Free Republic

WHITE HOUSE REPORT STINGS DRUG AGENCY ON ABILITIES WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 - In an unusually harsh critique of an agency with a strong global reputation, the White House has questioned the ability of the Drug Enforcement Administration to stem the flow of narcotics and is threatening to give the agency its smallest budget increase in 15 years. The agency "is unable to demonstrate progress in reducing the availability of illegal drugs in the United States," the Office of Management and Budget wrote in an assessment released this week as part of the budget plan. The agency lacks clear long-term strategies...

Landlords warned about drug dealing By Lawrence Budd LEBANON | The commander of the Warren-Clinton County Drug Task Force gave notice Monday to the landlords of properties where drug dealing is alleged: Clean up or face seizure under public nuisance laws. The warning came after an infant and 3-year-old girl were removed from their parents last week as Warren County drug agents were about to shut down purported crack cocaine trafficking at two homes in downtown Lebanon. The unrelated girls were turned over to Warren County Children Services, one on Thursday and one on Friday — the same day a...

<p>References to medical uses quickly squelched in federal court.</p> <p>The Bay Area's first federal medical marijuana trial ended Thursday with a bizarre touch that symbolized the entire case: The judge took over questioning of a defense witness to make sure he didn't refer to the medical use of marijuana.</p>

[…] Now a new breed of American refugee has arrived, seeking asylum from a different kind of war--the fight over medical marijuana. […] The effort languished until 1988, when the chief administrative judge at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration made a startling ruling: Marijuana had a place in medicine. Judge Francis L. Young declared it unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for the federal government to stand between "sufferers and the benefits of this substance." DEA officials quickly rejected Young's ruling, and the courts backed them. […]

As law enforcement lobbies members of Congress and state legislators coast-to-coast for more funds to finance the war against illicit drugs, Utah's Legislature considers liberalizing Utah's liquor laws. As leaders obsess over how governments will help pay for the costs of medical treatment, Utah's Legislature is considering liberalizing Utah's liquor laws. Someone should teach Utah's legislators that alcohol is the most abused drug. Pretend for a minute that humankind had not discovered alcohol until Drexel distilled it in 2000. After years of testing, would the Federal Drug Administration allow it to be sold as a drink? At best, the FDA...