cannabisnews.com: House Extends Bush's Anti-Drug Office





House Extends Bush's Anti-Drug Office
Posted by CN Staff on September 30, 2003 at 20:00:18 PT
By Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press 
Washington -- The House on Tuesday extended the life of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for five years while initiating a new program to protect neighborhood activists who stand up to local drug dealers. The legislation, passed by voice vote, also brings changes to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program to ensure that it focuses on places with critical drug problems and meets its goal of having local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together in places with particularly serious drug problems.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., said it would give the drug office director more flexibility to deal with changing circumstances and tighten drug control programs to ensure they remain focused on their core purposes. The bill, which still must be taken up by the Senate, authorizes spending of about $2.5 billion over five years for programs administered by the White House drug czar to reduce illegal drug trafficking and use. The White House, in a statement, praised the bill, saying it "maintains an effective balance between both supply reduction and demand reduction strategies." It also directs the office to direct at least $1 million annually to the HIDTA program, aimed at providing protection to communities that suffer from severe levels of drug-related crime. The measure, backed by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., grew out of the firebombing of a Baltimore home a year ago that killed Carnell and Angela Dawson and their five children. The attack on the Dawson family was in apparent retaliation for Mrs. Dawson's complaints to the police about drug dealing activities in her neighborhood. The legislation tightens the criteria for designating HIDTAs, which now cover about 60 percent of the national population, to focus on drug traffic. The drug office director, currently John P. Walters, is required to review current high-intensity areas and remove those that no longer meet the criteria. Thirty percent of HIDTA funding is required to be spent in the seven areas through which the most national drug traffic passes; 20 percent must be spent in the Southwest border area. The measure also reinforces requirements that the national youth anti-drug media campaign be effective and accountable and not be used for political purposes. The drug policy office was established in 1988 to set policies and programs for the national anti-drug effort. The bill is H.R. 2086. On the Net: Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/ Source: Associated Press Author: Jim Abrams, Associated Press WriterPublished: September 30, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by Patrick on October 01, 2003 at 22:44:11 PT
Special High Intensity Training (SHIT)
It was announced today that High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) in cooperation with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) are opposed to any efforts at legalization (EAL) by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Walters fears that too many people (TMP) want their freedom back from out of touch greedy politicians (OOTGP).The White House (THW), in a statement, praised the bill, saying it "maintains an effective balance (MAEB) between both supply reduction (SRS) and demand reduction strategies (DRSs)."It also directs the office to direct (DTOTD) at least $1 million annually to the HIDTA program, aimed at providing protection to communities (PPTC) that suffer from severe levels of drug-related crime (SLODRC).The drug policy office (DPO) was established in 1988 to set policies and programs for the national anti-drug effort (NADE). In addition, it assigns acronyms to create phony government positions (PGPs) that further allow elected Congressmen to Rape the American Public (CRAP).Peace (people enjoying a comfortable existance)
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Comment #8 posted by Virgil on October 01, 2003 at 16:05:27 PT
P.S. to previous comment
This article says they extended the budget so that the ONDCP can function for the next five years. I just thought that the ONDCP got their funding for their media distortions in this bill and since the article is only intended to scratch the surface of what is happening it is not clear if the propaganda money is in this bill. It easily could be and it would be expected that a report on the ONDCP would not report the waste on propaganda money.
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Comment #7 posted by Virgil on October 01, 2003 at 15:59:13 PT
A billion dollar bribe
It takes money to control the media companies. How else is it they can get 69% of the Washington Post poll in early September to think Sadam had something to do with 9/11 when no one can present evidence and even the Great Right Dope had to acknowledge it in counter to the avalanche of people calling all the misadministrations lies and distortions, lies and distortions.Yesterday was the end of the governments fiscal year and we do not hear the deficit now that the period is over. Maybe I should just say your share of the debt went up $2400 last year and expect the same as I am not bribed by the government.I see it as a billion dollar bribe for the media with control of the media a top priority.
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Comment #6 posted by VitaminT on October 01, 2003 at 14:59:48 PT
here's what DPA sent out
Friends and Supporters:Thanks for calling your Members of Congress and asking them to vote against HR 2086, the Office of National Drug Control Reauthorization Act. We appreciate your help (and indeed cannot fight drug war zealots without you). We also want to personally thank the hundreds of supporters who e-mailed us important feedback after calling their Representatives. Thank you!!!!Unfortunately, even though we know that hundreds of you called, we were unable to block the un-democratic process that limited debate and prohibited amendments to HR 2086. This kind of legislative stunt happens a lot. But we successfully influenced a change in the bill and every call you make lets Congress know that you are watching. THE GOOD NEWS
Many Democrats agreed not to oppose the bill or call for a recorded vote on the condition that Republicans overturn the ban on using High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) funding for drug prevention programs instead of law-enforcement. This is a change Drug Policy Alliance had pushed for during committee. Republicans accepted the deal, bringing us a step closer to shifting millions of dollars away from arresting non-violent drug offenders and redirecting it into drug treatment. With your help, we have amended this terrible drug war bill seven times since it was first introduced, each time removing some of its most egregious provisions and adding some good reforms. You can read about our past battles over this bill at http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=355069&l=5789. The bill now heads to the Senate, where we hope to improve it further.The Drug Policy Alliance would like to publicly thank Rep. Maxine Waters (D-35th/CA), the only Representative with the courage to oppose HR 2086 on the House floor. Congresswoman Waters called the war on drugs "a joke" and said she rose "in strong opposition both to the process that has brought this bill to the floor under suspension of the rules and to the substance of the underlying bill."  We would also like to thank House Democrats who kept pushing to overturn the prevention fund ban. In contrast, the bill's most virulent supporter, Rep. Mark Souder (R-3rd/IN), called drug use "a sin" that must be stopped.  WHAT TO DO NEXT
Are you as outraged about the drug war as Representative Waters? Write your Member of Congress. Even with the improvements to the bill, it still reauthorizes the primary agency most responsible for misdirecting taxpayer dollars into the failed strategies of the drug war. Tell your U.S. Representative that you are disappointed that he or she did not call for a roll call vote or otherwise oppose bringing up HR 2086 under the "suspension of rules" where it could not be debated or amended. The drug war - which costs over $40 billion a year and results in over a million and a half arrests a year - is too controversial not to debate.Writing a letter is important because it shows that you care enough to take time to write and because it provides written documentation. Just a few lines will do. You can even put it on a postcard. However, no matter what you do, make sure that you include your own address. That way your Representative can write you back. Let us know if you receive a reply letter at ActionFeedback drugpolicy.org or fax it to us at 202/216-0803 (fax it to the attention of Bill Piper)
You can find out who your U.S. Representative is at:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=355069&l=5790Addressing the letter:
The Honorable Firstname Lastname
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515Dear Rep. Lastname,
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Comment #5 posted by MikeEEEEE on October 01, 2003 at 13:56:48 PT
Money wasted
And yet, more money wasted.Hear the sound of money going down the toliet.
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Comment #4 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 01, 2003 at 13:07:05 PT
"Voice Vote"?
All I can discern from thomas.loc.gov is that this was subject to a voice vote. There's no record as to who voted which way. Do they even keep such records for voice votes? Anyone know of a way to find out if one's rep deserves praise or rebuke?
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Comment #3 posted by billos on October 01, 2003 at 12:42:22 PT:
Here it comes....................
MEMORANDUM from the
BUREAU OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIATo: All truck drivers, nurses, teachers, politicians, engineers, corporate managers, policemen, firemen, taxi drivers, pilots, construction workers, scientists, sales representatives, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, physicists, veterinary doctors, chief executive officers, accountants, radiologists, store clerks, physicians, biologists, chemists, pro-sports players, cooks, gardeners, heavy equipment operators, river pilots, ship captains, marines, sailors, soldiers, pilots, neurosurgeons, programmers, administrators, bus drivers, lawyers, judges, linemen, actors, musicians, artists, painters, mechanics, garbage collectors, public works employees, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, nuns, priests, farmers, apprentices, students, and all not accounted for.From: John P. Walters 
     Director, DEADue to the House extending desperately needed funds for the next five years, please note that we will continue to ruin your life should you be caught using marijuana. J.P. 
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 01, 2003 at 05:02:46 PT:
Bastards!
Who in the hell is congress representing by passing a bill like this one? It damn sure isn't the American people. 
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on September 30, 2003 at 21:29:04 PT
Haven't I heard this before?
"We're sorry your neighborhood has been overrun by violent thugs. But hey, if you want to stand up to 'em, we're RIGHT behind you all the way!"Hmmm, this probably what the sales pitch to the Kurds sounded like back in '91.Our solution, ending prohibition, would put all the dealers out of business in one month. Hit 'em where hurts, in the wallet.
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