Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The War is Over! White House Czar Calls for End to 'War on Drugs' The Obama administration's new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting "a war on drugs," a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use. In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske said Wednesday the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation's drug issues. "Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them," he said. "We're not at war with people in this country." Of course, that doesn't mean that I'll be able to dismantle Drug WarRant anytime soon. Kerlikowske isn't going to even consider ending prohibition. However, it is extraordinarily refreshing to hear someone in his position acknowledge that the war on drugs is really seen as a war on we the people. [Thanks, Tom] Update: Two views on the Czar's statement: Jacob Sullum calls it more of the same Radley Balko says rhetoric matters 8:30:11 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

CNBC's Larry Kudlow doesn't get it Link According to CNBC "The Kudlow Report" host Larry Kudlow, the way current California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to promote [marijuana legalization] isn't for the purest of intentions, but just to bring in more revenue for his state's beleaguered budget. " ... Gov. Schwarzenegger, I mean he basically wants to get everybody stoned and then raise taxes," Kudlow said on his May 12 broadcast. "Now I have a problem with that. If we raise taxes, we ought to do it in a sober way so people can lash back at it." Let me explain how it works, Larry. Legalizing marijuana doesn't mean that everyone has to get stoned. We're not going to put it in the water supply. And clearly you haven't been paying any attention to the marijuana discussion online. The pro-legalization folks haven't been showing any evidence of being too stoned to have an informed debate. In fact, their knowledge of the subject far out-shines that of mediocre cable news hosts. And as far as Schwarzenegger possibly promoting legalization without the purest of intentions, gosh, that's got to be the first time that ever happened in politics. And I don't particularly care about the purity of his intentions if the idea is a good one. Finally, Kudlow's seeming concern for people getting their taxes raised is a complete crock of sh*t, since we're talking about people who could otherwise be facing criminal sanctions if marijuana remains illegal. 6:14:00 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []