cannabisnews.com: Asa Goes On Offense Asa Goes On Offense Posted by FoM on July 23, 2001 at 14:49:01 PT By Samantha Young, Times Recorder Source: Southwest Times-Record Facing a friendly crowd of law enforcers, Arkansas Rep. Asa Hutchinson, the nominee to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, stepped up his pitch Friday for strong policing efforts to curb narcotics. Awaiting Senate confirmation votes, Hutchinson, R-Fort Smith, broke the silence typical of nominees by speaking to about 100 local police officials gathered at a methamphetamine workshop. Much of his address mirrored one he delivered at his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he was noticeably more forceful when talking Friday about the need to continue strong anti-drug enforcement. Hutchinson said that many people with drug problems owe police for pushing them into treatment. “I am an advocate as we look at our drug problems in the United States of a strong law enforcement presence and I advocate a strong law enforcement presence in this great battle,” Hutchinson said. “Because it is law enforcement many times who will ward someone into treatment.“In order to accomplish rehabilitation many times it takes a law enforcement action to force someone into rehabilitation. It’s the law enforcement side that in the same sense creates this stigma of society on drug use. It sends a signal to our young people that this is not acceptable in our society,” he added.At his confirmation hearing, Hutchinson sidestepped questions about medical marijuana, saying he would “look into” developing a policy to enforce federal restrictions in states that have passed laws allowing ill patients to use marijuana as a form of treatment.Hutchinson did not mention medical marijuana during his speech Friday. But he argued the government should not cave into pressures to legalize narcotics.Since President Bush tapped Hutchinson in May, the Arkansas Republican has appeared careful when discussing law enforcement’s role in curbing illegal narcotic use. He has advocated a balanced approach that also would include drug treatment and education programs.A former federal prosecutor, Hutchinson has noted his record prosecuting drug gangs running narcotics through the southern hills of Arkansas.In his speech, Hutchinson criticized the media for portraying the government’s “war on drugs” as a failure in recent years. He countered with statistics that show that 10 million fewer Americans were addicted to illegal narcotics in 1999 than 20 years earlier. “How often do people in the society, particularly the media, judge this social problem different than every other social problem that we have,” Hutchinson said.“If you look at the problem of juvenile violence or child abuse, you don’t see anyone saying we’re not making enough success so we ought to throw in the towel,” he said. “I don’t think so because they know how important it is in individual lives. The same is true with our anti-drug efforts.”Hutchinson’s speech was applauded by the local law enforcement officials in town for the one-day workshop. Several urged him to seek more federal dollars to clean up methamphetamine laboratories, hire more agents and enforce drug laws.“We’re all in law enforcement very excited about congressman Asa Hutchinson getting the position,” said Steve Dalrymple, Jefferson County prosecuting attorney, who attended the conference. “He’s one who understands the importance to talk to local people.” Source: Southwest Times-Record (AR)Author: Samantha Young, Times RecorderPublished: Monday, July 23, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Donrey Media GroupContact: letters swtimes.comWebsite: http://www.swtimes.com/Related Articles:Part 1 of 2 - Transcript of Asa Hutchinson Hearing http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10357.shtmlPart 2 of 2 - Transcript of Asa Hutchinson Hearinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10356.shtmlTranscripts: Greenfield at Large - War on Drugshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10337.shtmlDEA Nominee Won't Outline Plans for Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10334.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by Dan B on July 25, 2001 at 01:16:36 PT: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics He countered with statistics that show that 10 million fewer Americans were addicted to illegal narcotics in 1999 than 20 years earlier. Note: In all of the recorded history of the United States, we have never had more than 5.5 million Americans "addicted to illegal narcotics." In fact, today we have more heroin addicts than ever in recorded American history, and inhalant abuse is also at its peak. The so-called "club drugs" are at their highest usage rates ever, as well. Deaths as a result of drug overdose are at an all-time high, as are "drug-related hospital admissions." In short, the only statistic that can be used to support the notion that drug use is down is the self-reported drug use on government surveys--hardly an accurate assessment of real drug use, and more an indication of how willing Americans are to divulge the fact that they are breaking the law.No, Asa Hutchinson, your statistics are not accurate. Were it not for the "puppet" status of the majority of American citizens, your ridiculous excuse for rhetoric would never pass muster. Unfortunately, the masses are willfully ignorant and, equally unfortunate, the politicians and corporate talking heads know this.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on July 24, 2001 at 05:46:38 PT Stigmata Was there an open bar at this conference? What was the group's policy on tobacco - no smoking? Designated areas? Outdoors? Isn't it amazing how even they can come up with reasonable rules for dangerous drugs - as long as the drugs aren't the stigmatized ones... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Kerouac 4:20 on July 23, 2001 at 23:28:51 PT Law Enforcement Is A Good Thing "It’s the law enforcement side that in the same sense creates this stigma of society on drug use. It sends a signal to our young people that this is not acceptable in our society."Um, is it just me or did this guy just admit that the only reason marijuana is stigmatized is because one of law enforcements' main jobs is stigmatize it? He says that it's a good thing that cops run around acting like bullies and worse in order to terrify the young and naive of America into believing that marijuana is evil. It's because of ignorant beliefs such as the ones this man holds that mainstream America condemns benign marijuana while never questioning the legality of deadly alcohol. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by freedom fighter on July 23, 2001 at 22:44:37 PT Hey grassmike and krutchWe invite you to register so you can keep your unique nickname... No requirementss just register so noone can use your nicck.. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/register.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on July 23, 2001 at 22:37:06 PT hmmm, 1500 legal narcotic plants Hutchinson did not mention medical marijuana during his speech Friday. But he argued the government should not cave into pressures to legalize narcoticsSo what are you(ASA) talking about?? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by dddd on July 23, 2001 at 20:29:06 PT Hang on to your heads ...Get ready for the new and more intrusive,,farther reachingdrug war...."Drug War 2..The Nightmare Gets Worse".We've heard alot of the expected hollow crap as the nomineesHutchinson,,and Waters are quietly installed into position.....but notice how any serious talk of Marijuana law reform hasbeen nebulous,and generally avoided,,,,why,,because theyknow that this is the one area were they must tread lightly.They realize that an increasing amount of people are startingto question drug policy,especially concerning Marijuana.Theyalso know that any softening of Marijuana laws will endangerthe cash cow.....This is why we see the showboating and mediaspins concerning "Club drugs",,and meth..;............The strategy,,is to use the meth/club drugs thing ,,to launch awhole new phase of the assault on freedom,,and justify a substantialincrease in funding,and intrusive laws.....At times,,it seems likethings are improving,but with Asa,Ashcroft,and Waters,,,we havea recipe for further expansion of oppression,,intrusion,,incarceration,criminalization,,demonization,,militarisation,,,etc...There is no way that this War on Drugs is going to slow down here in the US,The Bush regime can be likened to a political cartel that operates under thecolor and cover of "the Law"...They are damn near unstoppable,,,but Iread an article today,,that was nice,,it said that the Oregon Democraticparty,is in favor of a recall,of the five justices who illegally stole thepresidency for the shrub...keep on keepin' on....................JAH is no secret.dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by aocp on July 23, 2001 at 19:21:40 PT Just like alkies... Hutchinson said that many people with drug problems owe police for pushing them into treatment.Really? Alcohol and tobacco pose far greater problems for our young people AND addicts than all illicits combined. Where's the mandatory treatment at-the-end-of-a-gun for them? No concern, huh? Arbitrary, cowardly, scum-sucking, no-conscience, money-grubbing, AIDS-spreading, parapalegic-incarcerating, puritanical MO-FOS!!!Oh, you'll be remembered in the history books, all right. Just not how you might like to be. Reap what you sow, morons. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by grassmike on July 23, 2001 at 18:18:23 PT: Asa the *ss Does this guy really think he is going to solve the drug abuse problem? Why doesn't he become a Sunday School teacher and tell little children how all the amimals in the world are here because of the efforts of one man that built a little wooden boat. And then he could tell his little children of all his brilliant ideas on how one man, himself, can fix America. He could explain his tyranny theory of how they should have road blocks with drug sniffing dogs, subject MJ users to drug test(everything else wears off to soon to matter)in an effort do deny them a livelihood, fire them if they have a little THC in their system to intimidate them and cause them pain and embarrassment when they lose their jobs, and if the pot they possess weighs more than a silver dollar they are to be arrested, charged with a felony and put in jail. They might beleive the animal part but they would think the tyranny theory might make a lot of people mad.You may call this leadership put I don't. Bush probably has some experience with MJ. He needs to have an honest talk with Asa. Wouldn't do any good. They are just puppets of America's richest 1%. Makes me want to burn one right now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on July 23, 2001 at 17:05:28 PT Asa is clueless It is so obvious that this guy is a puppet. Just what we need, another inbred,good ol' boy closet nazi.I have a feeling that Walters,Ashcroft & this dumb*ss will be coming out of the closet before long. It won't be pretty, but the American people will soon see firsthand just how arrogant this fascist regime is.They have no respect for the will of the people & will do anything to preserve power.NON-VIOLENT DRUG USERS SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN JAIL!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Krutch on July 23, 2001 at 16:12:56 PT: Drug Czar is a Nazi Moron(what a surprise) "In his speech, Hutchinson criticized the media for portraying the government’s “war on drugs” as a failure in recent years.He countered with statistics that show that 10 million fewer Americans were addicted to illegal narcotics in 1999 than 20 years earlier."I would be curious about where he got these numbers. I think that the statement is dubious. Perhaps more people deny taking narcotics because our country is much more opressive than in 1979.“If you look at the problem of juvenile violence or child abuse, you don’t see anyone saying we’re not making enough success so we ought to throw in the towel,”Ok. I will say it. Efforts to reduce juvenile violence create a police state where children may think no evil. Stupid zero tolerance weapons policies cause children to be expelled from school for drawing pictures of guns, or accidently bringing a toe nail file to school. There is absolutely no evidence that any of this has helped decreased school violence.Child abuse laws have created a society where children have no respect for their parents, let alone any other adults. Our society has changed the adage "Spare the rod spoil the child" to "Spare the rod or go to jail.". I think the goverment should stop their efforts here. They have improved nothing.Hutchinson and all of his police buddies need to tune into the fact that they are public servants. They are sworn to tailor their policies to the will of the American people. The vast majority of American people don't want to spent their tax dollars putting non-violent offenders in jail. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment