U.S. Drug Czar Addresses U.N. Report Calling for Drug Decriminalization

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 07:05:33 PM EST
Tags: drug law reform (all tags)

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Update: At the press conference today, Tom Angell of LEAP asked Gil Kerlikowske if in light of the report and others calling for consideration of legalization, whether discussion about it might not be a good thing. His answer:

"As regards legalization, it is not in the President's vocabulary and it's not in mine."

***

Via Huffington Post, the U.N. today released its 2009 World Drug Report report and reversed course. The report endorses drug decriminalization. [More...]

U.S. Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske (Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy) released this statement (pdf) in response.

As NORML notes, the one word conspicuously absent from Kerlikowske's statement is "decriminalization."

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U.S. Drug Czar Addresses U.N. Report Calling for Drug Decriminalization | 15 comments (15 topical)

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and don't expect it anytime soon. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by cpinva on Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 08:50:17 PM EST

our politicians are convinced (and, to some extent, rightly so.) that advocating decriminalization or, gasp!, legalization of personal drug use is a career killer. of course, that they themselves are responsible for this, due to their irresponsible lies and propoganda on the subject goes unsaid.

how would they explain all those arrests/incarcerations/ruined lives, if they were now to just say: never mind! ?

If it's not in the president's vocab... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by Dadler on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 12:53:08 AM EST

...then the president, when it boils down to it, is a complete phucking idiot here. then again, he's an addict too, but his drug is legal, so he's fine. an absolute hypocrite, but fine.

seriously, is there ANYthing Obama is logically consistent on?

: Ummm....getting elected? (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by oldpro on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:05:40 AM EST

Seriously, this president is neither cool nor hip. He's a phony.

we're all phonies, (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by cpinva on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 07:34:15 AM EST

He's a phony.

in our own ways. for the vast majority of us, our phoniness has little impact on society at large. politician phony does.

Somebody get.... (none / 0) (#5)
by kdog on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 08:25:43 AM EST

Obama and Kerlikowske a dictionary, their vocabs are far too limited:)

As far as I can tell it is limited to tyranny, injustice, misery, profiteering, and pain.

Arseholes.

I've got a few choice words... (none / 0) (#6)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 08:30:48 AM EST

...in my vocabulary for them. Most aren't suitable for TL. I'm left with pig-headed and short-sighted.


We forgot... (none / 0) (#7)
by kdog on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 08:39:56 AM EST

crooked as a scoliosis stricken spine....I find it hard to believe they're that stupid, so that leaves crooked.


Meanwhile that effing (none / 0) (#9)
by jondee on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:48:23 PM EST

Cipro poison they (legally) told me to take a few months ago, almost killed me by liquifying my insides, inducing headaches and vertigo and generally throwing my metabolism out of whack for a solid month. China white dosnt have as many side
effects as that crap.


Sorry to hear that man... (none / 0) (#11)
by kdog on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:59:18 PM EST

sounds nasty...feeling better I hope.

I give my immune system every opportunity to right the ship itself before I go looking at any "FDA approved" options...I learned to be very skeptical ever since I was prescribed potassium pills instead of being prescribed bananas by the "professionals".

Just isn't much profit in those home remedies.


My recommendation: (none / 0) (#13)
by jondee on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 03:06:59 PM EST

dont take it unless you're on your death bed, and even the maybe not.

And top it off, somewhere in the vicinity of fifty bucks a pill! I sh*t you not. Talk about "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

The owe me a a two month supply of oxycotin for this (lol)


: Well I typed fast (none / 0) (#14)
by jondee on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 03:07:58 PM EST

But you get the idea.

My nephrologist... (none / 0) (#15)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 08:42:56 AM EST

...called me after they got my lab results back and my potassium was low and told me to "eat a banana". Which I did...

All of my Doc's are pretty good about not throwing pills at every little thing. Which is good.


hey Gil (none / 0) (#8)
by Capt Howdy on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:35:01 PM EST

learn some new words.

Is there any reporter (none / 0) (#10)
by NYShooter on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 02:58:52 PM EST

you can think of that might ask Pres. Obama a question something like this at his next press conference:?

"Mr. President, one of the major reasons the American people elected you over a Republican in general, and Sen. McCain, in particular, was the conception that you were, well, simply smarter. They had had enough of "bring-it-on" type strutting, and nonsensical, "red-meat, from-the-gut," one liners as a policy tool. They looked to you, being a law professor, and all, for intelligent, and rational solutions to the grave problems we face. After 35 years, and six Presidents, the fact that "the war on drugs" has been a dismal, and tragic, failure isn't even in dispute. The incredible cost, in money, and to our soul, has been incalculable. You must know we stand alone in the civilized world in our barbaric treatment of the "drug problem."

So, my question to you Sir, is, how can you be the agent of "change" when your policy towards recreational drug use is simply more of the same, but harsher, meaner, and more barbaric?"

: Does this mean they're finally (none / 0) (#12)
by jondee on Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 03:01:40 PM EST

going after the CIA for running heroin out S.E Asia and coke through Central America?
A real "Czar" should be able to handle that.