Monday, November 12, 2007

Some fun For a little light reading, check out Milkijuana? by John Wind Bell, which talks tongue-in-cheek (we hope) about the future war on... raw, unpasteurized milk. The politician will soon have Raw Milk on their platform. Raw Milk will give the First Lady and her husband something to do with their royal time. An answer for them so they can start looking important and busy. Another scare tactic, another make-work project for them to fix the unbroken. "Say No to Raw Milk," will be the popular chant. "This is your brain on Raw Milk," will be on the TV screen. "It's a gateway drink," someone will be sure to preach from their pulpit. "It's stronger now than what it was in the sixties," a teacher will recite to your students in a M.A.R.E. program. "Beware of the Raw Milk pusher." "Raw Milk will make you go nuts and be violent." "There will be Raw Milk gangs." "Raw Milk will make men's breast grow and your children deformed." And no there are not, as yet, police officers setting up road blocks and check points in your home town on weekends and holidays with breathalyzers and pupilometers in hand and at the ready to catch the Raw Milk Heads. But hey, in retrospect who would have ever thought our government would have their hands stuck in all that they do these days. And, oh yeah, the Constitution, remember that? Full disclosure here.... I must admit that once, many years ago, in my reckless youth, I drank some raw milk when visiting friends on a farm. But I didn't swallow, and I now see the error of my ways and will do my part to prevent others from making that same mistake. [Thanks, JR] Note: in a similar vein, if you haven't read it before, check out my piece: Increase in Burger Abuse Seen. 9:58:58 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Legalize it Canada's Larry Campbell is a former RCMP drug officer, former coroner, former Mayor of Vancouver, and now Senator. He's got a must-read OpEd about marijuana in The Province "The time is here that we should simply take this out of the criminal element and regulate it. The idea that marijuana is virtually any of the things that the drug warriors in the United States say is ludicrous. "They're much like the Conservative government -- they don't believe in scientific fact. [...] Campbell says one thing has convinced opponents marijuana should be illegal: ideology. "It's all ideology -- if they're wrong on this, then what else are they wrong on? They won't even allow hemp. That's how stupid these people are -- and they are stupid. I describe [White House drug czar John] Walters as a moron, and he is truly a moron. [...] "If [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper gets his way, prisons, like the United States, will be a growth industry. We'll start destroying families. [There will be] more crime, breakdown in society and loss of productivity from good people going to jail for nothing." Campbell says "there's no question" Canada's marijuana laws are dictated by the U.S. war on drugs. "We dance entirely to their tune. We're afraid of what will happen if we ever legalize marijuana." [emphasis added] [Thanks, Allan] 8:52:00 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Andrea's still going For those who have been following Drug WarRant for awhile, you may know that I like to keep tabs on what former ONDCP Deputy Director Andrea Barthwell is up to -- particularly since she has such a history of... lying. Andrea will be presenting: "Risky Behavior: What's at Stake and How to Prevent It" tomorrow night in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Barthwell plans to talk to parents about why teens are attracted to drugs, what are the ramifications of using them, and to dispel common myths about drugs. "Based on her research, her expertise, she really has what is the latest up-to-date implications on drug use in our teenagers," said Gilda Ross, District 87 student and community projects coordinator. [...] The workshop topics include: Explaining how false belief marijuana is harmless and not addictive contribute to its use and dependence. [...] Citing evidence for increased potency of today's drugs and relationship to risky behavior. It amuses me when I hear drug warriors talk about how today's scientific approach eliminates the quackery of patent medicines. But in reality, it seems like they just want to keep the entire "snake oil" business to themselves. 8:30:12 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []