cannabisnews.com: Fighting The War on Drugs










  Fighting The War on Drugs

Posted by FoM on February 27, 2001 at 10:00:53 PT
Chat Live Feb. 27, 2001 - Talk Back Live - 3PM ET 
Source: CNN 

The Oscar nominated film, "Traffic" shows fresh faced suburban kids snorting cocaine and smoking crack, it depicts violence, torture and corruption among kingpins and Mexican drug officials. It shows American counter-narcotics agents that seem to be helpless against the far-reaching tentacles of the drug trade. The movie made a bold statement: US drug policy is failing and the country is losing the war on drugs. "Traffic" has also renewed the political debate about more effective ways to fight the decades long campaign against the drug trade. 
President George Bush meets with Colombian President Andres Pastrana today. Bush and Pastrana will review the $1.3 billion aid package designed to help Colombia shut down the drug trade. Controlling drug trafficking in Colombia would be a supply side solution to the problem. But would the money be better spent in the United States? The demand for drugs in America is also a problem the new administration will have to tackle. The Bush administration has not yet named a new director of national drug control policy, but during his campaign Bush did say that drug treatment programs should be strengthened. "Addiction to alcohol or addiction to drugs is an illness," he said. "And we haven't done a very good job, thus far, of curing people of that illness." Should more money be put into enforcement programs or treatment? Are drug users victims or criminals? Should drug addicts be given treatment or jail time? Tune into TalkBack Live today at 3pm Eastern. Program Summary:Hosted by CNN's acclaimed news anchor Bobbie Battista, this marks CNN's first-ever live program with a studio audience as well as many interactive elements. The program provides a forum for individuals to be heard. Each weekday, a new topic is brought into focus, giving both the studio and television audiences the opportunity to watch, listen, learn and speak out via the latest in communications technology. Interactive audience response elements -- including faxes, online computer access, live 800-number phone calls, e-mail and video conferencing -- are channeled through a custom-designed control system and showcased in a state-of-the-art studio based at CNN Center in Atlanta. The program combines the best of the old and the new by recreating the "old town meeting" in today's high-tech society. Source: CNN (US Web) Published: February 27, 2001Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc. Contact: cnn.feedback cnn.com Forum: http://community.cnn.com/ Website http://www.cnn.com/ Feedback: http://cnn.com/feedback/ Direct Link: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/TalkBack/Talk Back Live Chat Room: http://cnn.com/chat/talkback.html

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Comment #11 posted by observer on February 27, 2001 at 16:07:40 PT
related POT tv show
Are drug users victims or criminals? Should drug addicts be given treatment or jail time? ``Host David Malm-Levine takes us to a town meeting that discusses the proposed Four Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver. Treatment or jail time for marijuana addiction?'' (27 Feb, 2001)http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-564.html
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Comment #10 posted by dddd on February 27, 2001 at 14:29:58 PT
fake controversy
Excellent commemts.....bummed out that I am in a non-cable tv mode,soCNN,and TBL are really hard to get on my Radio Shack antennae..Thank you Observer for spotlighting the False Dilemma aspect.It's a commonploy that often goes unrecognized.dddd
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Comment #9 posted by Lehder on February 27, 2001 at 13:59:55 PT
tsk tsk
>Are drug users victims or criminals? Should drug addicts be given treatment or jail time? Drug users are as normal as butchers, bakers, candlestick makers. With alcohol, cigarettes, Paxil, coffee, xanax, prozac, viagra -- drug abstinence in our society is abnormal. Do I therefore claim that abstinence is a disease, a crime perhaps? Drug user should be accepted, just as unemployment, divorce, and obesity are accepted. Only then will we have peace and a society that is as free as is practical of harmful drugs. Is the correct method of keeping children off cigarettes to seek out and imprison adult smokers? Our society will be mended only by tolerance and acceptance of what is a natural human proclivity. >The demand for drugs in America is also a problem the new administration will have to tackle. May I suggest that the "administration" seek some outside advice on this matter? From the public? As in open public debate? ON TELEVISION? I would also suggest a tempering of the rhetoric and the propagandist TV commercials. NOW. We have all seen that prohibition increases drug use. I have been thinking that one of the processes by which this occurs is simply the goverment's constant harping on drugs. Look what kids gotta put up with these days: propaganda messages in the kiddie show commercials; lectures from teachers, radio slogans and jingles, drugs drugs drugs ad nauseum. I don't care that these are anti-drug messages. They are still constant reminders about DRUGS, and it is unnatural for anyone, even a bona fide drug addict I venture, to be having his attention so frequently drawn to drugs. This has to be counterproductive. END THE WAR.Or is all this really well understood - and contrived - by those who profit from the drug wars?
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 27, 2001 at 13:23:29 PT
Good Chat!
Hi Kevin, So did I and it was very good. I saw the numbers up at 215 at one time. It might have been higher but it was so busy I could have missed it. It's nice to go back to TBL after a few years and see how the people view the drug war differently. We were in the majority I think too.
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Comment #7 posted by Kevin Hebert on February 27, 2001 at 12:52:12 PT:
CNN TalkBack Live
Well, I participated in the chat, and I can say legalizers outnumbered anti-legalizers by at least 5 to 1.
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Comment #6 posted by jAHn on February 27, 2001 at 11:47:24 PT
Are drivers of Daytona...
Victim or Criminal?I've seen some very ATTRACTIVE car crashes! Resulting in "Untimely Deaths of Great American Legends." Because of what reason? A failed seatbelt, the neglection of certain Safety Laws(Rich Options). I REALLY wish this Government would QUIT interdicting itself, Hypocritically, into the lives of Private and Public citizens, when the So-Called "Idols" are censored for Your favor- only end up Dead quicker than Abc,Nbc & CNN could ever call it!!! I guess that Race-Car driving is OK in the name of the Economy. Why else would Dupont, Texaco, Goodyear, Michelin, Snap-on Tools, and LOADS of other sponsors Support Death of Americans- so Cynically, yet so subtley!?! If you feel that the media has no control over this, then consider yourself Enchanted and Out of Touch. Censorship has its' flaws. You cannot get a full story from anyone unless you have a tell-all session. Which NEVER happens. Acts of violence will continually be intertwined with Entertainment- for the viewers' sake. A person with a serious Social, Physical, and Mental problem can become Easily adaptable. So, why is a place behind bars with Deranged Minds of Violent Tempers and Faulty security guards with High Sexual Tendencies SUCH a suitable place for someone with such Integrity? This Americka is Out of Touch with its' own self. Furthermore, it TRIES to interdict with other peoples' gov's with no common ground to stand upon. Its' like a baby telling an adult what they can and can't do. Notice how "baby-like" Resident Bushit acts--even looks. These peoples' ideologies, I firmly believe, somehow makes them "Reevolve" into the phase of Dumb children...A consequence of cruelty...that's just my own note.
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Comment #5 posted by observer on February 27, 2001 at 10:55:38 PT
False Dilemma
 Are drug users victims or criminals? Should drug addicts be given treatment or jail time? In logic, that's what is known as a "false dilemma." A false dilemma is where only two choices are presented, when there are in fact, more than two choices.The reason that the mainstream propaganda press frames responsibe cannabis use by peaceful adults as "addiction" or "criminal" (no other choices), is to make this seem like a "problem" for which there must be a (government) "soluton", which, oh by the way, invariably involves people losing traditional rights, and the government gaining new powers over people. Another propaganda trick employed here is the implicit bait and switch: images of "crack and smack" addicts are presented to the credulous audience to get them to accept harsh treatment for their cannabis using friends and family. If they told you they were really advocating forced treatment for anyone who tests positive for any amount of cannabis, many people wouldn't go along with that. Rest assured, forced "treatment" (with threat of jail) for cannabis "addicts" is what many in the government and treatment racket have in mind here.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 27, 2001 at 10:51:54 PT

One More Bit Of Advice
Just One More Thing.I've found that when you first go into a TBL chat the size can be overwhelming. If you want your comments to be aired follow the program and ask short questions. If you do too much talking to individuals it makes it much harder. Everything that you type in the chat can be used On Air so be careful what you type. Also I found that my comments would be used if I addressed middle america. We know what the war on drugs is doing to society but many people don't. I thought I'd tell you how I did it.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 27, 2001 at 10:34:08 PT

A Note About The Chat
I hope many of you will be able to go to the chat today. I was a regular for over a year in Talk Back Live's Chat and the drug policy topics really bring a very large crowd. You must use your correct and full name for any comments you make to be used On Air. That was the policy and I think it still is. It's really something when they use your comments on the air. Remember how many people view TBL! Lots!
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Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on February 27, 2001 at 10:31:14 PT

CNN.com
I encourage everyone to visit the War on Drugs discussion forum at http://community.cnn.com/ to post your opinion.-TM
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Comment #1 posted by Duzt on February 27, 2001 at 10:10:55 PT

Why , oh why
"Are drug users victims or criminals?"Why are these the only two options ever presented????Are alcohol users victims or criminals? Victims of what??? Criminals for what?? We had better re-define what a criminal is and what a victim is.
http://www.wonderbuds.com
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