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Obama Drug Czar Pick: No Recovery from War on Drugs?
On paper, Jim Ramstad -- who is rumored to be Obama's choice for drug czar -- looks like the ideal man for the job . He's a recovering alcoholic himself and a Congressman who championed legislation recently passed to provide equal insurance coverage for addictions and other mental illnesses.
To top it off, he's a Republican, giving Obama what looks like a relatively harmless way to make his cabinet more bipartisan. Choosing Ramstad would appear to make a powerful statement about addiction as a medical, not a moral issue.
Unfortunately, Ramstad may be a drug warrior in recovering person's clothing. There is one issue that has consistently separated those who put science and saving lives in front of politics. That is needle exchange programs for addicts to prevent the spread of HIV and other blood borne illnesses.
Even President Clinton now says he was "wrong" when he ignored the recommendations of every scientific and medical organization in the world that has examined the question -- from the AMA to the World Health Organization -- and refused to lift the federal ban on funding.
Needle exchanges have been shown repeatedly to reduce HIV and contrary to the claims of opponents, they help addicts get into treatment.
But Bill Clinton had a drug czar -- Barry McCaffrey -- who said that needle exchange "sent the wrong message," and would make him seem soft on drugs. McCaffrey fought against it and Clinton now says he "regrets" caving in to drug war politics.
While Obama has said that he favors federal funding, the last thing we need is another drug czar to talk him out of it.
Ramstad looks like that person. I am awaiting comment from his office to see if he has changed his position, but his history on the issue isn't good. In 1992, he said, "Federal funds should be used to get people off drugs not facilitate drug abuse...let's support programs that save lives, not destroy lives." By then, dozens of studies from around the world already suggested that clean needle programs not only reduce HIV, but attract addicts into recovery.
When I was injecting drugs in the '80s in New York, when 50% of IV drug users were HIV positive, a friend taught me to use clean needles. She probably saved my life -- she certainly didn't destroy it. I have now been free of cocaine and heroin for 20 years.
But people like Ramstad believe that it would have been better to deny me the information and equipment I needed to protect myself than to risk "enabling" my addiction. And they push this view that risks addicts' lives regardless of evidence that shows that their fears are groundless!
In 1999 -- with the data now overwhelming -- Ramstad voted to prevent Washington DC from using its own money to fund syringe exchange.
DC has the country's highest HIV rate. Not coincidentally, until after that provision was repealed late last year, it had no publicly funded needle exchange. African Americans have been the group most affected by the failure to prevent the spread of HIV amongst IV drug users, their partners and children.
New York, by contrast, started needle exchange relatively early and saw infection rates cut in half over the following years, according to a 1998 study.
Ramstad also -- again, against the evidence -- opposes medical marijuana and supports federal policing and prosecution of providers and patients in the states that have made it legal. These states have not seen the rise in teen drug use that opponents like the Congressman predicted.
The opposite, in fact, happened -- as is the case in countries that have decriminalized marijuana like Holland. The UK's "downgrading" of cannabis offense to a lesser status was also accompanied by a drop in use.
There's simply no evidence that allowing sick people to get needed medication conflicts with helping addicts. Obama has said he does not support these prosecutions -- will Ramstad push him in the wrong direction here, too? In an economic crisis, do we really want to spend federal time and money locking up medical marijuana providers and sick people?
While Ramstad has opposed some interdiction efforts and called for more treatment funding, someone who doesn't even believe that addicts have a right to life if they aren't in treatment is not the kind of recovering person that I want representing me as drug czar.
That's not change, President Obama -- that's more of the same. Don't make the mistake that Bill Clinton did and install a drug czar who will ignore science and push dogma.
While it's great to have a recovering person as an example, just having a disease and talking with others who've recovered the same way you did does not make you an expert. We need someone who knows the science, recognizes that there are many paths to recovery -- and understands that dead addicts can't recover.
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First of all, I despise the word 'czar'. Secondly, it would be so refreshing to have a highly respected member of the community who is realistic, non-partisan, and charismatic enough to help Obama
convince the American public that the time is now to begin sane and sustainable policies regarding ALL drugs, not just currently illegal ones. Someone who can help lead us into the restoration of hemp as a viable cash crop to stimulate the local economy as well as help us save the forests, nourish our society, and provide one of the best biofuels we'll ever have. Yes, we should all be allowed to grow
plants on our property and smoke or eat them if we want.
We don't need a warrior. There is enough war, gang violence, racketeering, call it what you want.
We need someone like Rick Steeves to be President Obama's Drug Policy Advisor.
Drug policy at the federal level has become effectively decoupled from democracy and science. The law enforcement lobbies own that piece of federal real estate and they own it no matter which party is in power.
Scientists have absolutely nothing to say about this, and neither do voters.
Look at Massachusetts -- marijuana reform won and so did John Kerry.
Did Kerry look at that result and advocate changing federal law? Heck no.
Kerry sided with law enforcement, against his own voters, because law enforcement lobbies run federal drug policy and the voters can just forget having any influence on Kerry or on Obama at all.
As a participant of clean needle exchanges, I can tell you that I did not begin using drugs as a result of visiting a needle exchange. Until I quit (again), it is a form of harm reduction. I am protected from contracting various blood borne illnesses and infections while I focus on getting the help I need. God Bless the Clean Needle Exchange and Bienstar (needle exchange) in Los Angeles, CA.
Will Obama be a Clinton repeat? This proposed selection by Obama looks like a repeat of Clintons McCaffrey. Ugh.
A little history lesson for those that think Clinton was any different from Bush on drug policy. McCaffrey was a complete jerk, lying to the public about drugs and drug policy, opposing medical marijuana on false grounds, opposing meedle exchange, blocking medical marijuana research-just like Bush and his drug czar Walters.
from wikipedia:
As Drug Czar (1996-2001), McCaffrey was instrumental in negotiating a deal to place anti-drug messages in prime time television shows without acknowledging that these messages were paid for by his Office.[3] This created quite a scandal when it was revealed in Salon.com.
Just stop the War on Drugs. Period. Especially when the economy needs an injection of fresh capital
I think cannabis(marijuana) could help save the economy,
A governmental cannabis program would earn the U.S. and in turn Canadian(They are only waiting for the U.S. to legalize first) to earn tens-of-billions of dollars in new revenue. It can also be easily controlled, by using the same methods the Canadian government uses to control it's alcohol distribution.
Canada prohibits the sale of liquor and beer in super-markets, convenience stores and many of the other places you can usually find them in the U.S. You can only pretty much only buy beer from "The Beer Store" and Liquor from "LCBO" both under the strict regulation by the Canadian government. This method could easily be used to control the distribution of Cannabis to consumers who would much rather have the easy access to it, keeping street sales illegal, just as it is Illegal to sell alcohol on the street.
Banning the sale of seeds(though I believe they should be sold to medical-patients), and growing only female plants(No seeds) would keep underground operations from even being able to produce illegally grown cannabis driving up the prices, making them unable to compete with the cheaper prices of the legal, therefore detering consumers even more from illegal purchases.
Not to mention the jobs created to run the government owned crop fields as growing the plant takes much care to grow a crop, and other jobs involved in the regulation, packaging, delivering and distributing and selling.
Why should the government restrict people from growing a harmless plant? If I can grow corn, potatoes, or apple trees why shouldn't I be allowed to grow cannabis plants? It's hypocritical to legalize cannabis and then restrict people from growing their own. None of the (poor) public policy arguments against legal distillation of spirits apply to cannabis - you can't "grow it wrong" and get blind from smoking it. If we are supposed to be a free society, we should be able to grow cannabis freely in our homes and gardens, distill our own alcohol, engage in consensual private sexual activity of any type, and generally do any other act which does not harm anyone else.
Also, your description of the situation in Canada is only valid for Ontario specifically. In Quebec and several other provinces, beer and wine can be purchased at corner stores or markets. Alberta even has privately run liquor stores.
Maia asserts ". Don't make the mistake that Bill Clinton did and install a drug czar who will ignore science and push dogma. " How sadly wrong. The correct answer is:
"Don't make the mistake that Bill Clinton did and install a drug czar." Period.
The word "drug czar" itself, despite its colloquial nature, is now regular used by those in charge of government. That in itself shows a lack of sensitivity and a sick zealous attitude towards drugs.
It's so disturbing that massive propaganda has been effective in convincing so many people that a useful and therapeutic plant is so vile and dangerous it must be eradicated! It's like some crazy, fanatic witch hunt of the dark ages.
It's time for some logic and reasonable attitudes to prevail and lets STOP THIS RIDICULOUS "WAR" ON "DRUGS"! It's sickening that people have their lives ruined for using a therapeutic plant just because some others don't prefer the use of that plant themselves. I'm sure the greatest motivator is that the "war" on "drugs" makes lots of lucrative positions for the undeserving.
One positive thing about Jim Ramstad is that as early as 2000 he realized and presented to congress a talk stating that the drug war in Colombia was not working and suggest we cease funding Plan Colombia. They did not listen. Over $5 billion dollars later we find that not only has cocaine from Colombia increased but that Plan Colombia money has financed Colombian military units killing innocent civilians and passing them off as terrorists to gain benefits and promotions. Other reports believe that much of the American money has been lost through Colombian government corruption. The General Account Office report shows that Plan Colombia has failed by a long way in meeting its target.
$7.7 Billion spent Annually on JUST Cannabis Eradication Programs...Thats Tax revenue Bleeding OUT...
When INSTEAD under Taxation The Federal Coffers could be enjoying an Influx of Brand New Revenue, to the tune of at least $31,000,000,000.00 Annually.
Industrial Prison Complex...there is Additional costs of housing those caught with cannabis to the tune of Another $2800.00 Per Month, Per Prisoner....And the Prisoners get to Work, making jeans, telemarketing etc for Less than $1.00 per hour...the Prison Industry then Keeps up to 80% of the Prisoners earnings to allow for Rm and Board....in Addition to the $2800.00.
More than 800,000 People were arrested in 2007 for Cannabis violations, 79% of those arrests are for simple possession.
Isn't cheney a financial benefactor of the Industrial Prison Complex?
Is it Responsible, in this post 9-11 era to be wasting resources on searching for those people who choose to use a Plant for enjoyment not to mention the Heartless persecution of those in Medical need?
DEMAND Holder soften his Positioning on Cannabis or he will Not get confirmed....IF they do not listen to us...then WE fire our reps for failing to perform the normal, basic duties of their jobs....Representing Us and Our wishes!
Holder, hopefully has noticed that Public Approval of Cannabis use, both Medical and Responsible Adult use is Greater than 70% and will, instead invest his budget dollars into going after actual Dangerous Drugs...to Actually Make us Safer.
What is the source of this Public Approval percentage? And why are any drugs "dangerous" if used responsably. Morphine is used everyday for pain releif. Heroin is metabolized as morphine, so it is essentially the same. There is so much misinformation about drugs and drug use, especially in America where there is no such thing as responsable drug use. ANY use is seen as misuse, meanwhile the alcohol industry continues to talk about "responsable use." Where's the distinction? Some people smoke marijuana their whole lives with minimal consequence. Some use heroin and cocaine recreationally. What's the difference in responsable use of alcohol and responsable use of heroin or cocaine? 20 to life!
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/548/massachusetts_marijuana_decriminalization_initiative_poll
http://www.mpp.org/library/widespread-support-for-medical-marijuana-throughout-the-country.html
Our bodies also metabolize the drug Alcohol as if it were Morphine and I am told the "mother molecule" in Acetaminophen is DDT. All drugs are dangerous.
There Is no such thing as a "Safe Drug" no matter if it is a cigarette, a beer, an aspirin or a cup of coffee.
All drugs should be evaluated by the Same Standard. Education about the drug one considers consuming will lead to folks making informed decisions Before consumption, thus leading to "Harm Reduction".
Tobacco will kill 435,000 this year, 106,000 will perish as a consequence of Alcohol consumption, 106,000 PLUS will perish asfter experiencing an "adverse reaction" to prescription drugs After taking them properly and as prescribed.
Cannabis has never killed anyone from an overdose. You would literally have to consume 1500 pounds of it w/in 15 minutes to realize a fatal dose. However there are fatalities realized as a consequence of the Laws, Rules and Policies that govern its use.
I felt so optimistic and hopeful when Obama was elected. It really hurts now to see from his appointments that we're just going back to the fear again.
Perhaps we should repeal the statute of limitations and put Obama in prison, since he admits to previous drug use. To do otherwise is pure hypocrisy. I voted for Barack because he promised change, despite his pick of Joe Biden, big-time drug warrior and senator from the U.S. state with one of the highest incarceration rates. Barack, don't let us down.
It starts here. How many are willing to post here and say that the War on Drugs is wrong?
It exists to simply to stop the cultivation of hemp and the medical use of cannabis. Check it out and see if you agree.
We must speak out if this is to end.
I'm all for saying the war on drugs is not just wrong but criminal in how it is carried out. The DEA is as responsible for raid deaths, and disruption of families more than any drug cartel on Earth. Millions of families have been harmed or outright destroyed because of the DEA and all the local thugs out to make the world safe from people who get high.
Legalize drugs and watch the drug cartels disappear overnight.
The violence and killings disappear in days.
BUT we will never do it because there is just too much money invested in making as many Americans criminals as possible.
Criminal is correct. I had tens of thousands of dollars (life savings) stolen from my bank account by the local DEA nazi "narcotics task force" simply on the basis of having withdrawn some large cash sums to store away in anticipation of a possible banking crisis/meltdown. In the U.S., anyone who wants cash MUST be a drug trafficker, or perhaps that is just the excuse they use to steal our money without due process. A rubber stamp from a federal magistrate is all it takes, and your financial institution will happily hand over a cashier's check for your entire savings. Now I am embroiled in a bureaucratic and legal nightmare just to attempt to get my money back, for which I have legal proof that it's 100% legitimate, hard earned money. They even threatened me with prosecution!
no more drug czars obama
change?
fat chance.............................
If Obama flip flops on medical marijuana, then I'm going to vote for Nader in 2012 even if Nader isn't running.
Green Party Presidential candidates always advocate ending the War on Some Drugs. At least cast your vote for a political party that's trying to organize and grow!
Half the people in prison are there for violating the marijuana prohibition laws. Thousands are doing time where this plant is legal as medicine in their state.
Google- DEA corruption and federal drug corruption.
You will see who the criminals are.
If we don't get change from Barack Obama and an end to the drug war, I anticipate with great trepidation the day when heavily armed civilian militias rise up against the criminal terrorist organization, the DEA, and fight for the rights which our founding fathers risked their lives. It's inevitable, unless the government actually gives us change.
Since drug addiction hits All of us personally in one form or another I'm sure the carefull selection by the Obama team for the next Drug Zar will give us the best person for the job. I do agree we need to put and end to the slave labor the Prison System enojoys as our loved ones are carted off to jail for minor offences so that others profit from our family members misfortune.
The prison industrial complex is far more draconian and sinister than you give it credit for.
I have been there [2 years for gardening my own medicine]. Unless you have been there you will never know how corrupt the DEA and federal justice system really is.
How do they get away wit it? Who are you going to believe me [an ex-convict of some high up government official?
I know the government official is the one who belongs behind bars.
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