cannabisnews.com: Rocky Drug Stance Ires Utah Demos





Rocky Drug Stance Ires Utah Demos
Posted by FoM on August 17, 2000 at 07:55:55 PT
By Dan Harrie, The Salt Lake Tribune
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
 Utah Democrats attending their party's National Convention here moved quickly Wednesday to distance themselves from Democratic Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's suggestion that decriminalization of marijuana deserves serious consideration.   Anderson made the comments Tuesday in interviews after a speech at an alternative "Shadow Convention" criticizing the country's so-called war on drugs. 
  Several members of the Utah delegation to the Democratic Convention complained about Anderson's timing and wisdom. They were especially angered that widespread publicity of the mayor's provocative comments could eclipse and confuse their own message of moderation and unity.   "It was irresponsible," said state Democratic Chairwoman Meg Holbrook of Anderson's remarks. "To have that opinion as a private citizen is one thing, but he is mayor of Salt Lake City."   Another delegate, Trisha Beck, voiced similar frustration, which she said was shared by a number of people among the 29-member Utah delegation. "It is concerning for somebody in a leadership position to say that," said Beck, a state legislator representing a Sandy House district. "It was very inappropriate."   "We don't want to be linked with his philosophies," she added. Four other delegation members privately expressed ire at Anderson's comments.   Utah Democratic leaders have been attempting to forge a more conservative image and slate of candidates and they appear to view Anderson's maverick style as a threat to achieving a more "mainstream" party reputation.   Anderson on Wednesday made no apologies for his remarks of the previous day. He said his comments on marijuana decriminalization were only a "minor" part of his call for reform of the nation's get-tough policy on drugs. But he said he feels an obligation to raise such controversial issues because the major parties are bent on ignoring them.   "Their [Democrats'] concept of moderation is exactly why we need the 'Shadow Convention'," said Anderson. "They want to avoid the difficult issues."   He said complaints that he was acting irresponsibly or inappropriately were "indicative of people more concerned with politics than they are with solving problems."   During his "Shadow Convention" speech, Anderson called the multibillion-dollar war on drugs "absolute insanity" and a political illusion that has failed to curb substance abuse. He advocated treatment, prevention and education as the more effective way to combat narcotics.   In interviews after the speech, Anderson said he did not advocate legalization of drugs. But, he said, "Decriminalization of marijuana might be more workable . . . To throw people in jail for smoking a joint of marijuana is really destructive to everyone, including the taxpayer."   He said he was not endorsing decriminalization, but calling for serious discussion of that approach in developing a more rational response to fighting drug abuse. Anderson told reporters he knew some of his positions, and his termination of the popular DARE anti-drug abuse program in Salt Lake City this summer, were "a huge political negative for me." But he said ultimately the truth "resonates" with voters.   Anderson said he canceled funding and police support for DARE because of persuasive evidence it was an ineffective "feel good" program.   Asked about his decision to address the controversy at an alternative forum during the Democratic National Convention, Anderson described his icy relations with the Utah party establishment. "I don't do a lot with the Democratic Party," said Anderson. "Frankly, the Democratic Party in Utah runs away from these issues. They have not taken a position on anything that's at all controversial."  Published: Thursday, August 17, 2000   Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)Copyright: 2000 The Salt Lake TribuneContact: letters sltrib.comAddress: 143 S Main, Salt Lake City UT 84111Fax: (801)257-8950Website: http://www.sltrib.com/Forum: http://www.sltrib.com/tribtalk/ Related Articles & Web Sites:The Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/ Anderson's Drug Policy A Hit in L.A. http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6728.shtmlRocky Slams War on Drugs During Shadow Conventionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6723.shtmlShadow Convention 2000 News Boardhttp://homepages.go.com/~marthag1/Shadcon.htm MapInc. Articles On The Shadow Conventions:http://mapinc.org/shadow.htm CannabisNews Articles On The Shadow Conventions:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=shadow 
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on August 17, 2000 at 09:55:49 PT:
Auntie Anti
Here's another reason why I call them 'antis':'It was irresponsible," said state Democratic Chairwoman Meg Holbrook of Anderson's remarks. "To have that opinion as a private citizen is one thing, but he ismayor of Salt Lake City."Add horn rim glasses, blue hair, looking down her nose and sniffing incredulously, and you have Auntie Anti. Totally stuck in her ways, and unable to even dream that her approach to the WoSD has been a Godawful failure. 'Another delegate, Trisha Beck, voiced similar frustration, which she said was shared by a number of people among the 29-member Utah delegation. "It is concerningfor somebody in a leadership position to say that," said Beck, a state legislator representing a Sandy House district. "It was very inappropriate." 'Yes, Auntie Anti, very inappropriate to bring up such a vital subject. Might upset your petty little illusions that you are so strenuosusly trying to hold onto. Might call into question whether the people you so adore might actually be part of the problem rather than the solution you believe them to be. Subjects like this are not brought up in polite company, but hidden away in closets in hope that they might wither, die and crumble to dust, and never have to be dealt with.It is precisely this mindset that has allowed the more dangerous elements of the DrugWar to run roughshod over the very principles these people pay so much lip service to. Auntie Anti's 'righteousness' in upholding decorum and refusal to face the facts of the DrugWar blankets and gives tacit approval to a multitude of sins.
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