In a Likely Obama Pick, Some Find Hope for a Shift in Drug Policy

[Pirate Smile]

Source: The New York Times

By WILLIAM YARDLEY
Published: February 15, 2009

SEATTLE — Washington State law prohibits the possession of marijuana except for certain medical purposes. Hempfest is not one of them. Yet each summer when the event draws thousands to the Seattle waterfront to call for decriminalizing marijuana, participants light up in clear view of police officers. And they rarely get arrested.
“Police officers patrolling are courteous and respectful,” said Alison Holcomb, drug policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.

One reason for the officers’ approach, said Ms. Holcomb and others who follow law enforcement in Seattle, is the leadership of R. Gil Kerlikowske, the chief of the Seattle Police Department and, officials in the Obama administration say, the president’s choice to become the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, known as the drug czar.

The anticipated selection of Chief Kerlikowske has given hope to those who want national drug policy to shift from an emphasis on arrest and prosecution to methods more like those employed in Seattle: intervention, treatment and a reduction of problems drug use can cause, a tactic known as harm reduction. Chief Kerlikowske is not necessarily regarded as having forcefully led those efforts, but he has not gotten in the way of them.

“What gives me optimism,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, “is not so much him per se as the fact that he’s been the police chief of Seattle. And Seattle, King County and Washington State have really been at the forefront of harm reduction and other drug policy reform.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/us/politics/16czar.html?hp

[MADem]

1. MA has decriminalized. It's a fine if you get caught, now--a ticket.

I'm looking around.

The sky has not fallen.

Oh, we have gay marriage here, too.

Sky hasn't fallen over that, either!

[FatDave]

10. Wait a minute...

Are you sure the decriminalization didn't lead to the gay marriage? The sky is falling! Pot's making people gay...and...wanting to get married...or something.

[MADem]

13. No, the gay marriage came FIRST!!! Hee hee!!

The "stop the war on pot" impetus came because there was a GREAT TV commercial starring a fine figure of a retired police chief, telling all the little old ladies and nervous homeowners that if the cops could just write a ticket for the punk smoking that herb, instead of taking 'em to the station, booking 'em, spending half a day in court (more if they fail to appear), etc., etc., that there would be more cops on the street to stop the real mean nasty punks who were stealing your car, robbing your house, stabbing or shooting you and your neighbors, and painting graffiti on that building downtown!!!

Upside Number Two--it's pure profit for the state. No court costs, no jailing fees, just ten minutes of the cop's time--five to write the ticket; five to put the confiscated pot in the evidence locker (where probably his friends take half).

[Proletariatprincess]

2. FDR repealed the Halstead act.

Obama should repeal the Marijuana laws.

[L. Coyote]

3. Free the prisoners, save some money, and get some productive citzens back!!

[eridani]

4. A lot of them have been deskilled in prison

It's like the GI Bill, only in reverse.

[Jester Messiah]

7. Hear, hear.

Prohibition is too costly a policy to continue. In truth it always was, but now that the cost is hitting home in terms of money (not just lives blighted) maybe the government will finally drop it!

[Mr. Hyde]

5. I'll believe it when I see it. Some things seem to never change... for some reason.

[Webster Green]

6. If only we could base our drug policies on science rather than hysterical bullshit..

Trying to outlaw beneficial and wonderfully amazing plants such as Cannabis, Opium, Coca etc., is so fucking absurd.

Folks have been using this stuff for centuries (just like booze). It's nice to be able to alter/enhance your perception if you choose (provided you aren't harming others, or trying to steal my TeeVee to pay for it. :smoke:

[L. Coyote]

9. Love it! "hysterical bullshit.." is a better monicker than Paranoid Politics...

[Zhade]

11. Indeed -- unlike the bullshit studies about testicular cancer some ignorant people here push.

NT!

[Wizard777]

8. Legalization + Regulation = Harm Reduction

What they are doing in Seattle is Harm Reduction Lite. Don't get me wrong. It's a good step and in the right direction. But to fully realize the maximum benefits of Harm Reduction there must be legalization. That legalization must be accompanied by Regulations. This would allow for uniform quality and dosage. This way users can be sure of what they are getting, it's purity, and how much gets you high & how much gets you dead. The legalization and regulation would deprive gangs and terrorists of a source of funding. It's not fair to say that drug users do not contribute to society when you will not accept our tax money. Except for that 100% confiscatory tax we pay called seizure of asset's. I would also hope that President Obama will take a bold step toward Peace in America. Issue an executive order directing the DOJ to prosecute for Treason any government official or employee that issues the word "war" to American citizens in any capacity. I don't care if it's the Health Department wanting to declare War on Obesity. If that "war" effort is applied to or effects Americans in any way shape or form. You're going to jail for treason. The government does not enjoy a first amendment right of freedom of speech to declare "war" on it's citizens. That treason. Treason is a crime. Therefore the declaration is criminal speech. Criminal speech is NOT protected speech according to SCOTUS.

[Cha]

12. Common Sense is all we are

asking.

[DiverDave]

14. It's about goddamned time

course, big pharma will bribe our rep's and it'll go nowhere.
But the taxes we could collect would go a looong way to helping us out of the fix the fascists got us into.

But, whadda I know? I'm just a truck driver

[rcrush]

15. Every year in Austin at Marley Fest you can light up and the cops wont do anything

Its a real fun weekend. :smoke: