If the DEA wants to make itself look hard-headed, hardhearted and ridiculous prosecuting medical marijuana users, that’s one thing. But when it begins meddling in the political process, to influence a policy decision that only Colorado voters can and should make, that’s another.

Whether or not this violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their positions to influence partisan outcomes or lobby on issues in which they have an interest — DEA officials say it doesn’t — it’s clearly inappropriate, in our view, and a troubling development. We’ve never before heard of a federal agency hiring campaign consultants to influence the outcome of state elections — but it’s something Congress should investigate. It wouldn’t be out of character for the Bush administration, after all, which has pushed the outside of the envelope in attempts to spin the issues its way, including, most notoriously, paying commentators and journalists to promote certain initiatives.

“Taxpayer money should not be going toward the executive branch advocating one side or another,” Steve Fox, one backer of the ballot measure, told the Camera. But Jeff Sweetin, special agent in charge of DEA’s Denver office, argues that the agency has an obligation to provide Coloradans with the “facts” about marijuana, so we can make an informed decision. Who better to do this, Sweetin says, than the “experts” at DEA.

We question the DEA’s credibility as an honest broker of information, however, given the agency’s record of selectively presenting the facts in a way that bolster its opposition to drug legalization and medical marijuana use, and given the overzealous way the DEA has gone after doctors and patients that do believe in marijuana’s medical benefits, even in states that have approved such uses. It’s also impossible to see the DEA as a disinterested party in the debate, given that the agency depends for its existence on the government’s prohibition against certain drugs.

It’s one thing for agency brass to provide their expert views on such subjects, when asked by the media or the public to do so. It’s quite another thing, in our view, to hire political consultants to impact the outcome of an election. If agency insiders don’t recognize such distinctions, perhaps members of Congress can help them do so. The DEA should immediately put a stop to such activities and butt-out of Colorado’s business. If it can’t find better uses for the taxpayers’ money, Congress should slash its budget accordingly.

If the agency wants to divert resources from criminal investigations and narcotics interdictions in order to delve more deeply into policy debates, in Colorado and elsewhere, it should change its name to the DIA — The Drug Indoctrination Agency.

Complete Title: Let Colorado Decide: DEA Should Butt Out of State Ballot Debate

Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/nwkgg

Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)
Published: August 30, 2006
Copyright: 2006 The Gazette
Contact: gtop@gazette.com
Website: http://www.gazette.com/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Safer Choice
http://www.saferchoice.org/

DEA Education vs. Lobbying
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22118.shtml

DEA Should Keep Out of State Politics
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22117.shtml

Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)

Contact: letters@boulderweekly.com Website: http://www.boulderweekly.com/

Author: Editorial Staff

Viewed at: http://www.boulderweekly.com/newsspin.html

DEA hits the fund-raising trail

The Drug Enforcement Administration is looking for donations to help in its fight to keep marijuana illegal in Colorado. The DEA hopes to defeat a statewide ballot measure that would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of pot.

SAFER Colorado, the organization that sponsored the ballot measure, says the DEA, a federal agency, has no business using taxpayer money to involve itself in political campaigns. But DEA officials maintain that their actions are legal under federal law.

These goons only know how to terrorize people. I guess they could quit the DEA and join the IRS!

I would wager that most DEA employees are Bush supporters. That means that all of the blood spilled on 9/11 and in Afghanistan and Iraq is on their hands. All of it.

They have no consciences. They have no hearts. They have no souls.

It is good that you have come to this service for the dead

But then again, if any of them had half a brain, they would have read that study on Alzheimer's and quit the agency and joined our side by now.

It was Internet journalist Dan Forbes, waaaaaay back in 2000, who first raised the question in the media: Is this an appropriate use of taxpayer's dollars? The obvious answer was a resounding "NO!".

But Forbes, like most visionaries who are miles ahead of the pack, was instead ignored by the mainstream media and derided and targeted by the DrugWarriors. But it was he who first raised the issue in the media.

But guess what? The MSM is now venturing forward...into terrain he's already trailblazed for them.

Have all the money

Control and the power over Life and Death

To the millions of Gods Children who rot in prisons

We are also in prison

Each mouthful of food

Marks the spot and time

It was was easier to digest folly and disgrace

Than to swallow Eternity

Hail Cannabis

Hail Eternity

The grave is closer

The Stars Twinkle

Twinkle, your eyes

Your face is part of this Infinite Journey

Into the most Sublime Adventure

Bring your bible

Bring Love and Good Human Kindness

We those people have the "KEY"

We those people are the component

That unlocks the doors to the Garden

That Green Place

Where every good person

Can receive Blessing and Absolution

Receive Grace and Understanding

Receive Clean Linen

At the Table of the Lord

The Table of Eternity

I hope the men and women who wear those blue coats understand, for is not good health and medicine linked, and is not justice and freedom a part of 'our human evolution, in that unfolding journey, towards destiny and eternity.

This particular paper openly states that it's more angry about the DEA spending 10 grand on media shill than it is about armed thugs beating down sick people in California.

If it is facts they want, a public debate is in order, lets have the Director of these good old boys discuss this with the leading figures of the opposition, democracy is going to rule.

If you do not like a law, then change it, and "WE THE PEOPLE" are going to change it..period