Posted on 01/30/2003 6:38:26 AM PST by MrLeRoy
America's war on drugs is costly, ignorant and doesn't work, a federal judge said Tuesday.
Denver U.S. District Judge John Kane Jr., who has been speaking and writing against the nation's drug policy for about five years, won a standing ovation from a packed City Club luncheon at the Brown Palace Hotel.
"I don't favor drugs at all," Kane said.
"What I really am opposed to is the fact that our present policies encourage children to take drugs."
Ending the present policy of interdiction, police action and imprisonment would eliminate the economic incentives for drug dealers to provide drugs to minors, Kane said.
He said the government has no real data and no scientific basis for its approach to illegal drug use.
Since the policy began in the early 1970s, drugs have become easier to obtain and drug use has only increased, he said.
Last summer, Kane said, a friend in his 60s was being treated for cancer. The man joked to his family that he wished he knew where to get marijuana to help him bear the effects of chemotherapy.
The next day, the man's 11-year-old grandson brought him three marijuana cigarettes, Kane said.
"Don't worry, Grandpa - I don't use it myself, but if you need any more just let me know," the judge quoted the boy as saying.
Although officials vow zero tolerance for drugs, even children know that's not reality, Kane said.
"Our national drug policy is inconsistent with the nature of justice, abusive of the nature of authority, and wholly ignorant of the compelling force of forgiveness," he said. "I suggest that federal drug laws be severely cut back."
The federal government should focus on keeping illegal drugs out of the country and regulating the manufacture of drugs transported across state lines.
Each state should decide how to regulate sales and what should be legal or illegal, he said, and the emphasis for government spending should be on treatment.
;-)
Longer than it took for you to try and play The Race Card, and longer than it took for Dane play his Soros Card, and longer than it took for you to play your Cut -n- Paste card. Has Curry played the Libertarian Card on this thread yet?
How do you explain your FR name, though? You've lived with that rash for what, over a year now?
It's not---your lie about Judge Kane was much worse.
The letter Kane signed?
Haven't looked at it. In fact, I probably side with you on the aspect of "race" as being a part of the current Drug War. Bravo sierra smoke screen . . .
Indeed. Judges, sherriffs ... more and more of those in the know are coming forward to say the War On Some Drugs has failed.
That's another lie---you never said this was just your opinion: "Based upon his answers he rules from the bench consistant with his opinion."
Figures.
If a person, or group of people within one state, do some activity that affects interstate commerce, doesn't congress have the authority to regulate that activity?
No. "The Congress shall have power to [...] regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes."
Your losing it, man....it took you all of 87 posts to mention Soros.
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