cannabisnews.com: Bush Nominates Drug-Policy Chief





Bush Nominates Drug-Policy Chief
Posted by FoM on May 11, 2001 at 10:58:54 PT
By Bob Kemper, Washington Bureau
Source: Chicago Tribune
President Bush, citing some increases in drug use during the Clinton administration, on Thursday opened his own offensive against illegal narcotics by nominating John Walters to be his drug-policy adviser and calling for a Cabinet-level review of drug policies and programs.Walters, a veteran of the fight against drugs with an image of favoring prison terms over treatment programs, was introduced at a Rose Garden ceremony where Bush advocated drug treatment and education and said nothing about punishing users. "The most effective way to reduce the supply of drugs in America is to reduce the demand for drugs in America," Bush said. 
"Therefore, this administration will focus unprecedented attention on the demand side of this problem."Walters, who must be confirmed by the Senate, was a deputy in the drug-policy office under President Bush's father.The president pledged to spend an extra $1.5 billion over five years for drug treatment programs. That includes $100 million added to this year's budget, aides said. The budget of the Office of National Drug Control Policy is $19 billion a year.Bush also declared his unequivocal opposition to legalization of drugs, including the medical use of marijuana. "Drug legalization would be a social catastrophe," he said. "Drug use and addiction would soar."The president struck a distinctly different chord than that heard in recent years from fellow Republicans, including Walters, who have emphasized stricter penalties for dealers and users.Bush spoke about the need for government to work with parents, community groups and faith-based organizations to treat addicts and deter those tempted to try drugs. He never said "war on drugs" and made only passing references to law enforcement's role in the overall anti-drug effort.While insisting the White House was not assigning blame, Bush and his aides repeatedly cited statistics showing that drug use declined between 1980 and 1992 but leveled off and in some cases rose during the Clinton administration."From the early 1980s until the early 1990s, drug use amongst high school seniors was reduced every year," Bush said. "We had made tremendous strides in cutting drug use. That cannot be said today. We must do, and will do, a better job."Bush's aides, meanwhile, contended that the Clinton White House had sent a mixed signal on drug use, including Clinton's declaration that he tried marijuana but "didn't inhale."Bush "does think it's very important for the government at all levels to send a consistent message that drug abuse is wrong," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.Note: More treatment emphasis pledged.Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)Author: Bob Kemper, Washington BureauPublished: May 11, 2001Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune CompanyContact: ctc-TribLetter Tribune.comWebsite: http://www.chicagotribune.com/Related Articles:Bush Orders Major Policy Shift to Reduce Drug Usehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9674.shtmlBush Names a Drug Czar and Addresses Criticismhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9672.shtmlClinton: Pot Smoking Should Not Be Prison Offensehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7920.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #4 posted by S.R.Hess on May 12, 2001 at 15:41:27 PT:
Judgement
Judge the man by what he does, not by what he says. He says " more enlightened policy " while hiring someone he had to dust off.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Peacemaker on May 11, 2001 at 15:00:34 PT
Pontifex.......in this case.........
Treatment means "re-education".
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Pontifex on May 11, 2001 at 14:45:37 PT:
Giving us The Treatment
Treatment is a lovely word. We're all for "treatment". But what does "treatment" mean?It would be nice if, by "treatment", Bush & cabal meant tax breaks for private clinics and amnesty for all drug users who checked in. But you know that's not what he means.You know they're not talking about heroine maintenance or even methadone parlors.Hutchinson and Walters' idea of "treatment" is most likely coerced cold-turkey in something very close to a jail cell.When you read figures like "$1.5 billion for treatment", consider who is spending the money. And consider how empty the word "treatment" really is."The story's just the same, but the ending it could change!" -- Peter Garrett
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by letsgetfree on May 11, 2001 at 12:42:20 PT
it's gonna be ruff
Ever since Mr.Walters was nominated I've been optimstic that the appointment of a hard right drug czar would help swing public opinion towards decriminalisation, and eventually legalisation, I'm really starting to worry that this empty rhetoric that W is spewing will convince all the sheep that he is compassionate.While any intelligant person can see that Bush is all talk, I'm really afraid that the majority in America is just too dumb to realise this. Lets face it, people that vote are to stupid to see through politicians lies. I'm really feeling kinda scared now. Keep on fighting US ganja brothers, up here in Canada I'm feling your pain
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: