Three Cheers for this one: "Obama shifts strategy away from war on drugs"

[Sparkly]

WASHINGTON — Four decades after President Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs, the White House yesterday announced a shift in national drug policy that would treat illegal drug use more as a public health issue and plunge more resources into prevention and treatment.

The new drug control strategy boosts community-based antidrug programs, encourages health care providers to screen for drug problems before addiction sets in, and expands treatment beyond specialty centers to mainstream health care facilities.

President Obama called the plan a “balanced approach to confronting the complex challenge of drug use and its consequences.’’

His drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, was more blunt.

“Calling it a war really limits your resources,’’ Kerlikowske said. “Looking at this as both a public safety problem and a public health problem seems to make a lot more sense.’’

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/05/12/obama_shifts_strategy_away_from_war_on_drugs/

I am VERY glad to see this. :thumbsup:

[madmax]

1. Sparkly, you little drugster

does Stinkey know? ;) :rofl: Good post!

edit: typo

[Sparkly]

2. Good thing for me caffeine's not illegal!

:hi:

[SPedigrees]

4. When caffeine is deemed illegal, I'll be a criminal! nt

[ZombieHorde]

3. I would be happier about this if President Obama was not against legalizing marijuana. nt

[Soylent Brice]

13. +1

[the other one]

5. False. Law Enforcement will go on same as always

With increased spending as well.

[Wapsie B]

6. Exactly. Until I see actual budget cuts enacted for agencies like the DEA

I remain skeptical of all this to say the least. Law enforcement will not just sit by and watch their goldmine disappear.

[freddie mertz]

7. Actions speak louder than words. nt.

[ieoeja]

10. From the Article

"The policy shift follows several other drug policy reforms since Obama took office. Obama signed a measure repealing a two-decade old ban on the use of federal money for needle-exchange programs to reduce the spread of HIV.

"His administration also said it will not target medical marijuana patients or caregivers as long as they are complying with state laws and are not fronts for drug traffickers."

[freddie mertz]

11. Legalize it. nt.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. I'm glad about the switch. Republicans will bitch because it takes the money away from

prisons.

[Sparkly]

9. Of course! And treating it as a health problem -- well, that's socialized medicine again!!

After all, Jesus wouldn't help people, would he? :crazy:

[slackmaster]

12. Obama is talking out of both sides of his mouth on this one

Just a few days ago his administration announced that it opposed efforts to legalize cannabis in California.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. You really don't know what the phrase " talking out of both sides of his mouth" means, do you? nt

[polichick]

15. Seems pretty appropriate in this case. nt

[Cha]

21. Doesn't look like it..all

it wanted was a cheap shot.

[polichick]

16. I'm very glad to see this too - it's decades overdue...

Now he needs to change his Republican tune about weed.

[TheKentuckian]

17. Better than usual but still fucking wrongheaded, stupid, backward,

evil, greedy, cowardly, and generally a waste of resources.

[Bullet1987]

18. This article does not say the War on Drugs is over

Meaning the arrests, the money being funneled into the security state/prison complex. It simply says they're going to TRY another approach. It has nothing to do with changing the current marijuana laws.

[catgirl]

19. This is a great strategy

Prevention= less addicts, less crime, better society. This obviously targets the kind of
drugs that destroy lives.

[ItNerd4life]

20. Drug wars gone on for 40 years, nothing has changed. This is change.

Maybe some sanity will come to how the country deals with the drug problem.

[Vattel]

22. a step in the right direction

now he needs to be a leader with vision and courage and propose to Congress amendments to ridiculously harsh federal drug laws