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.
LOL! You are that juvenile and petty. Oh well I if I am going to have petty and personal insults thrown at me that would warm Hillary and Daschle's heart, I guess I am getting to you all and I wear your "insult" as a badge of honor.
Gee, Dane, I don't even use keywords, someone else typed it in there. So I guess folks like the saying, probably because it fits you quite well. After all, what kind of person claims that a judge who says this:
"I don't favor drugs at all," Kane said.
Therefore believes, as you claim, that drugs are "benign". Not a sane person, nor someone the least bit interested in honest debate.
Why would either of these facts be dirty little secrets? Stupid people occasionally do smart things, smart people occasionally do stupid things.
Some people think calling names is a form of debate? Strange but true.
Through his rhetoric.
Until you quote the specific "rhetoric" that equates to "drugs are benign," this remains just your baldfaced lie.
So, wouldn't you then conclude that cultivation for personal use interferes with interstate commerce because, as a result, no commerce occurs?
The second part of your "question" is ludicrous to me.
In your scenario everything and anything, even doing nothing, affects interstate commerce.
Through his rhetoric.
Until you quote the specific "rhetoric" that equates to "drugs are benign," this remains just your baldfaced lie.
Yep, if I sleep late Saturday, I'm not working or shopping, so therefore the federal government should be allowed to come kick in my door, drag me out of bed and send me on my way, lest I detrimentallly affect interstate commerce...
Which in turn means he is out of sync with the modern federalist movement, and instead is more in line with judicial activism. In other words, he's a liberal.
You haven't. BTW, if you didn't grow your own, where would you get it? Is it possible that you would purchase it from another state? (of course you would)
So, growing your own affects (negatively) commerce with another state, does it not?
Never mind. I'm sure answering the question and contributing to the debate is not as fun as calling someone a New Dealer.
Filburn (one l) tried to scam the system and got what he deserved. The US government was paying him almost 3X world price, and the ungrateful twit decides to get greedy.
It seems that you loathe me.
Just another badge of honor.
I will allow you to rethink that.
Why would I want to?
So you don't appear ignorant.
Naw, you ain't worth the trouble.
Just another badge of honor.
Since you routinely get your a** kicked on the drug war threads by posters armed with fact, logic and honor, I really don't think you have the slightest grasp of the concept.
I will allow you to rethink that.
Why would I want to?
So you don't appear ignorant.
That's funny, coming from a guy who thinks acts that can affect commerce are commerce. Tell me why Ohio can't prohibit apples (regardless of origin) within its borders.
It's possible I'll shoot someone tomorrow. Doesn't give the feds the right to throw me in jail ... yet. But robertpaulsen is hard at work making the case for the feds to have just that kind of discretionary power.
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