrap-up of the biggest news of the week:
How Does the DEA Feel about Medical Marijuana in DC?
"Officials with the DEA were not available to comment Tuesday," reports The Washington Post. I guess that pretty much sums it up. No scolding, vague threats or dire predictions. Just silence.