It's time to rethink drug war strategy

Detroit News ^ | 10/3/02 | Police Chief Jerry A. Oliver

[jimkress]

With each passing year, evidence mounts that America is sadly losing the war on drugs -- not to drug cartels or drug traffickers over there, but to the dependably relentless appetite for illegal drugs created by our neighbors right here at home. Eighty-six years after Congress passed the 1914 Harrison Act that criminalized drugs, America's drug consumption thrives. According to recent surveys and news reports, illegal drugs are cheaper, purer and more available than ever before, and the results are devastating.

[Asclepius]

As a police chief on the front line, quite frankly I'm one of them.

I have a suggestion. We need new chiefs of police. Smarter ones, preferably.

[thepitts]

A growing number of thoughtful Americans across the political spectrum have strong doubts abut the efficacy of the current drug war, its costs, its true impact and its future consequences.

As well they should.

[Principled]

"IT'S TIME TO RETHINK DRUG WAR STRATEGY"

It's been time to rethink drug war strategy for 30 years.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, they should, but the sheeple have been indoctrinated all their lives to the point that they actually believe that they are more free and better off when the police can steal your money because they "suspect" that it was linked to drugs.

[jmc813]

WOD ping

[jmc813]

Might as well make thing interesting...

[Roscoe]

"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Fewer U.S. teens are using drugs, the government said Thursday, citing a new survey. The results prove federal and other anti-drug efforts are working, officials said."

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/children/08/31/teens.drugs/

[BlackbirdSST]

Oh yeah, and McCaffrey never ever lies! These "surveys" aren't worth the proverbial paper they're written on. Funny how this "new" survey just happened to be at the ready, LOL! Blackbird.

[headsonpikes]

RE: 'efficacy of the current drug war'

Extremely efficacious in preserving appropriate profit margins for the well-connected kingpins.

Extremely efficacious as a backdoor method of imposing martial law.

Extremely efficacious as a program to de-legitimize American institutions such as civilian-controlled police forces.

Extremely efficacious as the camel's nose of American Totalitarianism.

OTOH, it provides steady, well-paid employment for thuggish half-wits; it at least organizes their brutish impulses so we don't suffer anarchy.

;^)

[WyldKard]

I am certainly not advocating legalizing substance abuse or decriminalization of drug laws. I am calling for more imagination in the process, more truth about our prognosis and more options in our efforts to more effectively address this problem.

I hate to break it to you, Chief, but you are going to have to legalize or decrim pot. The other stuff, the hard stuff, coke, meth, heroin, etc etc...most people can agree on that, on keeping it away from folks. But a substance less harmful than alcohol...keeping that illegal is ridiculous.

Of course, most of the money spent on propagating the Drug War is spent at marijuana, a favorite scapegoat...

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[bassmaner]

bump

[vin-one]

Jedigirl Ping list, sorry for those who are already here.

[Wolfie]

The numbers were up just a few weeks ago. Bush et al. were catching hell. Guess they fudged it in the "right" direction as spin control.

[philman_36]

It's dated August 31, 2000. Something old, nothing new.

[philman_36]

Something new...Illegal Drug Abuse up for Youth, Stable for Adults, Survey Shows, September 5, 2002

[BlackbirdSST]

The numbers were up just a few weeks ago. Yep, that's my point exactly. They (the gubermint) can produce stats in a heartbeat to suit their agenda. Some would lap it up as cold hard fact, even though the story changes from day to day. Never mind the bald faced lies we catch them in every time they open their mouth's. Nothing like well trained sheep! Blackbird.

[BlackbirdSST]

It's dated August 31, 2000. Something old, nothing new. Yep, went back and you're absolutely right. You'd think I'd watch that kind of thing from roscoe and gang. Thanks for the heads up, no point in arguing over old hack. Blackbird.

[philosofy123]

Legalize drugs. That would save police force time, money, and prison space to focus more on Moslem terrorists. It also would take the money away from the dealers and pushers. This would make 30% of the black youth more productive, and employable. In other words, not only that we are going to save money and increase our security; we are also going to give hopes to millions of black Americans who are mesmerized by the drug money.