cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Harassed at Speech Drug Czar Harassed at Speech Posted by FoM on October 08, 1999 at 07:10:11 PT By Chris Roberts Source: Amarillo Globe ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey sounded much the general Thursday as he demanded that questioners sit down and listen as he explained his position on the medical use of marijuana and the drug war. Gen. McCaffrey, who was in New Mexi- co countering Gov. Gary Johnson's contention that the nation's war on drugs failed, said fewer young people are doing drugs.Two people were escorted out of the hotel where McCaffrey was speaking when they began chanting in a military cadence challenges to the general's approach, including "Families have filled the jails."McCaffrey, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said treatment is important and underfunded in the United States, but treatment and prevention don't work without the hammer of law enforcement.As for medicinal uses for illegal drugs, McCaffrey said, "Basically, I think at the end of the day, it's a crock."During his lunch-time talk, McCaffrey outlined his approach to the drug war. He first had to determine who the enemy was, deploy funding and attack the problem on numerous fronts, McCaffrey said.At a news conference earlier in the day, McCaffrey said Johnson's public stand that the nation would save money and lives by legalizing such drugs as heroin and marijuana was uninformed and irresponsible.McCaffrey admitted treatment programs are underfunded chronically in the United States but said Johnson is sending the message that drugs are OK. McCaffrey said marijuana is a gateway drug, and youths who smoke marijuana often end up with chronic drug-abuse problems when they become adults."It starts in grade school ... sniffing inhalants and smoking pot on weekends," McCaffrey told the luncheon audience. "If you can get them through to age 17 or 18, then they're home free."McCaffrey said he heard some young people referring to the governor as "Puff Daddy Johnson," a reference to rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs.Johnson, at a news conference in Santa Fe, said, "I don't know what he means by Puff Daddy Johnson. If by saying Puff Daddy he is bringing attention, which he is, to this issue, thank you Gen. McCaffrey."Johnson said he is telling the truth about drugs."And the truth is ... that what we are doing isn't working, and we are locking this country up" in prisons, Johnson said. "I would suggest to you that when it comes to a cost-benefit analysis, this really stinks; that we can be doing better; that we can reduce drug use abuse under a legalized scenario."But McCaffrey insisted society will have to continue to disapprove and portray drugs as dangerous to keep youths off drugs. He said anyone who believes smoking marijuana is without risk is "ignorant" and a mother on crack cocaine "will walk away from her own baby.""This whole notion of the 'War on Drugs' has bothered me," McCaffrey said. "Let's stop talking about the 'War on Drugs.' We've been fighting a war on ignorance for 200 years. We haven't lost the war on ignorance."Friday, October 8, 19994:49 a.m. CTDrug Czar: Gov. Undermining Drug War - 10/08/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3195.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by Richie Tremor on March 30, 2000 at 16:00:55 PT It might be a while, so brace yourself for the bs I swear, the war on drugs might not end to soon. We have to keep fighting drugs in order to employ the DEA and half of the prison system. Its all the governments fault. This War On Drugs thing has snowballed into an instition of propaganda and brainwashing. Our ways on drug deterence encourages drug abuse and crime. People make to much money selling drugs (black market). Their not gonna stop. Besides, people like doing drugs. They have been doing drugs since the begining of time. Remember, prohibition is relativley new philosophy. Drug laws do more injustice than justice does. But, the government won't look at the facts. Their to proud. Decriminalize drugs = lower crime rate. Take marijuana away from drug dealers = less contact between teens and harder drugs. Decriminalize and legalize drugs = lower prison poplations and more rehab clinics. I'm not a socialogist but this makes sense, common sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Ricky Godsey on March 30, 2000 at 15:44:46 PT If he wants us to listen, he needs to listen to us I'm gonna say it even though its been sayed a thousand times. The war on drugs, or however you want to say it, is not working and has never worked to begin with. General McCaffery, it seems, does not even acknowledge other forms of stopping or lowering drug use. His objective it seems will only fill up prisons, waste money, and clog up the courts. He needs to listen to the people. We want to change the way we deal with drugs. People have been doing drugs for thousands of years. People who do drugs are not criminals, but they may need help. Drugs are as rampant today as ever. I can walk down the street and buy a bag a of weed right now. Give me a break. Pride has deffinantly blinded this man's rationale. Please, Mr. McCaffery, if you want to lower the drug use in America stop the War on Drugs and listen to the socialogists and Law professors. It makes to much sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by jazv on October 09, 1999 at 00:29:31 PT: This General Is No Longer Credible Everytime I hear this guy, he makes me sick. If he was still in army, he would be took out back and shot for his blatant lies. He should resigned. His credibility is gone. If he doesn't want to listen to the people, then let's do it without him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on October 08, 1999 at 16:44:08 PT Harassment? Or First Ammendment Rights? As I said once before, someone should remind MISTER McCaffrey that he isn't a general, anymore. The American people cannot be ordered about like a bunch of knuckleheaded privates (and I am ex-Army) when they are perfectly within their rights to throw his lies back in his face. If this be harassment, then so is every expression of personal opinion when it goes against the 'party line'. Long live the 'hecklers'! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on October 08, 1999 at 09:41:07 PT: Heckle Away ........... The only way to be heard when the evil Drug Czar is speaking ...We must try to do that every time he speaks ...Good job hecklers ..........Fighting the Fight .......... Hemp n Stuff [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Doctor Dave on October 08, 1999 at 09:12:59 PT The Lies of McCaffrey >McCaffrey said marijuana is a gateway drug, and youths who>smoke marijuana often end up with chronic drug-abuse>problems when they become adults.This man is lying. This was contradicted in the IOM report, a report which he funded!!! And why does he only talk about emotionally-charged issues like children and not any other issues? We have A LOT of adults in this country the last time I checked, and most of the marijuana users are law-abiding citizens if it weren't for the government trying (quite unsuccessfully, I might ad) to enforce a prohibition against ingesting a plant.One day in the future we as a nation will look back on the folly of the Drug War and Drug Prohibition and think, "How could we have been so stupid?" I hope that day will come soon for the nation.Doctor Dave"A nation that makes war or huge numbers of its own people can never truly be free" [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Chris Knestrick on October 08, 1999 at 07:44:55 PT: War On Ignorance We may not of lost, but the Czar is proof that we ain't doin' to well, either. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on October 08, 1999 at 07:39:47 PT Hecklers Way to go hecklers!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: