Is drug abuse as bad as we're told?
Since 1999, I've been a member of the Libertarian Party and have supported the party, candidates and cause any way I could. In 2002, I even ran for city council in a non-partisan race and proudly announced my Libertarian affiliation. I did not win, but doubt that I would have if I'd have been a member of any other party either. There were five running and one walked away with the majority. During the campaigning though, I was surprised and pleased at how many people made it a point to tell me they agreed with the Libertarian platform of smaller government and personal responsibility. I was equally disappointed that I could not convince these people to change their party affiliation and lend their support to a party that upheld their principles. One interesting issue that continued to come up as a reason for not joining the LP was the party's belief that prohibition on drugs has not, does not and will not work, thus it should be ended.
I've always been able to explain the reason drugs should not be illeagal from a "personal responsiblity" point of view, but not nearly as eloquently as others. Recently, I was made aware of a group of current and retired law enforcement officers and other criminal justice proffesionals that are speaking out against the "war on drugs". They are called LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition). These are not kooks, hippies or political wackos. They are judges, sheriffs, military officers, commissioners, attorneys and prison officials. These are people that have spent their careers and lives in and around the "war on drugs" and have actually opened their eyes and decided to look at whether this "war" is working and what should be done about it now.
www.LEAP.cc is their website and is worth taking a look at. If for no other reason, the 12 minute video on the site is great and very enlightening. If your looking for a speaker for a meeting, consider checking their speakers bio page. Reading about some of these members careers and accomplishments is very impressive. On their home page, there is a quote by Walter Cronkite that says "Anyone concerned about the failure of our $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs should watch this 12-minute program. You will meet front line, ranking police officers who give us a devastating report on why it cannot work. It is a must-see for any journalist or public official dealing with this issue."
I hope you'll take the time to watch this.
posted by Troy Tarpley @ 7:48 AM
1 Comments:
Not to forget, issues relating to drug policy are international. LEAP.CC has made an excellent contribution to addressing the externalities of the UN conventions by taking the debate international as well. So many folk inside the US see the war on sources of drugs (Columbia, Afghanistan, etc etc.) as part of their national strategy. The policy exacted as it is on otherwise free countries is a war crime. The UN (and its primary advocate/enforcer, the US) needs to be held to account... and the onus must be on US citizens to understand that most of these countries are victims of a policy that enables prejudice. A case in point, in SE Asia, they hang people for pot. The Death Penalty is a disproportionate response. Despite the appearance of national sovereignty there is also a convention that says the death penalty (esp by hanging, note: by hemp rope) is cruel and unusual punishment. But for "pot!" come on.. regale!! It is being done in your name.
Post a Comment
<< Home