Six American Zeroes: Reason Enough to Support California Prop 19

[Joanne98]

By Al Giordano

As support continues to grow for California’s November referendum to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, the six US drug czars from four different administrations have now flailed together to try and stop the biggest electorate in the nation from bringing America back to its senses. In an August 25 column in the Los Angeles Times, Why California should just say no to Prop 19, the six epic losers posse up and ride out West in an attempt to rescue their failed cause.

Because memories are short, let’s review all the big successes of these brave and valiant drug czars, who assuredly saved the nation from drugs and drug abuse and all the violence and corruption caused by policies of prohibition all these years, so we can remind ourselves of why these six American Zeroes are the last people we should listen to when it comes to figuring out how to solve problems associated with illegal drugs.

At the January 1989 press conference when then-president George Bush, Sr. established a new cabinet-level post and named William Bennett as “drug czar,” an enterprising reporter asked how could Bennett – a heavy cigarette smoker – lead the nation away from addictive drugs when he himself was an addict? The press conference briefly halted as Bush and Bennett huddled in the rear of the stage whispering back and forth. Bennett returned to the microphone and announced that for the duration of his term in the National Office of Drug Policy Control he would quit smoking cigarettes.

Nine months later, as Bennett oversaw a major escalation in federal spending and repression against users and suppliers of some drugs, the Doonesbury comic strip revealed a scoop that would later be confirmed by official media: Bennett had been chewing Nicorette, the nicotine chewing gum then only available with a doctor’s prescription, to mask his nicotine addiction.

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/4082/six-american-zeroes-reason-enough-support-california-prop-19

[Merlot]

1. This article is worth the read...even the comments are well written.

[JDPriestly]

2. I have a friend whose daughter has a lot of problems including

a penchant for overusing marijuana. I really don't know what side to take on the proposition to legalize marijuana, so I thought I should ask her since she has a real stake in the issue. She said she would like to see the state get the revenue from the tax on marijuana and that I should vote for the legalization. It was very helpful to get her viewpoint because she has more reason to oppose legalization than anyone I know. So, that is something I will consider when I decide how to vote on the measure -- if I vote at all.

[FirstLight]

3. but see...

addictions happen whether the substance is legal or not...look at alcoholism.

the issue is not to ban the substance, but to perhaps use a percentage of the revenues for therapy and programs for those with addiction issues.

your friend's daughter has other reasons for using, self-medicating depression or anxiety disorders is a high probability. she should look at the underlying issue, not blame the daughter or the drug. (I speak from experience...and I was that daughter, my mom still doesn't *get* it)

:hug: hope they both get some counseling and help