cannabisnews.com: Time To Reform DEA





Time To Reform DEA
Posted by CN Staff on February 10, 2003 at 09:04:32 PT
Editorial
Source: Toledo Blade
The Office of Management and Budget’s report about the Drug Enforcement Administration’s drug war performance confirms long-held suspicions. The report said the DEA isn’t doing its job. That may not qualify as news.Also, the administration’s budget for the agency remains pretty much the same, at $1.56 billion. That reflects less than a 1 percent increase and in part mirrors the Bush Administration’s lack of confidence in the DEA.
The OMB report states that the agency "is unable to demonstrate progress in reducing the availability of illegal drugs in the United States." Americans at every economic level are still adversely affected by the easy availability of illegal drugs that are steadily more pure. Last year President Bush recognized that illegal drug use is still widespread among the nation’s youth and that the war on drugs of late has "lost ground."While other programs’ performance reviewed by the OMB also fell into the category of "results not demonstrated," its report on the DEA was especially tough, so much so that it even stunned police agencies.The DEA did have some successes in making illegal drug seizures and reducing the purity of street drugs. Yet the agency also maintains that it needs to better define what its agents do. That certainly is an understatement.Meanwhile, the DEA’s budget matter reflects a real turn of events since 1995. The agency’s budget had more than doubled since then because congressional conservatives held former director Asa Hutchinson in high esteem. Now the gravy train is slowing way down.It must be acknowledged that the nominal budget increase is also a reflection of the fact that the agency is another victim of terrorism against the United States, thanks to the creation of the Homeland Security Department. In fact, that’s where Mr. Hutchinson is now.Even so, the administration’s decision to budget such a small increase for DEA suggests it has little confidence in the agency’s performance in the war against drugs. The OMB’s report should provide the impetus to reform the DEA. It’s time for the "free ride," as the head of the Drug Policy Alliance said, to come to a grinding halt and for someone to be held accountable for the country’s ongoing illegal drug problems.Source: Blade, The (OH) Published: Monday, February 10, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Blade Contact: letters theblade.com Website: http://www.toledoblade.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Funds To Fight Drugs Go Unused http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15418.shtmlAsa: DEA Report Not That Bad http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15409.shtmlReport Stings Drug Agency on Abilities http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15377.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by elfman_420 on February 10, 2003 at 13:26:06 PT
um..
The DEA did have some successes in making illegal drug seizures and reducing the purity of street drugs.I don't think the DEA has EVER been successful at reducing the purity of street drugs. By definition they increase purity.. How could they possibly DO something to reduce the purity?
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Comment #16 posted by malleus2 on February 10, 2003 at 13:25:20 PT
This is why As(s)a jumped ship
He could hear the whistling of the budgetary axe blade far off as it was heading for his and DEA's neck, and handily got out of the way. But his erstwhile subordinates will face a very real prospect of unemployment; feds they are, but many feds are under exclusionary status, meaning if their jobs are eliminated, it's bye-bye's for them. Many are old farts who have no skills beyond ruining a potheads' life. Too young for retirement...and that may vanish in Herr Busch's War sucking up every last bit of moolah.This is down payment for all the suffering they have caused. And the payback machine is just getting cranked up...
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Comment #15 posted by malleus2 on February 10, 2003 at 13:10:39 PT
Porky gets a diet
Too bad it doesn't include crow...but that might come later.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 13:02:31 PT
Dude, You're Getting a Record 
Benjamin Curtis, star of Dell Computer ads, was arrested for allegedly attempting to buy pot.February 10, 2003
 NEW YORK (CNN) - Benjamin Curtis, better known as the "Dell Dude" from the computer company's television commercials, was arrested Sunday while he allegedly attempted to buy marijuana on Manhattan's lower east side. Curtis is in custody while awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Monday, said a spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney's office. The time of the arraignment has not yet been determined. Curtis was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on the corner of Ludlow and Rivington streets and charged with criminal possession of marijuana when an officer observed him making the purchase, said a police spokesman. Police said he was buying "a small bag" and was not being charged with intent to distribute. Curtis' agent, Bonnie Schumofsky, refused to comment on the arrest. Curtis, 22, was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is enrolled at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, according to Dell's Web site. He gained national recognition as "Steven," a hip teenager who convinces his parents, his friends' parents and random people at the mall to buy computers from Dell. The ad campaign was hugely successful for Dell, featuring Curtis' memorable catch phrase, "Dude, you're getting a Dell!"  
 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 12:31:00 PT
eco
Looks good to me. Thanks!
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 12:28:45 PT
Related Article
'Dell Dude' Arrested for Marijuana in NYPublished: February 10, 2003NEW YORK (Reuters) - Actor Benjamin Curtis, the Dell Computer Corp. pitchman "Steven" who says on television, "Dude, yer gettin' a Dell," was arrested for possessing marijuana in New York, officials said on Monday.  Curtis, 22, was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of up to three months if he is convicted, a spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney's office said. Curtis, who lives in New York and was arrested on Sunday night, was scheduled to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court later on Monday. A spokesman for the Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said he was not familiar with the details and declined to speculate on future plans for the advertising campaign. "We're following the situation closely and working with our ad agency to understand what's transpired here," spokesman Venancio Figueroa said. The ad agency is DDB of Chicago. Dell, the No. 2 personal computer company, makes most of its money selling to businesses and schools. It began the TV and print commercials featuring the wise-cracking "Steven" three years ago. 
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Comment #11 posted by BigDawg on February 10, 2003 at 11:20:27 PT
DUDE
you're going to jail!
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Comment #10 posted by eco-man on February 10, 2003 at 11:14:37 PT
FoM. And the Dell Dude.... 
Hey FoM. About your last message to me on another thread. I agree with you about no search tools being perfect, and that we need web pages for specific purposes. Such as yearly MMM rally report pages. I think I have all your MMM links here now (tell me if I am wrong): 
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/mmmlinks.htm and 
http://corporatism.tripod.com/mmmlinks.htm and I have put almost everything I know about search methods, search engines, search shortcuts, etc. on this page: 
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/search.htm and 
http://corporatism.tripod.com/search.htm I have updated all the above pages last night and today. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dell dude had his phone tapped and they knew when he would be walking around with some cannabis on him. Dude, we could use you as an internet activist against the drug war. Put that Dell computer to good use. Can you imagine if the Dell dude came out against the drug war. :)Public service ad: Dude, the drug war sucks. 
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Comment #9 posted by aocp on February 10, 2003 at 11:09:15 PT
how bout this one?
Dude, you're getting a CELL!! :)
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 11:06:53 PT
Ron
My feelings about him being a stoner is sure he is. Anyone that calls people Dude gotta be one! LOL!
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Comment #7 posted by Ron Bennett on February 10, 2003 at 11:03:19 PT
Dell Dude Busted == new pot slogans
If the Dell Dude truly got "busted", then we may see some new pot slogans...Dude, you're getting a Dime Bag!Dude, you're getting a Bong!Dude, you're getting a High!Dude, you're getting a Joint!...sure others here can up with some more.Damn, I had a feeling he was a stoner...if true, it would be a shame for the authorities to destroy his life for having a little, safe fun. Hopefully the story is wrong and/or he gets a damn good attorney to find a way out...Ron
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 10:55:37 PT
Morgan 
Good idea! PS: I'm a Gateway person. I just love their cow! Wish they would show it more in commercials. LOL!
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Comment #5 posted by Morgan on February 10, 2003 at 10:53:52 PT
Gateway
I think he was recently dropped as Dell's picthman.Maybe Gateway will hire him now as their spokesman.Get it? Gateway?...marijuana?... ah...I got nothing.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 10:24:21 PT
AlvinCool
You could be right so I sent a note and this brief to Nicholas at NORML right away. 
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Comment #3 posted by AlvinCool on February 10, 2003 at 10:18:11 PT
What do you bet?
I bet John Walters is trying to offer him a deal if he will do "Dude you're getting busted" ads for them.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 10, 2003 at 09:52:47 PT
News Brief - Opps!
Dell Dude Busted for Pot 
Monday, February 10, 2003 
NEW YORK Benjamin Curtis, better known as "Steven," the Dell Computer pitchman, was arrested Sunday night for marijuana possession, a misdemeanor, according to New York City police. 
 
 
 
Curtis, a 22-year-old actor famous for the phrase, "Dude, you're getting a Dell," had not been arraigned and was still being held, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The Web site -- http://TheSmokingGun.com -- quoted police sources as saying Curtis was holding a "small bag of marijuana" when he was arrested near the corner of Ludlow and Rivington streets on Manhattan's Lower East Side.The Dell Dude's agent, Bonnie Schumofsky, had no comment until "we know what's going on."
 
Dell Dude Busted for Pot 
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Comment #1 posted by p4me on February 10, 2003 at 09:36:52 PT
It is all about being free
Richard Cowan made a moving statement on pot-tv for Feb `0- http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-1767.html He said it is not about being drug-free. It is about being free. It is not like there is a mistake regarding cannabis policy. It is hateful and damaging to society in complete disregard to the principles of freedom. The fact that people are dying because of the stonewall statements and policy of the political misguiders should tell everyone there is a serious problem with our government. We need to change this cannabis policy and get rid of the people that perpetuate the atmosphere that allows this nonsense survive and the horses they rode up on. Think of the children. They will paying for the debts of the country their whole lives as the rich scheme out of paying taxes. And the retired people can already look foward to reduced social security benefits. It is not something that can be prevented. It is already happened. It is just a matter of how much the powerful can squeeze everyone and government before they take their money and run.Beware the military industrial complex. Beware the prison industrial complex. Beware of the prohibitionists. Beware of a bought and paid for Congress. And goddamn George Wicked Busch- the Great Dickhead.
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