cannabisnews.com: Choice of Drug Czar Indicates Focus on Treatment Choice of Drug Czar Indicates Focus on Treatment Posted by CN Staff on March 11, 2009 at 18:17:41 PT By Carrie Johnson and Amy Goldstein Source: Washington Post Washington, DC -- The White House yesterday said that it will push for treatment, rather than incarceration, of people arrested for drug-related crimes as it announced the nomination of Seattle Police Chief R. Gil Kerlikowske to oversee the nation's effort to control illegal drugs.The choice of drug czar and the emphasis on alternative drug courts, announced by Vice President Biden, signal a sharp departure from Bush administration policies, gravitating away from cutting the supply of illicit drugs from foreign countries and toward curbing drug use in communities across the United States. Biden, who helped shape the Office of National Drug Control Policy as a U.S. senator in the 1980s, said the Obama administration would continue to focus on the southwest border, where Mexican authorities are facing thousands of drug-related murders and unchecked violence from drug cartels moving cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine into American markets. But it remained unclear how the new administration would engineer its budget to tackle the problem.Since President Richard Nixon first declared a war on drugs nearly four decades ago, the government has spent billions of dollars with mixed results, according to independent studies and drug policy scholars. In recent years, the number of high-school-age children abusing illegal substances has dipped, but marijuana use has inched upward, and drug offenders continue to flood the nation's courts."The success of our efforts to reduce the flow of drugs is largely dependent on our ability to reduce demand for them," Kerlikowske said yesterday at a ceremony attended by his former law enforcement colleagues. "Our nation's drug problem is one of human suffering, and as a police officer but also in my own family, I have experienced the effects that drugs can have."Kerlikowske's adult stepson, Jeffrey, has been arrested in the past on drug charges, an issue that the police chief referenced in his remarks yesterday.Kerlikowske's top deputy is expected to be A. Thomas McLellan, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania medical college and the chief executive of the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia, according to two sources in the drug control community who said the selection underscored the administration's philosophy of rehabilitation and outreach.On the campaign trail, Obama and Biden promised to offer first-time, nonviolent offenders a chance to serve their sentences in a drug rehabilitation center rather than a stint in federal prison. In promoting wider use of drug courts, the administration is embracing an idea that has broad support in theory but has never been a main path for people with drug addictions who are charged with crimes.The nation's first drug court originated in Miami in the late 1980s at the urging of Janet Reno, who went on to become President Bill Clinton's attorney general. By the mid-1990s, the federal government was providing money for communities to plan and set up such courts -- although not to help operate them long-term.According to John Roman, an Urban Institute researcher who has studied drug courts, they now exist in most of the nation's medium and large counties, but they are used for only approximately 55,000 of the 1.5 million Americans with drug addictions who are arrested each year on crimes. The Obama administration has not said how much money it wants to devote to the courts' expansion.In contrast to previous administrations, the Obama White House is not giving the position of drug control director a Cabinet rank. The move was intended to give a larger role on the issue to Biden, according to an administration source. William J. Bennett, who became the nation's first drug czar during the George H.W. Bush administration, said he spent three weeks in a room with Biden, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, hashing out the scope of the new job.Yesterday, Bennett called on Kerlikowske to "get the public's attention, get the president's attention, get the attorney general's attention and put this issue back on the front burner."Scholars said that emphasis on the drug problem waned after terrorist strikes on U.S. soil in 2001, and never regained the spotlight or its slice of the federal budget as attention and resources flowed to national security.John Carnevale, an economist who worked at the Office of Drug Control Policy under three presidents, predicted that the Obama administration would concentrate on reducing demand for drugs through high-impact law enforcement and prevention efforts targeted at communities at risk.Under Bush, money to international programs doubled, while funding for prevention and treatment fell by one-quarter, he said. The Bush White House devoted much of its attention to developing the 2008 Merida Initiative with Mexico and Central American countries to support law enforcement training and equipment there. In recent weeks, Mexico's attorney general traveled to the U.S. to discuss ongoing cooperation with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr."There was a complete mismatch between the rhetoric of the strategy, which emphasized treatment, and the budget," Carnevale added, referring to the Bush administration. "The long-run answer is for the U.S. to curb its demand or appetite for illicit drugs. . . . The national drug problem is a series of local ones, and they're not all identical."The office has drawn controversy recently. The outgoing director, John P. Walters, was the subject of a congressional investigation for his role in announcing federal grants in states where Republican lawmakers confronted tight reelection efforts in 2006. Trade groups for narcotics police officers complained about Walters's reluctance to meet them to discuss policy and budget issues. Walters had written widely for the Weekly Standard and other publications advocating for stiff prison sentences and "coerced treatment."Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who served as drug czar under Clinton, said that Kerlikowske's background as a street cop would give him special insight."I tell people if you want to understand the drug issue, talk to any cop at random with more than 10 years on the force," he said.Staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.Complete Title: Choice of Drug Czar Indicates Focus on Treatment, Not JailSource: Washington Post (DC)Author: Carrie Johnson and Amy Goldstein, Washington Post Staff Writers Published: Thursday, March 12, 2009; Page A04 Copyright: 2009 Washington Post Contact: letters washpost.com URL: http://drugsense.org/url/HHglRo59Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Related Articles:White House Nominates Kerlikowske as Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24567.shtmlSeattle Police Chief To Be Named Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24566.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #23 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 12, 2009 at 10:35:50 PT MPP BLOG: Bruce Mirken TiVo Alert! MPP/Marijuana Policy on TV Tonight, Plus…by Bruce MirkenSuddenly the folks in TV newsland are very interested in marijuana policy. Lots and lots of stuff coming up, starting tonight:I’m scheduled to be interviewed on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” tonight, at around 9:45 p.m. Eastern/6:45 Pacific, discussing the newly appointed drug czar.Then, on Friday, ABC’s John Stossel looks at medical marijuana and the appalling prosecution of Charles Lynch. Lynch’s case will also be discussed in an Al Roker special for MSNBC, which also includes an interview with MPP executive director Rob Kampia, airing Sunday, March 15.And on CNN, “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” is doing a segment on the growing calls for reform of marijuana laws, for which I was just interviewed. Current word is that this will air on Saturday, March 28, with a repeat that Sunday. But TV schedules do change, sometimes at the last minute, so none of the dates/times above should be considered chiseled in stone.http://blog.mpp.org/?p=322 [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 12, 2009 at 10:14:41 PT I'm not sure what the problem is He sent me the video on myspace and included a note saying send C-News my love. It must be a problem on his end. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on March 12, 2009 at 10:07:09 PT fight_4_freedom I still have no idea why he can't post. Matt Elrod even checked it out and can't find the reason why. Ray never got back to me in my e-mail so maybe he knows it's something on his end and he can't get it fixed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 12, 2009 at 09:51:33 PT I'll have to watch her more RevRayGreen sends his love. Here is a video of the subcommittee hearing in Iowa the other day. I believe the man named "Ray ___" in the video is our friend RevRay.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS89h961EfE&feature=channel_page [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by knightshade on March 12, 2009 at 09:38:58 PT: question the answer to curbing supply of illegal substances is a moderately simple one... but how do you curb DEMAND?addicts arent addicted to one substance or another. theyre addicted to getting intoxicated, whatever their motivation for needing to get intoxicated may be. and if its not cocaine or heroin, its alcohol, or nyquil, or robitussin, or angel trumpets, or NUTMEG, OR VAPOR RUB, OR WHITE-OUT, OR SPRAY-PAINT, ET CETERA ET CETERA ET CETERA!!!!! there will always, ALWAYS be something to get people high, and if they wanna get high, they WILL. so whats the answer? LEAVE THEM ALONE.let them overdose, let them die, let them snort something laced with rat poison, let them get shot trying to rob a law-abiding citizen for meth money.it wont take long for them to dissapear.and meanwhile, we can grow and smoke our own weed, and it will be safe, because we know where it came from and everything thats happened to it since a seedling.boom. drug problem solved.knightshade for drug czar 2012 myspace [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 12, 2009 at 08:16:13 PT fight_4_freedom I love the Rachel Maddow Show. Her show is probably the top show on MSNBC. She is smart and fair. She is polite too. She didn't interrupt Bruce Mirken once. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 12, 2009 at 08:09:15 PT These are very dedicated and caring people that work for MPP. I hate when people make it seem like they are just out for publicity and fame rather than helping. MPP is still here helping in Michigan to make this law work. And you can tell Rachel Maddow is on our side as well. At least that's what I took from it. I don't watch her much but I do admit she is good at what she does. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 12, 2009 at 07:33:50 PT fight_4_freedom I appreciate the people from MPP. I am a person that cannot stand spin. Spin is what we get on the news all the time. I want facts and nothing more and Bruce Mirken did that very well. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 12, 2009 at 07:21:39 PT You're welcome FoM and GCW I love these guys from MPP! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 12, 2009 at 06:04:44 PT Article About Mexico Obama Says No U.S. Troops Needed Yet at Mexican Border Thursday, March 12, 2009WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is keeping close watch on the violence from Mexico's drug war, but he said Wednesday that so far it hasn't spilled into this country enough to justify sending troops to the border."We've got a very big border with Mexico," he said. "I'm not interested in militarizing the border."Last month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry visited El Paso – whose neighbor, Ciudad Juárez, has taken the brunt of drug violence that has claimed more than 7,000 lives in Mexico in 14 months – and called on Washington to send a thousand troops or border agents.URL: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-obamamexico_12nat.ART.State.Edition2.4aa2544.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by runruff on March 12, 2009 at 05:39:41 PT Johnny Pee! Mr. John P. Walters was a, "useful idiot". A good useful idiot should not be too smart. Smart enough to find his way to work and sign stuff, that's about it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by charmed quark on March 12, 2009 at 04:52:24 PT Mexican Drug War The CIA says it is possible that Mexico will fall into chaos due to this "war", becoming an ungoverned, violent narcostate. And if it does, it will be more dangerous to the USA than the terror movement from the Middle East. So far, our government's only response has been to send support troops to Mexico.Maybe they will finally figure out what they are doing wrong after it is too late. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by NikoKun on March 12, 2009 at 03:16:26 PT I hope the new guy... Is more open than the last one... Not that that will be hard. I could not imagine a more ignorant head of the DEA, than Walters was.Maybe this guy will see that his purpose is to battle the REAL problems, like actual abuse, addiction, and the HEALTH problems that this issue really is. Maybe he'll realize that Marijuana isn't a big enough problem on it's own, to warrant the money and time we waste on it... Maybe he'll realize that Prohibition makes things worse, and we should instead seek harm-reduction policies, not zero tolerance bannings. Or at least maybe he wont get in the way, like walters did every chance he got, when other people try to change the policies.Then again, maybe not... -_- [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by OverwhelmSam on March 12, 2009 at 03:13:02 PT I Don't Want Treatment! Same old clap trap: "The success of our efforts to reduce the flow of drugs is largely dependent on our ability to reduce demand for them," We smoke pot, why would we want treatment for that? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on March 11, 2009 at 22:08:34 PT fight_4_freedom Yes, thanks for the link. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 11, 2009 at 19:54:33 PT fight_4_freedom Thank you for the link! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2009 at 19:51:03 PT Here's a link to the video of Bruce Mirken on the Rachel Maddow show. He did do an excellent job.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#29646121 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 11, 2009 at 19:37:18 PT Mexican Drug War I agree that they won't go away no matter what. It's really a war. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on March 11, 2009 at 19:14:46 PT Mexican Drug War We see this blow up in our faces over the years. The CIA calls it blowback. Earl calls it Karma. Some of the most successful, ruthless and brutal gangs in Mexico are made up of former Mexican army guys that were trained by our military here in the states. That right, our government trained them! I guess they got tired of Army life, low pay and taking abuse from foolish politicians and decided they would put their training to use and start their own organization. Now we have a real problem. We have well trained, well armed, and well financed soldiers running criminal organization. They make Chicago gangsters of the old movies seem quaint by comparison. The old time prohibition gangsters did not disappear after prohibition. They changed and branched out into other criminal enterprises. I’m afraid these new Mexican gangsters will not fade away either. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by fight_4_freedom on March 11, 2009 at 18:55:58 PT Thanks DankHank I will definitely check that out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 11, 2009 at 18:55:03 PT Bravo Bruce Mirken! He just did a great job on The Rachel Maddow Show! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on March 11, 2009 at 18:54:43 PT MPP Bruce Mirken on RMaddow, last ten minutes ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on March 11, 2009 at 18:29:54 PT Post good ole' Big Government-worshipping Post:"Since President Richard Nixon first declared a war on drugs nearly four decades ago, the government has spent billions of dollars with mixed results, according to independent studies and drug policy scholars. In recent years, the number of high-school-age children abusing illegal substances has dipped, but marijuana use has inched upward, and drug offenders continue to flood the nation's courts."How can they say that without mentioning that we now have 5 TIMES as many people in prison as in 1970? at $35,000 per person per year. I guess they conveniently forgot that little statistic.How many people were dying per year from drug violence in Mexico in 1970? How many American women were in prison in 1970? How many people were addicted to hard drugs before the WOD and how many now?Those sorts of objective performance measures are what we all have to work with every day at our jobs, but they get tossed to wind when the government gets involved. "Mixed Results" for our hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars spent and millions of ruined lives. Entire countries plunged into violent anarchy."Mixed results" [ Post Comment ] Post Comment