cannabisnews.com: Anti-Drug Efforts Might Be Helping Terrorists





Anti-Drug Efforts Might Be Helping Terrorists
Posted by FoM on March 13, 2002 at 20:29:55 PT
By Brendan Smith
Source: Albuquerque Journal 
Gov. Gary Johnson said America's "war on drugs" may help finance terrorists and their attacks on U.S. targets during a conversation Tuesday on his drug-reform views with about 50 teens."The modern-day Al Capone is arguably Osama bin Laden," Johnson said. "I think our war on drugs is perhaps ultimately contributing to terrorism. "9-11 may have been significantly financed with drug money," he said.
The governor supports legalization of marijuana and harm-reduction strategies, such as increased prevention and treatment programs, for harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine.Prohibition of drugs has greatly increased their cost, with the inflated profits created by prohibition sometimes financing terrorism, especially through heroin manufactured in Afghanistan, Johnson said.Johnson's conclusions clash with a current national advertising campaign by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that blames illegal drug users for financing terrorism by buying drugs. The office spent nearly $3.5 million to kick off the ad campaign with three commercial spots aired before or during the Super Bowl last month.But the drug office's own report last year on the price of illicit drugs supports Johnson's view that drug prohibition increases profits for drug dealers, some of whom may be terrorists.The report found a kilogram of pure cocaine costs about $25,000 wholesale in the United States, but the retail price is close to $225,000."Absent law enforcement, then, the cost of moving a kilogram of cocaine from the wholesale level to the retail level would seem to be much less than $200,000 - probably closer to the cost of marketing aspirin," the report stated."Thus, much of the $200,000 (increase) that does not result from a markup of wholesale price is presumably a consequence of domestic law enforcement," the report stated.John Walters - the nation's "drug czar" who directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C. - couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday.Walters has said the commercials are "among the most powerful and effective (drug) prevention messages this office has ever released," in part because the ads "appeal to the idealism of young people."But the ads did not resonate with many teens gathered at the teen art center Warehouse 21 to hear Johnson speak. Jesse Lowers, an 18-year- old high school student from Taos, said the war on drugs is "the biggest waste of money we have right now.""It seems we could be making money on drugs as a taxable commodity," he said.Lowers was impressed by Johnson's candor on drug reform."I was pretty shocked with his openness," he said.Johnson said about 90 percent of the nation's drug problems stem from laws prohibiting drug use and 10 percent from problems directly caused by drug abuse. He blamed the current war on drugs on America's "propensity to legislate morality.""I want to stop locking people up for smoking pot," he said. "Most people who smoke pot don't need rehabilitation."Drug reform is a nonpartisan issue, and Johnson said he will support Democratic candidates who back drug reform if the Republican candidate opposes reform."I would personally vote that way, yes," said Johnson, a Republican who will leave office when his second four-year term ends in January.Even though the Legislature shot down half of his drug-reform bills this year, Johnson said he is pleased with the bills that were passed and with increased dialogue on the issue."I hope to live to see the day where we can treat this issue rationally," he said.The Legislature rejected bills allowing marijuana use for some medical conditions, decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana for personal use and the option of treatment rather than incarceration for some nonviolent drug possession offenders.Three less controversial bills were approved, including legislation allowing judges discretion in sentencing nonviolent habitual offenders; reforming the state forfeiture act to protect innocent property owners in drug cases; and allowing convicted drug offenders to apply for federal assistance, such as food stamps, after their release.Johnson said he has given up marijuana, alcohol, sugar and caffeine and has been on a "natural buzz" from exercise and clean living. He plans to climb Mount Everest after leaving office, but he still wants to stay involved in the drug-reform movement.Complete Title: Gov. Tells Teens Anti-Drug Efforts Might Be Helping TerroristsNewshawk: SledheadSource: Albuquerque Journal (NM)Author: Brendan SmithPubdate: Wednesday, March 13, 2002Contact: opinion abqjournal.comCopyright: 2002 Albuquerque JournalWebsite: http://www.abqjournal.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Governor, Teens Discuss Drug Issueshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12222.shtmlJohnson Hints That Drug Reform Will Be Career http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12140.shtmlNM Governor Looking To Leave His Mark http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11693.shtml 
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Comment #10 posted by kaptinemo on March 15, 2002 at 07:27:01 PT:
I don't normally shotgun posts, but...
many of you may be interested in viewing the Sheriff Bill Master's interview on C-SPAN yesterday. the link is still available. The entire Master's interview can be had by going here: http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/ndrive/wj20020314.rm?start=2:01:16&end=2:32:06You need RealPlayer to run it:http://www.real.com/welcome/postdl.html?src=rpdl
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Comment #9 posted by Lehder on March 14, 2002 at 11:01:45 PT
It's about time
He's going to be a formidable opponent of the antis. In rereading this article, I see Johnson not only speaks truthfully about marijuana but has a knack for putting the truth into plain and simple expressions like"I want to stop locking people up for smoking pot," he said. "Most people who smoke pot don't need rehabilitation." His statements on drug reform are the sound bytes that Americans love and they're going to ring true with millions. George Bush made a huge issue of character in his corporate financed campaign, and I can't wait for Americans to be presented with side by side television comparisons of the characters of Gary Johnson vs. Bush and his larcenous Enron ilk. Johnson campaigned for the governorship on a half million dollars of his own money, earned through a maintenance and repair business that he started from scratch all by his lonesome. Through good service and honest practices he wound up with a bankroll and a thousand employees. He emobdies the traditional all-American success story. Questionable characters like Bush and Ashcroft and federal cancer advocate Asa Hutchinson are going to look pretty ridiculous beside Gary Johnson. Their lies will not hold; their usual argument by an attack on character will be rightfully perceived as bad taste. And they're going to be forced to face him.When Johnson climbs to the top of Everest he'll become more than a success story - he'll be an American hero. The television stranglehold on debate and truth will be broken for good - Johnson's just too irresistible and sincere a character to be ignored.All his practice in speaking to gatherings of children is going to serve him very well in expressing the simple truths that Americans need to hear and in confronting the double talking, drug warring politicians on their own level - as very very bad children indeed:John Walters - the nation's "drug czar" who directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C. - couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday.RIP, Drug Warriors
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Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on March 14, 2002 at 09:21:29 PT:
He is more important tahn you migth think
If only for this reason: he survived the expected firestorm of anti criticism...and showed it to be hollow. They moved against him politically...and got their pinkies scorched for their labors. He's still there...and he's still talking about Reform. And when he's out of office...watch out, antis.A lame duck he is...but he's a classy lame duck. He didn't just touch the 'third rail' and barely survive; he grabbed ahold of it, hard...and nothing beyond a few cat-calls from sour-grapes antis resulted. The antis showed the electorate exactly how tight-*ssed, piched-faced and mean-spirited they are....and the public, bless their usually somnolent selves, woke up just long enough to see that fact.The broke the mold after Gary Johnson...but that doesn't mean other pols won't learn the lessons...and aply them.
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Comment #7 posted by Robbie on March 14, 2002 at 08:54:27 PT
50 governors?
I'd settle for one president like Johnson.Keep up the good work, Gary!!
Undernews
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Comment #6 posted by greenfox on March 14, 2002 at 06:37:55 PT
My man Johnson
The only problem, of course, is the fact that he is a "lame duck" right now. Le sigh, out with the old, in with the.....lemmings.
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Comment #5 posted by Patrick on March 14, 2002 at 05:17:18 PT
nay john
We need 49 more!
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Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on March 14, 2002 at 04:58:40 PT:
spread the word: drug war is treason
"There is no doubt there is an appalling toll of human misery caused by the misuse of drugs in the current environment.  My proposition is much of that is caused by their illegality and not by the drugs and if they were treated differently by our legal system it's possible much of the misery, much of the adverse impact on health could be swept away.
"It is very clear that alcohol and nicotine are arguably much more dangerous to individuals and more costly to our society than many of the proscribed drugs. 
- North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom 
more...
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Comment #3 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on March 14, 2002 at 04:33:34 PT
Subsidizing Terrorism
Prohibition is an artificial price support for an unregulated product in a lawless marketplace.Any Harvard MBA can tell you risk determines profit. The War on Drugs increases risks. Its considered good form to make it more difficult to transport drugs. The better organizations get at trafficking, the more money they make.Basic Free Market Economy, except with artificial price supports.Only those with the ability to TAKE the profits are in business: corrupt governments (which I think is a redundant term),Cartels (organized crime syndicates, not otherwise specified), and paramilitary groups. Any of these groups who do things we dont like, specifically any attempt to disrupt the Quest for Oil and Natural Resouce Extraction, is now labeled a "terrorist".Ask Enron what happens to your profits when your artifical price supports are eliminated.The same thing will happen to drug profits if and when "drugs, not otherwise specified" are dealt with (no pun intended) in a more enlightened and effective manner.Legalization of cannabis will not make a dent in the terrorism profit structure because they arent making much, if any, money off marijuana trafficking. They CERTAINLY arent setting up medical marijuana clubs in american states, following all the rules to the letter to make money to finance terrorism.Its prohibition, Stupid.
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Comment #2 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on March 14, 2002 at 04:32:41 PT
Subsidizing Terrorism
Prohibition is an artificial price support for an unregulated product in a lawless marketplace.Any Harvard MBA can tell you risk determines profit. The War on Drugs increases risks. Its considered good form to make it more difficult to transport drugs. The better organizations get at trafficking, the more money they make.Basic Free Market Economy, except with artificial price supports.Only those with the ability to TAKE the profits are in business: corrupt governments (which I think is a redundant term),Cartels (organized crime syndicates, not otherwise specified), and paramilitary groups. Any of these groups who do things we dont like, specifically any attempt to disrupt the Quest for Oil and Natural Resouce Extraction, is now labeled a "terrorist".Ask Enron what happens to your profits when your artifical price supports are eliminated.The same thing will happen to drug profits if and when "drugs, not otherwise specified" are dealt with (no pun intended) in a more enlightened and effective manner.Legalization of cannabis will not make a dent in the terrorism profit structure because they arent making much, if any, money off marijuana trafficking. They CERTAINLY arent setting up medical marijuana clubs in american states, following all the rules to the letter to make money to finance terrorism.Its prohibition, Stupid.
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Comment #1 posted by john wayne on March 13, 2002 at 21:43:39 PT
true grit
is what mr. johnson shows.We need 10 more governors like him.  
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