Wednesday, June 13, 2007

A SCOTUS preview? With the Bong Hits for Jesus case set to be determined by the Supreme Court any day now, comments today by Justice Alito at a luncheon are interesting... "I'm a very strong believer in the First Amendment and the right of people to speak and to write," [...] "I would be reluctant to support restrictions on what people could say." [...] "it's very dangerous for the government to restrict speech." 10:47:23 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Legalization is sane, rational policy Via Transform, check out this OpEd by Michael C. Chettleburgh in Canada's National Post: Put the Gangs out of Business: Legalize Drugs The street gang and associated drug trade problem in Canada won't be solved by a get-tough, criminal-justice-system response, nor should we expect young homies to just say no. Look to the United States for proof of this. [...] Today, things are so bad that the FBI has made street gangs and the underlying drug trade their number one priority, even over domestic terrorism. The failure in this campaign is a testament to the abject failure of the U.S. war on drugs and gangs. [...] Canada has the opportunity, but perhaps not the courage, to employ a different approach on street gangs. To be sure, we must tackle the underlying socioeconomic causes of the street-gang problem, including poverty, income inequality and persistent discrimination. At the same time, we must equip our police agencies with the resources they need to take out the hardcore 20% or so of all street gangsters who are responsible for the majority of Canadian street violence. We must spend much more money on early prevention and diversion, because this is not a problem that we can arrest our way out of. Finally, we need to embark upon drug legalization, which will starve gangs of their principal oxygen supply and serve to upset the attractive risk-reward proposition that every new gangster now faces. [emphasis added] That is the message. Powerful stuff, and so incredibly true. He goes on... There is no contradiction in being pro-drug-reform yet anti-drug use. In its present form, the war on drugs is both bad public policy and a fight we cannot win. All drug users should have the right to harm themselves if they so choose. Recognizing that we cannot eliminate their demand, I would much prefer that drug users purchase their wares in a controlled setting rather than from young gangsters, who effectively control what gets sold, where it gets sold and to whom it gets sold. [...] Drug reform will not solve the drug problem entirely. But it will go a long way to solving what has been termed the "drug-problem problem," which is the pull of the gang and its associated crime and violence This is a really great OpEd, and it should be circulated widely. It's so refreshing to hear such voices of sanity making powerful statements. While we're talking about sane statements, Transform also reminds us of this one back in 2002, endorsed by 108 Members of the European Parliament, where they proclaim that: "...the drug prohibition policy stemming from the UN Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 is the actual cause of the increasing damage which the production, trafficking, sale and consumption of illegal substances inflict on entire sections of society, the economy as well as public institutions, thus undermining health, freedom and individuals' lives" [and call for] "a system for the legal control and regulation of the production, sale and consumption of substances which are currently illegal." 9:54:45 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Hostess selling banana-creme Twinkies NEW YORK -- Twinkie lovers, get ready to go bananas. The sweet treat known for its golden spongy cake and its creamy vanilla center is returning to its roots with banana-creme filling _ the flavor that first made the snack a hit with sweet-toothed people more than 70 years ago. I don't know why I posted that here. It just... seemed right, somehow. Update: Mmmmm.... twinkies. 6:45:35 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Spitzer reverses position -- New York could get Medical Marijuana? Interesting news: Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer, in a reversal of a campaign position, said Tuesday he could support legislation legalizing the use of marijuana for certain medicinal purposes. The governor's position comes as lawmakers stepped up a push in the final two weeks of the 2007 session for New York to join 12 other states and allow marijuana for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other painful conditions. In a debate last summer, Spitzer said he opposed medical marijuana. Now he said he is "open" to the idea after being swayed by advocates in the past couple of months. "On many issues, hopefully you learn, you study, you evolve. This is one where I had, as a prosecutor, a presumption against the use of any narcotic which wasn't designed purely for medicinal and medical effect. And now there are ways that persuaded me that it can be done properly," the governor told reporters. Wait a second. Did I just read that a politician was willing to learn and change his position based on the facts? Wow. Maybe there is some hope for this country. [Thanks, Michael] Update: The New York Assembly passed the medical marijuana bill 95-52 late today. Next stop, the Senate. 1:07:28 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []