ondcp Archives - TheJointBlog

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.

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.

chris christie drug czar — (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

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.

U.S. Drug Czar: Washington D.C. Should Be Free to Implement Cannabis Legalization

February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Though he’s legally prohibited from supporting the legalization of cannabis, U.S. drug czar Michael Botticelli – director of the Office of National Drug Policy Control – says that Washington D.C. should be able to implement its own laws using its own funding, even if that means legalizing the distribution of recreational cannabis.

“As a resident of the District, I might not agree about legalization, but I do agree with our own ability to spend our own money the way that we want to do that,” Botticelli said Friday during an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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.”