Kerlikowske Out as U.S. Drug Czar
U.S. Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske has been appointed to a new position by President Obama, meaning he will soon step down from his current role; Gil was appointed as the Director of the Customs and Border Protection Agency, a section of the Department of Homeland Security.
Kerlikowske’s out. Let the speculation begin on who’s going to replace him.
Given that Kerlikowske isn’t known to have a particularly strong or diverse background in terms of border protection, the move was likely made so that the president can assign a new person as Drug Czar: Who might replace him is anyone’s guess at this point.
Although we remain hopeful that President Obama will appoint someone with the intent of taking a different approach in terms of drug policy, the primary problem still lies in the fact that the U.S. Drug Czar is legally required to oppose the legalization of cannabis, or any other illegal substance, making the position nothing more than a bureaucratic lobbyist for the drug war. The long-term answer is clearly to dissolve the position entirely.
In the meantime, while the president mulls over his decision, we encourage you to contact him – which you can do by clicking here – and urge him to alter the position so that it’s not simply a ruse.
– TheJointBlog
Fran
The position should not be eliminated but the federal laws should be changed to reflect the position of the majority who think that Marijuana should be legalized!!
David Aquarius
The position should at least be revamped. It should be a health and education position, not a law enforcement one. The emphasis has always been on ‘kill ’em first then let God sort it out’. We should be taking powers away from cops, not giving them more. The new ‘Drug Czar’ should be an official from the medical community or academia. Pass on all the ex-cops. Let them get jobs at Blackwater. At least there, they can shoot all the brown people they want.
Terri Jones
Please put a end to the miserably failed 40 war on drugs.Legalize Marijuana so sick people can use this medince!
Mark
Hopefully somebody will be appointed who basis their policy on real science and not the pseudoscience that has driven past policies … that cannabis is still illegal as a recreational enjoyment, in 2013 is ridiculous.
This war on drugs was never about cannabis itself, it was about racism, profiteering off the back of the most marginalized segments of society, corporate and individual greed and down right stupidity.
Edward Jenkins
The outright bad side of this war on Drugs is the jail time that people receive trying to relive there pain or stress. We Should legalize all drugs like Portugal did. They have the smallest number of drug abusers in the World at 10%. Where as the United States has 22% of the population who abuse drugs. The law is as it is because the people with money want it that way so they can continue to make money off people’s suffering. i.e. Police, Judges, Bailbondsman, Lawyers, Clerks and so on. Big Pharma does not want it rescheduled as they could not compete with the effectiveness of the Cannabis molecule in handling pain, and dealing with stress. This issue is one of a health nature rather than a legal one. We need no ‘Drug Czar’,they only cloud the problems, not solve them. Reposition to a health attitude and discontinue this insane war on a society looking to ease their pain and suffering.
Edward Jenkins
The outright bad side of this war on Drugs is the jail time that people receive trying to relieve their pain or stress. We Should legalize all drugs like Portugal did. They have the smallest number of drug abusers in the World at 10%. Where as the United States has 22% of the population who abuse drugs. The law is as it is because the people with money want it that way so they can continue to make money off people’s suffering. i.e. Police, Judges, Bailbondsman, Lawyers, Clerks and so on. Big Pharma does not want it rescheduled as they could not compete with the effectiveness of the Cannabis molecule in handling pain, and dealing with stress. This issue is one of a health nature rather than a legal one. We need no ‘Drug Czar’,they only cloud the problems, not solve them. Reposition to a health attitude and discontinue this insane war on a society looking to ease their pain and suffering.
Alex
I hear cheech would make a good one, lets elect him.