Monday, December 15, 2008

No big surprise here... Obama's team responds: Q: "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" S. Man, Denton A: President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana. Next round goes up in a couple of days. My planned question: The fact that a large portion of the questions last time focused on marijuana laws and the drug war means that these are important issues to people. A recent Zogby poll showed 76% of likely voters think the drug war is failing. Yet frank discussions are still difficult politically and opponents of current drug policies do not currently share an equitable space in major drug policy discussions. Will you appoint an independent, science-based blue-ribbon commission to look at all aspects of drug policy, including the economics of the drug war, and examining alternatives to prohibition? If someone beats me to it, fine with me. 9:11:57 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Innocents die in the drug war Mary Anastasia O'Grady keeps the memory of Veronica and Charity Bowers alive in today's Wall Street Journal Of all the casualties claimed by the U.S. "war on drugs" in Latin America, perhaps none so fully captures its senselessness and injustice as the 2001 CIA-directed killing of Christian missionary Veronica Bowers and her daughter Charity in Peru. and new information about the shooting of their plane has surfaced... ... according to Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R., Mich.), it was an accident waiting to happen because of the way in which the CIA operated the drug interdiction plan in Peru known as the Airbridge Denial Program. Mr. Hoekstra says the goods to prove his charge are in a classified report from the CIA Inspector General that he received in October. [...] "It was a rogue operation," he told me by telephone on Tuesday. "They knew they weren't following the rules, and they never did anything about it. They were callous about it." When I asked him to explain further, he said: "My take on this is that they became obsessed with the mission." We need these operations to see the light of day. Thanks to Representative Hoekstra and Mary O'Grady for helping that happen. O'Grady also notes: Yet to honor the memory of Mrs. Bowers and her daughter and spare innocent lives in the future, a broader discussion in Congress about U.S. drug policy in the region is needed. Absolutely. 8:12:41 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Christmas is coming... Need to do some Christmas shopping? Tired of the same old stuff that everyone gives? Drug WarRant is here to help you out. Start out with the Drug WarRant Cafe Press Store All sorts of great T-shirts, buttons, magnets, and unique gifts. The marijuana-leaf thong is really popular. Seriously. Every time I've had some of these available, they're gone in no time. Give one to someone special. Buttons with a message make a great stocking stuffer. All Cafe Press items will get to you by Christmas as long as you order by tomorrow (or you can order later if you're willing to spring for expedited shipping). Need more ideas? The Drug WarRant Amazon Store is a great starting point for drug policy related merchandise, including books, music, DVDs, hemp products, and other fun items. If you want to do other Christmas shopping at Amazon, do so through this link, and I'll get a referral. Finally, I know how much fun it is to do Christmas shopping, and there's nothing worse than running out of people to shop for. Well, I can help you there, too. Here is my wish list. 12:09:13 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []