cannabisnews.com: Deputy Drug Czar Opposes Legalizing Marijuana





Deputy Drug Czar Opposes Legalizing Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 07, 2004 at 19:05:33 PT
By Clair Johnson Of The Gazette Staff
Source: Billings Gazette
Scott Burns, a top federal official in the war on drugs, visited Montana this week intending to discuss methamphetamine. But Burns found himself talking instead mostly about marijuana, as Montanans prepare to vote Nov. 2 on a ballot measure that would allow use of the illegal plant for medical purposes. “I cannot tell anyone how to vote,'' Burns said - but his anti-marijuana message was clear.
“This is a con by people who want people to legalize marijuana in this state,'' Burns said. “They always start with the medical marijuana issue.'' Burns, who is deputy director for state and local affairs in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, held a news conference Thursday in Billings at Rimrock Foundation, a private, nonprofit treatment center. He also met with local law enforcement and treatment center officials. Burns, formerly the county attorney of Iron County, Utah, made similar visits earlier this week to Helena and Missoula. Initiative 148 would legalize the cultivation and possession of marijuana for medical use in Montana. Patients could use marijuana under medical supervision to relieve symptoms of cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other conditions defined by the state. Proponents, Burns said, typically use the example of someone suffering from a disease and say that smoking marijuana offers relief. “It's not about that,'' Burns said. “It's about our children.” There are alternatives besides marijuana for sick people, he said. For example, Marinol, which is a pill containing THC, an active component of marijuana, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may be prescribed by doctors. The FDA, the American Medical Association and other medical groups have said that “smoking this weed is not a medicine,'' Burns said. Missoula resident Paul Befumo, a spokesperson for I-148, said in a telephone interview Thursday that he didn't think Burns had read the initiative. “It's really really narrowly confined,'' Befumo said. The measure covers only people with the diseases specified and closes anything that could be viewed as a loophole, he said. Befumo also said Marinol has only one component of the many active ingredients in marijuana. “That's why when Marinol doesn't work, medical marijuana does,'' he said. Befumo said studies and research papers support the therapeutic potential of marijuana. Backers of the measure point to the results of a California study that showed marijuana use by high school students declined after voters there approved the medial use of marijuana in 1996. Befumo stated earlier that the study did not indicate that the medical marijuana law was the cause of the reduced marijuana use but that “the law did not cause an increase in use as predicted by opponents.'' Burns said marijuana is considered by treatment experts to be a progressive drug, which leads to use of other illegal drugs. More youths under age 18 are in treatment for marijuana dependency than for any other drug, he said. “The marijuana problem is a national problem,'' Burns said. Of the approximately 19.5 million people using illegal drugs, 77 percent use marijuana or marijuana and another drug, he said. Marijuana used to be a rite-of-passage drug for youths in their late teens. “It's now a middle school rite-of-passage drug'' with children aged 12 or 13 and even younger, he said. “That's unacceptable. We don't need more marijuana available to our children,'' he said. Burns also said marijuana use still is illegal under federal law. There is “no safe harbor'' for marijuana users even if voters approve it for medical use, he said. Information from the Office of National Drug Control Policy shows that marijuana use among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders has been declining in recent years. “We are pushing back,'' Burns said. He credited the declining use in part to parents getting involved. The least deserving of credit for declining use are those who support medical use of marijuana, Burns said. And while marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug, methamphetamine, used by an estimated 1.5 million of the county's 19.5 million drug users, is a serious problem across the country, he said. Meth is highly addictive and can be manufactured in clandestine labs using commonly available ingredients, like pseudoephedrine, which is found in over-the-counter cold medication. “This is a bad drug,'' Burns said. On a national level, Burns said, the United States has clamped down on large shipments of pseudoephedrine from Canada and is helping local communities through federal funding of law enforcement programs like the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Yellowstone County and four other Montana counties are in the Rocky Mountain HIDTA. Law enforcement, prevention, education and treatment are needed to fight meth use, he said. Communities have to become involved and people have to intervene, he said. People are so polite in this society they are reluctant to intervene. “If you want to save someone's life, step in and intervene,'' he said.Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)Author:  Clair Johnson Of The Gazette StaffPublished: October 7, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Billings GazetteContact: speakup billingsgazette.comWebsite: http://www.billingsgazette.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Montana Careshttp://www.montanacares.org/Drug Czar Stumps Against I-148http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19609.shtmlDeputy Drug Czar Sees MMJ as Dangeroushttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19608.shtmlDeputy Drug Czar Will Visit Billings http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19597.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by observer on October 10, 2004 at 11:02:15 PT
a content analysis
[1]
Scott Burns, a top federal official in the war on drugs, visited Montana this week intending to discuss methamphetamine.
(Sentence 1) re: "war on drugs" - Drug users are evil fiends which, save for the noble drug "war", would multiply as the "epidemic" of drug use engulfs an innocent people. (Demonize, War (propaganda theme 6) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme6.htm ) 
 
 
[3]
I cannot tell anyone how to vote,'' Burns said - but his anti-marijuana message was clear.
(Sentence 3) re: "anti-marijuana" - People who step forward in disagreement with prohibition are attacked and sometimes jailed. (Dissent Attacked (propaganda theme 8) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme8.htm ) 
 
 
[4]
This is a con by people who want people to legalize marijuana in this state,'' Burns said.
(Sentence 4) re: "legalize" - Drug policy options are presented as either total prohibition, or as total "legalization." No middle ground is contemplated in the "zero-tolerance" world of prohibitionism. Absolute prohibition executed with religious fervor and purpose! (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm ) 
 
 
[9]
Patients could use marijuana under medical supervision to relieve symptoms of cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other conditions defined by the state.
(Sentence 9) re: "cancer" - The rhetoric of prohibition asserts that insanity, crime, and violence are caused by drugs, or are controlled by prohibition. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm ) re: "use marijuana" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[12]
It's about our children.
(Sentence 12) re: "children" - Prohibitionists play on parental fears by exaggerating the dangers to children of drugs. Adults must be jailed (reason prohibitionists), because kids might be corrupted with drugs. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[16]
The FDA, the American Medical Association and other medical groups have said that smoking this weed is not a medicine,'' Burns said.
(Sentence 16) re: "American" - The survival of society is assured, -- says the propaganda of prohibition -- as long as drug users are punished (jailed). (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm ) 
 
 
[23]
Backers of the measure point to the results of a California study that showed marijuana use by high school students declined after voters there approved the medial use of marijuana in 1996.
(Sentence 23) re: "marijuana use" - Prohibition propaganda claims that all use of any "drug" is abuse. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[24]
Befumo stated earlier that the study did not indicate that the medical marijuana law was the cause of the reduced marijuana use but that the law did not cause an increase in use as predicted by opponents.''   Burns said marijuana is considered by treatment experts to be a progressive drug, which leads to use of other illegal drugs.
(Sentence 24) re: "marijuana use" - "This strategy equates the use and abuse of drugs and implies that it is impossible to use the particular drug or drugs in question without physical, mental, and moral deterioration." [W.White,1979] (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "leads to", "leads" - The rhetoric of prohibition exploits ignorance of the effects of drugs. We are told that the substance in question must be bad, for is it not evident that it 'leads to' the the harder (more ceremonially evil) stuff? (Use is Abuse, Gateway (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm ) 
 
 
[25]
More youths under age 18 are in treatment for marijuana dependency than for any other drug, he said.
(Sentence 25) re: "youths" - Prohibitionists forever claim that children are corrupted by drugs, and this is why adult users must be punished harshly. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[27]
Of the approximately 19.5 million people using illegal drugs, 77 percent use marijuana or marijuana and another drug, he said.
(Sentence 27) re: "use marijuana" - Prohibitionist propagandists repeatedly assert that "use is abuse." Details about "using" as opposed to "abusing" drugs are ignored. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[28]
Marijuana used to be a rite-of-passage drug for youths in their late teens.
(Sentence 28) re: "Marijuana used" - Prohibitionists try to hammer in the idea that 'all use is abuse.' The rhetoric of prohibition needs to deny that many people can use currently illegal drugs without abusing them. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "teens", "youths" - "Chemicals have long been inextricably linked in prohibitionist literature with the sexual corruption of young people." [W.White,1979] (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[29]
It's now a middle school rite-of-passage drug'' with children aged 12 or 13 and even younger, he said.
(Sentence 29) re: "children" - Being a prohibitionist means you can never shed too many crocodile tears for the "children". (As you lustily jail or kill their parents for using drugs.) (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[31]
We don't need more marijuana available to our children,'' he said.
(Sentence 31) re: "children" - Prohibitionists are champions of "the child", "kids", "children", etc. Only continued or increased punishments of all adults caught using "drugs" will send the correct "message" to children. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[32]
Burns also said marijuana use still is illegal under federal law.
(Sentence 32) re: "marijuana use" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[33]
There is no safe harbor'' for marijuana users even if voters approve it for medical use, he said.
(Sentence 33) re: "marijuana users" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[34]
Information from the Office of National Drug Control Policy shows that marijuana use among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders has been declining in recent years.
(Sentence 34) re: "marijuana use" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "graders" - Prohibitionists forever claim that children are corrupted by drugs, and this is why adult users must be punished harshly. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm ) 
 
 
[38]
And while marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug, methamphetamine, used by an estimated 1.5 million of the county's 19.5 million drug users, is a serious problem across the country, he said.
(Sentence 38) re: "drug users", "users" - Prohibition propaganda often uses crude forms of name-calling to link a targeted drug with groups the majority dislikes. (Hated Groups (propaganda theme 1) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme1.htm ) re: "drug users" - Prohibitionists try to hammer in the idea that 'all use is abuse.' The rhetoric of prohibition needs to deny that many people can use currently illegal drugs without abusing them. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[39]
Meth is highly addictive and can be manufactured in clandestine labs using commonly available ingredients, like pseudoephedrine, which is found in over-the-counter cold medication.
(Sentence 39) re: "addictive" - Prohibitionist propaganda claims that horrible dangers are caused by "drugs." (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm ) 
 
 
[41]
On a national level, Burns said, the United States has clamped down on large shipments of pseudoephedrine from Canada and is helping local communities through federal funding of law enforcement programs like the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
(Sentence 41) re: "communities" - Because of prohibition (prohibitionists assure us), society is protected: the community is safe, and the nation is saved. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm ) 
 
 
[44]
Communities have to become involved and people have to intervene, he said.
(Sentence 44) re: "Communities" - Prohibitionists assert that the survival of the community, society, the nation, the world, etc. are at stake. Only continued and increased punishments for drug users can be contemplated, because, say prohibitionists, society will otherwise fall apart. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm ) 
 
 
[45]
People are so polite in this society they are reluctant to intervene.
(Sentence 45) re: "society" - Because of prohibition (prohibitionists assure us), society is protected: the community is safe, and the nation is saved. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm ) 
 
 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by mayan on October 08, 2004 at 07:20:18 PT
They = 80% +
“This is a con by people who want people to legalize marijuana in this state,'' Burns said. “They always start with the medical marijuana issue.''They? Well over 80% of Americans support medical cannabis and "they" will be even more pissed to have had their intelligence insulted...again. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by BGreen on October 08, 2004 at 05:43:55 PT
OK, Dr. Burns. Oh, you're NOT A DOCTOR?!
The way you're talking about medicine as some sort of authority figure made me think you must have SOME qualifications other than just formerly the county attorney of Iron County, Utah.Big whoop!The FDA has lied about medicine, the cops lie about medicine and now some dill weed lawyer is lying about medicine.The government needs to get out of the medical business and LEAVE ME AND MY DOCTOR ALONE!The Reverend Bud Green
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on October 08, 2004 at 04:40:44 PT:
A very desperate man
Consider: Mr. Burns has accepted a job that may last only two more months, then he may be replaced. Kind of makes you wonder why anybody would do that? Financial motivations, perhaps?But you have to admit; he's a 'quick study' who can memorize and act out his lines in this very bad Gilbert & Sullivan play of DrugWar quite well. He's got all the trite and hackneyed - not to mention INACCURATE - script down pat.But he reminds me of a Johnny-come-lately segregationist at the begining of the Civil Rights era: supporting an obsolete position when all about him things are changing with great speed. I just hope someday that someone can corral this guy and ask him if all those who've died at the hands of the (ahem!) 'Justice' system for possession of cannabis - such as the late Jon Magbie - were worth it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Overwhelmsam on October 08, 2004 at 04:33:11 PT
They lose more credibility as they go...
"There are alternatives besides marijuana for sick people, he said. For example, Marinol, which is a pill containing THC, an active component of marijuana, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may be prescribed by doctors."My question: Why is the federal government promoting and marketing marinol? Is this a fair use of our tax money? Shouldn't the government also market all other prescription drugs as well?I don't know which legal drug pusher makes marinol, but if I were an executive in another legal drug distribution corporation, I would say that Burns has just violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by dr slider on October 08, 2004 at 00:57:08 PT:
truly not sorry
"The FDA, tne American Medical Association and other medical groups have said that "smoking this weed is not medicine." Burns said."
 
Well I guess if Burns said they said it , then they perhaps, might of, maybe, kindof, probably, said it. While we wonder whether Burns heard correctly that docs at the AMA call the most exciting new(old) development in pharmacology a "weed" (perhaps they regret the fact that ya can't cage the can), ya gotta wonder whether these transparent bits of propaganda have any permanent brain damage on those that it seems to give significant short term panic treatment benefits. Sadly, it seems that their brain damage isn't covered
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