Drug Czar Backs Marijuana Decriminalization?
Apparently recognizing the damage done to Mexico by its war on drugs, and seeing the related increasing violence as a potential threat to U.S. security, Walters praised a plan by Mexican president Felipe Calderón to drop prosecution for possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Under Calderón's plan, offenders could choose treatment, instead of jail.
As quoted in a New York Times article, Walters felt comfortable with the Calderón proposal because, "I don't think that's legalization," he said.
On the other hand, Drug Czar Walters has recently spoken out against a drug possession decriminalization ballot initiative in California and a proposal in Michigan that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients.
Also See:
Drug Czar: Medical Marijuana No Longer a Political Issue
Supreme Court Upholds Medical Marijuana Ban
Alaska Judge Rules Adults Can Use Marijuana in Home
Comments
It won’t work. The violence is coming directly from criminals. The only way to stop this is to take care of the problem and Legalize not Decriminalize. Once people can buy drugs safely in a store away from criminals, the world will be a safer place. No more shootings, no more murders, no more pushers in the school yards selling to minors, no more black market for illegal drugs.
Legalization of drugs and fighting the problem with intervention and treatment is the only way to restoring the peace and the people.
Joel is correct. The only way is legalization. But here in the United States the chances of that happening (until there is a major crisis within our criminal justice system, and that is beginning to ferment in our prison systems and gangs in the suburbs) we imprudent Puritans will never consent to it. As with many aspects of our political culture, with this issue also, Americans choose to live in denial. What is amusing is that even the late William F Buckley, as well as other prominent conservative thinkers (the word “thinker” being the difference from most of the public and their elected officials), published public years ago statements regarding the moral and ethical benefits of legalization of this substance.
Remember Al Capone?
Same deal just a larger market to profit from.