The Catch-22 of Drug Law Reform
October 9, 2007
Those who are working for reform of our nation’s drug laws are out-moneyed, out-gunned, and out-numbered by those waging it. Clearly, the citizens have no prayer of ever out-gunning the government, and the vast majority of drug reformers are actually un-paid volunteers. Interest in putting an end to the drug war is nowhere near as widespread as it needs to be, thus the money that is available is quite limited, and in no case will ever be likely to number in the tens of billions of dollars spent annually by our government to continue waging the war itself. If enough people cared, then certainly more money could be available. Clearly, then, we need to get more people to care about the drug war and then become pissed off enough to help do something about it.
The time honored way to do that, of course, is to get a poster child or two from the group on whose behalf assistance is sought, and to get those very people to work en masse on their own behalf. Since the drug war is being waged primarily against marijuana users, you’d think that marijuana users would be fully engaged in seeking their own emancipation. Sadly, you’d be wrong. This cause is one that just doesn’t get much attention or sympathy from the general public, and those who do step forward risk losing everything they have in life as their reward for doing so at the moment. Of course, by not stepping forward and allowing the situation to deteriorate at an ever accelerating rate, it is increasingly likely that every marijuana user will one day be caught and cast aside as a societal reject. Damned if you do — fucked if you don’t. Catch-22.
Proposed Controlled Substances Act of 2007
October 9, 2007
The major piece of US legislation dealing with drugs and drug use is called the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which among other things, established five distinct “Schedule” levels and the criteria for determining into which Schedule any given substance should be classed. For each level in the Schedule, the criteria are focused on three distinct aspects: potential for abuse, established medical efficacy, and likelihood of creating dependence.
Surely, one of the most blatant examples of the lunacy of the criteria for “Scheduling” substances involves marijuana. The main psychoactive compound in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. In its natural state in the marijuana plant, THC is a “Schedule I” substance with a “high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.” Obviously, if something has no “accepted medical use” then it will not likely have an established level of safety in medical use — it’s a Catch-22, isn’t it?
Face It: You’re a “Legalizer”
October 9, 2007
If you have ever expressed any doubt about the War on Drugs, no matter how small, you are a “legalizer.” Whether we like it or not, that’s where the bar has been set by the opposition – thus, even though we are failing to recognize it, the true measure of our argument (and thus also our probability of success) is entirely dependent upon clearing that bar. While the drug reform “movement” remains disjointed and broken into a thousand little threads, there will be no mass involvement among the general public in altering the status quo. Thus, to truly benefit from (and more intelligently utilize) the efforts of those engaging in the attempt, my appeal to all of you is simply this: let’s clear the bar.
There is absolutely no defensible reason to continue prohibition. If you have one, bring it on – I will convince you of the error of your ways. Or, failing at the task, consign you to the “do not resuscitate” pile. There is indeed some number of our fellow citizens who can only be described as “fanatical” people who will never be swayed from their position. The good news, though, is that they tally up to a rather small (though loud and certainly insufferable) portion of the populace. Interestingly, the “standard curve” applies, and it is likely that this minority of extremists is probably in balanced proportion to those they wish to bully – that is, the number of problem drug using people is likely quite similar to the number of vehement prohibitionists. It’s just a hunch. But, if it is anywhere close to true, it is certainly something that works to our advantage. Just as drug abuse is the exception, so is utter intolerance. The American people as a whole tend toward being quite a bit more tolerant than would be required for achieving a “zero tolerance, drug-free” America. The problem we face is not convincing them that we are correct – it is getting them to pay attention in the first place. And then there’s that little knee jerk: “You’re just trying to make it legal to use drugs.” That is ultimately their last line of defense … and their first.
Fatal Distraction(s)
October 9, 2007
Americans are being constantly reminded that there are fanatical people in the world hell bent on killing them. They are also being reminded that since that fateful day in 2001 there has been no additional successful terror attack on US soil. Thus, the average American goes to sleep every night content that every possible thing is being done to protect them against waking up one day to the “mushroom cloud” thought to be the penultimate goal of the aforementioned bad guys. But what if our government actually isn’t doing every possible thing that it can, and isn’t devoting every possible dollar, computer and brain to preventing such a calamity? Worse yet, what if a large chunk of the required assets already existed, but rather than being devoted to guarding us against terrorism were being used to protect us from pot? What if, in our zeal to find grow ops and “meth labs,” we fail to detect the people next door assembling a weapon of mass destruction? And, really, who would you rather be protected from: a guy with a bong, or a guy with a bomb?
These are some of the issues addressed in the latest book by Arnold S. Trebach, “Fatal Distraction: The War on Drugs in the Age of Islamic Terror.” Trebach has argued for more than the past two decades that America’s so-called “war on drugs” is a misguided and ill-conceived public policy that has led to disastrous consequences that exceed by far those actually caused by drug abuse. He is trying to sound the alarm as loudly as possible this time around, given the apparent gravity of the current situation with the “Global War on Terror.” What needs to be done is blindingly obvious to him: we need to end the drug war, legalize all the drugs, and take the vast resources being squandered on the drug war and put them on the job of protecting us from Islamic fanatics. While, at first glance, that may seem like a radical idea, as he puts it: “Intolerable situations demand radical reforms.”
To the Politicians:
October 9, 2007
If you want my vote, then you are going to have to demonstrate that you have at least a basic understanding of the principles upon which our nation was founded. If you can’t understand why you don’t get to veto what people do of their own free will to themselves or with willing others, then you certainly can’t be trusted with power over others. If your marriage or sexuality is in any way threatened by anonymous people, freely engaging with each other as they wish, hundreds and even thousands of miles away from you, then you can’t be trusted with power over others.
If you think you have a “right” in deciding whether one person you do not even know may freely enter into a lifetime bond with another whom you do not know, then you clearly do not understand the nature of minding your own business, and thus, cannot be trusted with power over others. If you want my vote, you have to address the fundamental question of our day: why in the world are we allowing our government to deny and withold the most fundamental of our rights as equal citizens? Most importantly: what are you going to do to bring it to a halt?
MPP: YGBSM!!!
October 9, 2007
While everyone involved in drug law reform generally recognizes that the war on drugs is a tremendous waste of resources, I think it’s time for some of the reform organizations to be raked over the same coals too. The bottom line on some of these organizations is that they are squandering huge amounts of money every year and getting absolutely nowhere. A huge case in point is the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).
I have actually been a dues paying member of MPP in the past and have been able to help some of the individuals from the organization with various things over the years. I still am willing to assist any and all who seek my aid — but there is no way in hell I am ever going to send the MPP another dime.
That attitude has been developing over the past three years in particular as I observe from afar the tendency of the MPP to claim that every minor piddly-assed change in some aspect of marijuana laws is a huge “victory” for which they themselves deserve all the credit. I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and the MPP deserves nothing more than a good solid kick in the ass.
Drug Czar Announces New Idiocy
October 9, 2007
On June 1, 2006 the ONDCP made its latest pronouncement concerning methamphetamines. Actually, it’s worse than that — they actually created yet another “strategy” document detailing their plans to continue to “combat meth” along with other synthetic drugs.
The main goal outlined by this “strategy” is to reduce past month use of methamphetamines by 15% over the next three years. Even on the surface, that hardly sounds ambitious — especially given that such “goals” in the past have been as high as a 25 percent reduction for overall drug use (albeit over a five year span). So, in general, there is already a standing drug use reduction goal of 5% per year. But to truly appreciate exactly how asinine this latest pronouncement actually is requires that we first look at some additional data that will give us some perspective on the magnitude (actually lack thereof) of the issues. Then we can skewer the drug czar with the very information supplied to lay out the plan for this next big achievement in the battle against meth.
The Medical Marijuana Morass
October 9, 2007
For the record, I personally don’t care if marijuana is or is not medically efficacious. My basic take on the issue from the political standpoint is that it has always been a red herring and tremendous waste of resources. But from the medical standpoint, I say if it works for you, then great, go for it! After all, if we can have people having themselves stung by bees to treat pain, MS and various other ailments (which cannabis also seems to be effective for) — while still others have bio toxins injected into their faces so they can pretend they aren’t getting older — then, surely, we can have people inhaling cannabinoids for their own purposes (medical or otherwise). Bottom line: if it works for you, then by all means, go ahead. Chronic pain is a horrible thing to deal with, and people in pain will literally try anything to make it go away (I know this personally, as I have been living in pain for the past 12 years). But make no mistake: our government doesn’t want people to use marijuana for any reason. And they are prepared to go to great lengths and exercise great power against those who do.
The writing is on the wall, and it’s time to pay attention: the FDA’s recent announcement that smoked marijuana has no accepted medical use is going to result in some very ugly ramifications. The ugliest being that the DEA has just been given carte blanche to continue their campaigns against California’s medical marijuana operations. All of you people are in very grave danger. The reason you are in so much danger is the confluence of several factors, among them: federal law trumps state law (otherwise known as abuse of the “commerce clause”), the DEA was petitioned long ago to re-schedule marijuana and deferred the issue to the FDA, and last — the FDA just passed a death sentence on medical marijuana.
Myths & Madness: the Meth Monster
October 9, 2007
First, let’s be clear: Methamphetamine is a truly shitty drug. It really can cause a host of physical problems for those who use it excessively, it really is dangerous to make on your own, and it really can cause mental instability. However, the number of fools who suffer such a fate is mercifully very small, and it will always be a drug that is not widely abused simply because it really is “dangerous.”
On the other hand, as usual, the “dangers” of meth are blown wildly out of proportion and nowhere near as dire as our government would have us believe. Meth use really isn’t an “epidemic” running rampant in our society, and making us sign for our cold pills will do absolutely nothing to alter the fact that some small number of people will use methamphetamines for the fun of it.
By now, you should be more than familiar with the litany of government claims about the “threat” that meth poses to our society, but if not, go visit this page on the drug czar’s site to refresh your memory. And then continue reading this so you can see how stupid and useless it really is to make believe that any of us are “threatened” by methamphetamines.
It’s Time For Another Tea Party
October 9, 2007
Among the more comical aspects of the drug war is the government’s proclivity for creating what they no doubt feel are pretty snappy sounding names for the big operations being regularly undertaken and proclaimed as glorious “victories” in the war on drugs. The inanity of some of those operations (like the dragnet directed against internet glass vendors) deserves to be ridiculed in its own spotlight, so I’ll take care of it in due course. For right now, I want to focus on a little operation of my own — Operation Orange Pekoe.
One of the more important missing elements in the anti-drugwar movement is the use of coordinated publicity stunts. At the grass roots level, some good stuff is going on — for example, Howard Wooldridge of LEAP is doing a coast to coast horseback ride spreading the message that “Cops say legalize drugs.” Then there is Ed Forchion, the NJ Weedman — a guy who has sadly enough had to pack it in due to a lack of support. Ed is simply an amazing guy and true American patriot — unfortunately, he also publicly admits that he likes to use marijuana. Ed defends himself in court — and wins! Ed has the courage of his convictions to the extent that he actually blazed up at the Liberty Bell one Fourth of July.
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