cannabisnews.com: Groups Offer Exit Strategy for the War on Drugs










  Groups Offer Exit Strategy for the War on Drugs

Posted by CN Staff on March 03, 2005 at 19:58:50 PT
By Gene Johnson, The Associated Press 
Source: Associated Press 

Seattle -- A group of Washington doctors, religious leaders and lawyers offered an "exit strategy" for the war on drugs Thursday, a proposal that would aim to dry up the black market for heroin, marijuana and other substances by having the state regulate their distribution."How we respond to drug abuse should not be more costly and cause more problems than the drugs themselves," said John Cary, president of the King County Bar Association, which is leading the effort. "We've got to find another way."
For now, the group is merely asking the Legislature to form a commission to recommend ways the state could regulate the drug trade. A bill introduced in the state Senate would do just that, though the idea faces serious opposition.But the bar association also released a report that outlined what such regulation might look like: Registered addicts would be able to obtain limited quantities of heroin at state-licensed clinics or doctor's offices. That model has proved successful in some European countries, proponents said.The drugs would be cheaper than on the street, providing incentive for addicts to turn to the state- drastically reducing drug-related crime and public availability. The drugs would also be free of unhealthy additives found in street drugs, and could be provided in a safe environment. Treatment would be offered simultaneously. Because late-stage addicts consume the vast bulk of heroin sold on the streets, simply identifying those users and enrolling them in a prescription-type program would go a long way toward drying up the demand that fuels the illegal drug trade, Cary said.Supporters include the Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, the Washington State Pharmacy Association and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. They were quick to distance their proposal from "legalizing" drugs, a term that suggests "you can go to Wall Drug and get your heroin. That's not the case," said Roger Goodman, director of the bar association's Drug Policy Project. He prefers the term "medicalization."Having the state put criminal gangs out of business and impose strict regulation of the drug trade would make the drugs scarcer, Goodman said. It would also dramatically cut how much the state spends imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders every year, a figure that tops $100 million, according to the report.The report suggested regulating marijuana with a system similar to state liquor stores or by simply allowing people to grow their own - just as the state allows the production of home-brewed beer.The report also offered legal reasoning for getting around federal drug laws, which are rooted in the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. The state could withdraw from the war on drugs by ensuring that only Washington state residents register as addicts. Stiff penalties would be provided for anyone caught reselling the drugs, especially to minors.The bar association argues that states have power to oversee the health of their own citizens - an argument similar to the one being put forth to justify California's medical marijuana measure and Oregon's assisted-suicide law before the U.S. Supreme Court.Switzerland has a heroin program allowing about 1,300 addicts to shoot up at approved centers with government-provided heroin, and the annual cost of about $8 million is covered by the state's health insurance system on the grounds that addiction is an illness rather than a crime. Swiss authorities say the result has been a drop in drug-related offenses, and that overdose-related fatalities fell to a 16-year low of 167 in 2002.A clinic providing free heroin to addicts opened last month in Vancouver, British Columbia. The U.S. government would not back a similar program, David Murray of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C., told The Associated Press last month.King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng said Thursday he disagreed with the proposal, but he credited the bar association for creating a dialogue that has helped lead to shorter prison terms and increased treatment for drug offenders in the past few years.Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party, called the proposal "the kind of thing the looney left supports in Europe.""As long as I've been in politics, people have wanted to surrender the war on drugs rather than fight the war on drugs. I think that's completely out of step with where the people are," Vance said.The bar association argued that the current war on drugs borders on insanity. There were 67,000 drug offenders in federal prison in 2001, compared to 3,400 in 1970 - and yet the availability and purity of drugs have increased while prices have fallen, indicating that drug trafficking organizations have become more sophisticated, the report suggested.By contrast, the report pointed to a serious drop in tobacco use over the past two decades - a public health victory achieved without imprisoning a single smoker."It's easy to say, 'War on drugs, criminalize it, throw them all in jail,'" said Nancy Eitreim, president of the Seattle League of Women Voters, which supports the bar association's effort. "It's easy to say, 'Legalize it.' We're looking to find some middle ground."Complete Title: Washington State Groups Offer 'Exit Strategy' for the War on DrugsThe full report is available on the 'Net: http://www.kcba.org/druglaw/index.htmlSource: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Gene Johnson, The Associated PressPublished: Thursday, March 3, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml

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Comment #13 posted by mayan on March 04, 2005 at 17:41:07 PT
Out of Step
Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party, called the proposal "the kind of thing the looney left supports in Europe.""As long as I've been in politics, people have wanted to surrender the war on drugs rather than fight the war on drugs. I think that's completely out of step with where the people are," Vance said.He "thinks" it's out of step with where the people are? We KNOW he's wrong.We're sick of our money being thrown down the drain!!!
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Comment #12 posted by siege on March 04, 2005 at 06:31:07 PT
Texas Ranger
 this is what happen when the Texas Ranger To provide knowledge to someone about the ways of a ploice state.
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Comment #11 posted by afterburner on March 03, 2005 at 22:45:20 PT
FoM, Violence Should Be the Last Resort
This tragedy damages the cannabis community because we are trying to gain respect. The prohibitionists are dead-set against any changes to the cannabis laws, even resorting to soviet-style snitch lines to turn in their neighbors. They will never accept our views no matter how "good" and respectable we try to be.Someone at Cannabis Culture Forum commented that the cannabis farmer was obviously disturbed [or goaded?]. Why should cannabis always get the blame without all the facts? If a postal employee goes on the rampage and kills some co-workers and patrons with a gun, we don't ban all guns or close all post offices. But with cannabis all it takes is any violent act even tangentially related to cannabis and the prohibitionists demonize with renewed vigor.Your CBC and Canadian Press links do a pretty good job of piecing together the story, with limited first-hand knowledge. They even have maps. As time goes on, the sketchy details are being replaced by political posturing by the RCMP Commissioner and Deputy Prime Minister Ann McLellan, and the maps are disappearing.If politicians would just stop trying to build power by scapegoating the cannabis community and heed the will of the people and legalize it already, we could have safe access, licensed farms, personal cannabis gardens, and remove the violent cops-and-robbers atmosphere of prohibition that led to this sad tragedy. Five families are grieving because of government inaction. Increasing penalties will not solve the problem, will not safeguard RCMP officers, will only make more future tragedies inevitable."It was not known if the victims had been ambushed. The fifth victim was identified only as a suspect but it also was not known if he was killed by other officers, or he turned his high-power rifle on himself." --Four RCMP officers killed:
New Kerala, India - 1 hour ago
[World News]: EDMONTON, Alberta, March 3 http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=79961"RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney ... added that not since the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 have so many police officers been killed in the line of duty."
--Four Alberta RCMP officers killed during raid
CTV.ca News Staff
http://tinyurl.com/66exp"Northwest Rebellion of 1885"! Is that what the Canadian government want to drive the cannabis community into? Stop the violence! Stop wasting lives! Legalize, tax, and regulate!
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Comment #10 posted by SoberStoner on March 03, 2005 at 21:43:51 PT

Thank god I just moved to Seattle
Tomorrow I'll have to call the bar association and thank Mr. Cary for having the courage to stand up and propose a reasonable solution.Guess its time for me to figure out who my state reps are as well and give them a buzz.True the feds will have a conniption if this passes, but if it does..wow..oh and I like this part...Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party, called the proposal "the kind of thing the looney left supports in Europe."...I especially like the part where he forgets to mention that it WORKS in europe..hopefully there will be a story about this in the seattle times so I can write a nice little LTE and have a good chance of it being published (they're independent and fairly good about equal time to both sides)
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 03, 2005 at 21:40:01 PT

afterburner
I posted a few links on the legalize article from Canada and I want to say I am really sorry about the RCMP being killed. I can't think of saying anymore then it is absolutely a terrible event. I don't recall anything like this happening down here over a MJ garden. The people on the ccc list are very upset and rightfully so. This is way to sad.
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Comment #8 posted by afterburner on March 03, 2005 at 21:28:33 PT

Police Exploit Tragedy for Cannabis Crackdown
Zaccardelli calls grow ops 'plague on our society'
Last Updated Thu, 03 Mar 2005 21:33:43 EST 
CBC News
http://tinyurl.com/6rs4z
Excerpt:
{OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan, who represents an Alberta riding, says it might be time to get much tougher with marijuana growers in Canada in the wake of Thursday's murder of four Alberta RCMP officers.}They've been trumpeting this grow-op fear for almost a year. [Green Tide Summit on MJ Grow-Ops a Good First Step http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/18/thread18449.shtml -- Two days before the first anniversary of the Green Tide Summit!] This tragedy is just what the LEOs and the government have been waiting for to justify doubling the penalties for grow-ops. Just one question: how can possession be decriminalized or legalized if supply remains illegal? I'm not advocating illegal activities, but if no one had the courage to stand up for the right of the cannabis plant not to be exterminated, the prohibitionists would have succeeded in wiping cannabis from the face of the earth long ago.Thu. Mar. 3 2005 10:55 PM ET 
Four Alberta RCMP officers killed during raid
CTV.ca News Staff
http://tinyurl.com/5jj7y
Excerpts:
{RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli offers his 'deepest sympathies' from Ottawa Thursday night.
 
{Aerial footage of the scene of the shootout in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta.
 
{Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan issues her condolences for the lost officers.{[Canadian Prime Minister Paul] Martin was kept informed of the developing events during phone conversations Thursday with RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli. {The prime minister was expected to call for a moment of silence Friday before delivering a speech to the Liberal party national convention in Ottawa.}Watch the word "shootout" disappear from the news coverage, as the LEOs, led by RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, ignore the details and repeat endlessly that 4 RCMP officers were shot. [Remember Tom and Rollie at Rainbow Farm and how the story was spun?] As the story get shortened and turned into commentary and opinion, the public is led to believe that the cannabis farmer was drug-crazed and mercilessly gunned down 4 of the RCMP's finest. Also, PM Paul Martin is being briefed by the RCMP Commissioner, instead of calling for an independent inquiry. Can you say, "vested interest"?Sympathies to the families of the 4 RCMP officers and to the family of the cannabis farmer for this needless manifestation of cannabis prohibition and the government's lack of coherent reform. Only Pot-TV, so far tells this story like it is: Newshawks: Four Alberta RCMP officers killed during raid
— Another Tragedy From the Folly of Prohibition http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-3546.html .
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Comment #7 posted by gloovins on March 03, 2005 at 21:21:32 PT

No need to worry all....
Its not like "Partnership for a drug-free America" is going to report this...CNN Airs First Liquor Ads
Only a day after the New York Times reported that CNN was planning to accept ads for distilled spirits, the cable news network ran an ad for Grey Goose vodka Tuesday night on NewsNight With Aaron Brown. It was the first commercial for a liquor company ever to air on a cable news network. Earlier, Fox News Channel, CNBC, and MSNBC said that they have no plans to accept distilled spirits ads. To all those prohibs against our plant, guess what? The real killer is now on TV, but do you care??Nope.
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Comment #6 posted by jfrolang on March 03, 2005 at 21:20:25 PT

this won't work
"The report also offered legal reasoning for getting around federal drug laws, which are rooted in the federal government's power to regulate interstate commerce. The state could withdraw from the war on drugs by ensuring that only Washington state residents register as addicts."We've already seen that the supreme court is willing to overlook state's rights and allow congress to regulate whatever they want. They'll say that the substances being provided are removing sales from the interstate supply that isn't supposed to exist, but apparently needs protection.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 03, 2005 at 20:44:44 PT

Harm Reduction
I do understand how they are trying to do what I would think is a harm reduction strategy. Late-stage addicts as mentioned in this article will need help. Jail won't help them. I believe we need to care for those who are in a bad situation no matter how they got in that situation.
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Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on March 03, 2005 at 20:32:18 PT

Do not underestimate this report
It is a very powerful message for a bar association to say something like this. This is very very good news.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 03, 2005 at 20:30:19 PT

About This Article
I don't see problems like are in this article where I live. People that need pain medicine get the drugs from their Doctors. That's all that I have ever seen in my area. I do like the marijuana idea allowing people to grow their own like people that can brew their own beer.
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Comment #2 posted by observer on March 03, 2005 at 20:20:01 PT

It's easy to say
"It's easy to say, 'War on drugs, criminalize it, throw them all in jail,'" said Nancy Eitreim, president of the Seattle League of Women Voters, which supports the bar association's effort. "It's easy to say, 'Legalize it.' We're looking to find some middle ground."It's easy to say, "We're looking to find some middle ground."Sheesh. Well, this looks likes some kind of movement in the right direction. Hopefully this won't also be subverted into "drug court". ("Drug court" means: arrest pot smokers as lustily as before, but now also charge them for their own "treatment," and toss 'em into jail anyway when they "fail" a "test" or otherwise cop an attitude.) 
book: Drug War Propaganda
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 03, 2005 at 19:59:54 PT

This Part Makes Sense To Me
The report suggested regulating marijuana with a system similar to state liquor stores or by simply allowing people to grow their own - just as the state allows the production of home-brewed beer.
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