cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Vows To Fight Legalization of Marijuana Drug Czar Vows To Fight Legalization of Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on October 21, 2004 at 13:25:56 PT By Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital Bureau Source: Las Vegas Review Journal Reno -- The nation's drug czar vowed Wednesday to do everything within his power to stop new efforts to legalize marijuana in Nevada and other states. "People thought it was inevitable here two years ago," said John Walters, whose actual title is director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "If we don't stop them, everything else is undermined." Nevada voters rejected a ballot question two years ago to legalize up to three ounces of marijuana. That proposal failed by a vote of 39 percent for, 61 percent against. Prior to the vote, Walters' office saturated the Nevada airwaves with anti-drug announcements. Walters said he had no choice but to embark on the government-financed anti-marijuana campaign because the Marijuana Policy Project can rely on funds provided by billionaire financier George Soros and other wealthy contributors. "A lot of money has been spent in this state to make the drug problem worse," said Walters in an interview before he addressed a group of drug prevention advocates. "I was moved by the pleas of people who said outsiders are trying to make our state into a guinea pig." This year, the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, funded by the MPP, fell about 2,000 signatures short of placing another question on the Nov. 2 ballot to legalize an ounce of marijuana. Nonetheless, the committee is out collecting signatures this fall on a new petition to legalize marijuana. If the organization collects 51,337 valid signatures on petitions by Nov. 9, then the 2005 Legislature must consider its plan to legalize marijuana. If the Legislature rejects or amends the proposal, then voters in the 2006 election would decide whether to legalize marijuana. Walters said teenage drug use declined by 11 percent between 2001 and 2003. But he charged the anti-drug efforts of his office are undermined by initiative backers who suggest the drug really isn't harmful. Of 7 million people with drug dependency problems in the United States, Walters said 62 percent are dependent on marijuana. But Larry Sandell, the campaign manager for the Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana, maintains his organization is not trying to present the image to teens that marijuana use is appropriate. "We aren't pro-pot," he said. "But we are saying this drug is part of our society. Anyone who wants marijuana can get it. We need to control it and keep it out of the hands of kids. Drug dealers don't card." He said a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study last year found 22.3 percent of Nevada teens had used marijuana in the past month, compared to 19.6 percent who used cigarettes. With controlled, legal marijuana, the number of illegal drug dealers would drop and teens would have a harder time acquiring it, Sandell said. Voters in Oregon, Montana and Alaska will cast votes Nov. 2 on MPP-backed proposals to legalize marijuana. Walters said the Bush administration wants to reduce teen drug usage by another 14 percent by 2006. "A lot of people say people are always going to use drugs," Walters said. "I don't deny that people aren't going to be perfect. But civilization is about containing the worst impulses of people and encouraging the best impulses. It is an ongoing effort."Note: Office of National Drug Control Policy director visits Nevada to stave off newest efforts.Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)Author: Ed Vogel, Review-Journal Capital BureauPublished: Thursday, October 21, 2004Copyright: 2004 Las Vegas Review-JournalContact: letters reviewjournal.comWebsite: http://www.reviewjournal.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Marijuana Hearing Rejectedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19563.shtmlMarijuana Market Initiative Plannedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19560.shtmlMarijuana Petition Fails To Qualify in Nevadahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19423.shtmlMJ Initiative Backers Forgot 6,000 Signatures http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19055.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by JustGetnBy on October 22, 2004 at 06:51:44 PT Contain and Encourage ??? A lot of people say people are always going to use drugs," Walters said. "I don't deny that people aren't going to be perfect. But civilization is about containing the worst impulses of people and encouraging the best impulses. It is an ongoing effort" Containing and encouraging our impulses is pretty soft language to describe what is really going on. Lets see now, would the seizure of my home, cash, bank account, car contain or encourage me? Would I be encouraged if my children were removed from my home by government agents? Wait, I know one that would definitly "Contain" me, TEN YEARS in a government prison cell, yeah thats the ticket, that will contain my evil impulses for sure. Someday, somewhere these govt. puppets are going to have to answer for the evil they force on the people. It is my fondest hope that I might witness this event. I can hear their pitifull excuses now, "I was just doing my job", "I was ordered to do those thing" The US govt. denied these claims of innocence at the war crime trials at NUREMBURG, and we shall deny them again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 21, 2004 at 21:54:23 PT Wonderful, Dankhank! You are so bold and well spoken. It's wonderful. I admire the work you do so much. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by lombar on October 21, 2004 at 16:01:12 PT In a funny kind of way... I feel a bit sorry for ole JP. He must defend the indefensible and never back down no matter if the objective evidence weighs against him or not. Like the little engine that could, keep pushing, climbing, struggling, fighting, never giving an inch. Prohibition is the big engine that can't...ever. Or like Sysyphus, pushing the big ball up the hill knowing that it will crush him eventually. There is no peace there. Perhaps the is what he and others can't stand, I should not really have any compassion for someone whos job seems to be to persecute people who do little harm (and others who use or provide medpot to people). There it is though...my experience has been that cannabis reduces my personal suffering a bit and I know that it does so for many others. Reducing and eliminating suffering is the true noble goal. Increasing suffering with punitive laws to attempt to attain the UNATTAINABLE (drug-free society/world) is IMMORAL. To use it as a means to PROFIT is EVIL. If everything JP fights for is based upon a BIG LIE(tm), how can he prevail?"A lot of money has been spent in this state to make the drug problem worse," said Walters in an interview before he addressed a group of drug prevention advocates.A lot of money has been spent in the world to make the drug problem worse...by people like YOU. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by global_warming on October 21, 2004 at 15:59:35 PT Vows "Reno -- The nation's drug czar vowed Wednesday to do everything within his power to stop new efforts to legalize marijuana in Nevada and other states."In spite of what the majority of people want, in spite of our fundamental rights as citizens in a democratic nation, John Walters listen to what the people are saying, they are saying it is allright, marijuana or cannabis is not such a big deal, it is not the end of the world, it is not worth all this energy and money you and our government is expanding on this relatively benign plant, it is not worth all the jails and judicial interventions, there are many more important problems in this world, and it would be wise that you start to focus on them.America, the home of the brave and the free... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Truth on October 21, 2004 at 15:51:12 PT wait a minute... "But civilization is about containing the worst impulses of people and encouraging the best impulses. It is an ongoing effort."Does he really think caging a person is a better impulse then using a God given herb. Give me a break, I really don't think anyone is that dumb but what do I know?It's an ongoing effort to hell. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 21, 2004 at 14:40:31 PT Dankhank You are doing a great job. Thank you. I really liked your answer about Congestive Heart Failure. That was so good because it's so honest. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dankhank on October 21, 2004 at 14:17:20 PT: Harm Reduction ... "A lot of people say people are always going to use drugs," Walters said. "I don't deny that people aren't going to be perfect. But civilization is about containing the worst impulses of people and encouraging the best impulses. It is an ongoing effort."So the worst impulse is to use Cannabis to mitigate any number of ailments or to just relax and enjoy.The best impulses is to just say no, and we will help you say no by threatening your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.This ain't America, it's Crazyworld.In honor of that, I attended the 15th or so "Moonlight Walk Against Drugs, here in SW Oklahoma" which these days DOES feature prominent warnings about Alcohol and Drugs. The walk is designed to generate enthusiasm for the drug-free lifestyle. The Guns of the local drug task force and armored personnel carrier on display speak volumns more about what our government is prepared to do to help us "Just Say No."I shared the story of Jonathon Magbie with a number of radio types, some citizens, and at the end of the walk I walked with a woman who turned out to be a teacher in my granddaughters elementary school. This teacher has arthritis beginning and will see a specialist soon. I suggested that she might ask avout Cannabis and Arthritis, and told her about the Marinol vs Whole Plant question. She wondered if Cannabis could help her father who has Congestive Heart Failure and I said I don't know, but now I suspect it may not hurt. She said that she was teaching a section next week in the Botvin system, http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/dr_botvin.cfmwhat replaced DARE here a couple of years ago. I said that I know she couldn't tell her students about Jonathon, but could she tell facts, and if so how about this one? Approx. 25% of Americans now live in a state where Cannabis is legal medicine.Today I reread the story in the Tuesday paper about Red Ribbon Week and the Wednsday Moonlight Walk. I decided that I was miffed that a Colonel Army Chaplin provided information about Drugs and deletorious effects, about seventy-five percent which was wrong, and was given a forum for his nonsense, so I called the newspaper and was invited to submit a 300-word LTE rebuting the Colonel. I had called the Colonel earlier to ask where he got his data from and he said that he did a websearch for Drug Statistics or some such and what he got was primarily old outdated Gov't dreck, to include this gem: "Cocaine and Crack are priced out of reach of most people, but they have ruined the lives of many professionals." I did talk to the Colonel and I'm sure he will be more careful about spouting web-based info again without checking further, or maybe not?Odd how the internet is to be considered with a grain of salt about it's information ... except I guess when quoting illegal drug info that fits a predetermined mindset.http://www.crfc.org/americanjury/voir_dire.html for a site describing what I went through all day Monday and till 10AM tuesday as a jury was to be assembled for a triple-homicide case, the only case on this docket. The court, and the spectators were greatly amused when I responded to the DA question about what I do and I said I was a political activist specializing in Harm Reduction. I had to repeat and finally spell H A R M for the court as it is apparently an alien concept for this courtroom. I wish I had said that last in court. I will include it in my LTE which I will begin later today.See how much fun one can have if one applies themselves?Sorry about the meme ... but I've decided I need a record ... maybe I found a reason for a blog ... yikes ... Just Say No [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by cloud7 on October 21, 2004 at 14:01:32 PT ... "The nation's drug czar vowed Wednesday to do everything within his power to stop new efforts to legalize marijuana in Nevada and other states."and will not be afraid to do anything outside his power(Hatch Act):"Walters' office saturated the Nevada airwaves with anti-drug announcements. Walters said he had no choice but to embark on the government-financed anti-marijuana campaign..." [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Shishaldin on October 21, 2004 at 13:57:57 PT should be titled... Drug Czar Vows To Fight the Inevitable to Save His Job [ Post Comment ] Post Comment