drug czar Archives - TheJointBlog

Trump Administration Names Jim Carroll as New Drug Czar

February 10, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

The Trump Administration has named White House deputy chief of staff Jim Carroll as the nation’s new drug czar.

Drug czar is the unofficial title for the director of the ONDCP.

Drug czar is the unofficial but often used term for director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). According to CNN, Carroll was named deputy director of the ONDCP on Friday, a position he will retain until confirmed by the Senate as director.

“We have full confidence in Jim to lead ONDCP to make significant strides in combating the opioids crisis, reducing drug use, and coordinating US drug policy,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a public statement. “Fighting the opioid crisis and drug addiction is a priority for this administration. We greatly appreciate Jim for his counsel and leadership during his tenure at the White House and look forward to the future contributions he will make in this new role.”

President Trump’s Pick to Head DEA Withdraws Himself from Consideration

October 17, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Pennsylvania Representative Tom Marino, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the DEA and take over the unofficially titled “drug czar” position, has officially withdrawn himself from consideration.

In a Twitter post made this morning, President Trump made it clear that Representative Marino is removing himself from consideration for the position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, often referred to as the “drug czar”.

“Rep.Tom Marino has informed me that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as drug czar”, Trump said in the Tweet posted around 5:30am (PT). “Tom is a fine man and a great Congressman!”

Marino’s withdrawal comes after a report by both the Washington Post and 60 Minutes. The report, titled THE DRUG INDUSTRY’S TRIUMPH OVER THE DEA, connected Marino with legislation that has caused a worsening of the nation’s opioid crisis by making it more challenging for the DEA to keep control of the pharmaceutical industry.

President Trump Names New Drug Czar

September 5, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

The White House announced Friday that President Trump has chosen a new person to fill the position of head of the Office of National Drug Policy Control (ONDCP), often referred to as the “drug czar”.

The White House announced that President Trump will nominate Representative Tom Marino (R-PA), 65, to serve as the nation’s new drug czar. Marino was being considered for the position in May before withdrawing himself from consideration citing a “critical illness” in his family.

Marino was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002 to serve as an attorney for Middle District in Pennsylvania, a role he held until 2005. Unfortunately Marino has been a vocal opponent of marijuana and marijuana legalization. However, his personal opinions on the matter are relatively inconsequential given that the drug czar is legally required to oppose the legalization of any substance that’s currently outlawed (as pointed out by DrugWarrant.com, the Drug Czar is “mandated to tell lies as part of their Congressional authorization”).

Donald Trump Names Tom Marino Next Drug Czar – Marijuana Advocates Not Happy

April 12, 2017April 11, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Pennsylvania Congressmember Tom Marino (R) will serve as the nation’s next Drug Czar.

Drug Czar is the unofficial but oft-used title for the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). As a member of Congress, Marino has consistently voted against marijuana policy reform legislation, even those that are simply medical marijuana related.

“We are disappointed but not at all surprised to hear a marijuana prohibitionist is being selected as the next drug czar”, says Robert Capecchi, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project. “After all, whoever fills the position is required by law to oppose any attempts to legalize the use of marijuana for any purpose.”

Trump Administration Names Richard Baum Acting Drug Czar

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

The Trump Administration has named Richard Blaum as the nation’s acting Drug Czar.

Richard Blaum will serve as the Drug Czar until the Senate confirms a permanent director. The Drug Czar is the unofficial but oft-used term for the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Baum has served in a variety roles at the ONDCP over the past several years; in fact, he has had a role at the ONDCP through four different presidents. Blaum helped lead the development of the National Drug Control Strategy and recently served as Chief of the International Division at the ONDCP. He was part of the United States Delegation to the recent meeting of the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which took place in Austria.

Trump Administration May Eliminate Office of National Drug Control Policy/Drug Czar Position

February 18, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

**The Trump Administration may eliminate the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which is headed by the nation’s “Drug Czar”.**

According to the New York Times, the White House budget office has drafted a hit list of programs that President Trump could eliminate to trim domestic spending.

The Times states that, “Mr. Trump has spoken volubly about the nation’s drug problems, yet the list includes the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, which dispenses grants to reduce drug use and drug trafficking.”

Eliminating the ONDCP would be an unprecedented move that would remove federal drug czar as a position in the government; given that the drug czar is forced by law to oppose any attempt to legalize an illegal substance – regardless of the merits in favor of doing so – it’s certainly not a position many drug reform advocates will be upset about losing.

Why Chris Christie Being Trump’s Drug Czar Doesn’t Really Matter

February 16, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Recent media reports indicate that President Donald Trump is considering New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as the next U.S. Drug Czar. Here’s why that doesn’t really matter.

According to reports, Donald Trump recently had lunch with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and is potentially considering him to become the nation’s Drug Czar, which is the informal title given to the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Given Christie’s undeniable history of opposing drug and cannabis law reform – even for medical use – the cannabis community quickly went into a bit of a panic at this possibility. However, this panic is relatively unfounded, given that the position would be essentially the same regardless of who took the role.

U.S. Senate Confirms Michael Botticelli As White House Drug Czar

February 9, 2015February 9, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Interim drug czar Michael Botticelli has been confirmed by the United States Senate as the permanent holder of the position. Drug czar is the unofficial, though oft-cited, title for the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

Michael Botticelli recently made news by announcing that he supports Washington D.C.’s ability to spend its own funding implementing its own laws, even if that means legalizing the distribution of recreational cannabis. The announcement is in contrast to the majority opinion of Congress, which recently passed a spending bill that included a provision which blocks D.C. from spending any funding – federal or local – implementing the legalization of cannabis. The move by Congress doesn’t, however, effect the recent voter-approved legalization of cannabis possession and cultivation.

New Federal Bill Introduced: The Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act of 2014

February 13, 2014February 12, 2014 by Anthony Martinelli

Yesterday Representative Steven Cohen of Tennessee introduced The Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act of 2014 into Congress.

The goal of the new bill (H.R. 4046) is to “strike provisions that prohibit the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy from studying the legalization of marijuana, that require the Director to oppose any attempt to legalize marijuana, and for other purposes.”