President Obama’s Passive-Agressive Approach To Drug Policy Is Destroying America

By Alexandra D. Datig 

The National Drug Control Strategy of 2010, signed by the President of the United States, clearly states that the President of the Unite States, Barack Obama was firmly opposed to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.  But look what a second term as President can bring.  Silence to get more votes in Colorado and Washington State?  Muzzling of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein who was once clearly publicly outspoken against the legalization of marijuana?  Statements like “we need to learn more about medical marijuana” while at the same time shutting down countless marijuana dispensaries all across the nation?  An Attorney General who can’t make up his mind on mandatory minimum sentencing for what he calls “non-violent” drug offenders?    A passive-agressive approach to drug policy perhaps? 

Recently, President of the United States Barack Obama made the following statement.  "If marijuana is fully legalized and at some point folks say, well, ‘We can come up with a negotiated dose of cocaine that we can show is not any more harmful than vodka,’ are we open to that?" Obama wondered. "If somebody says, ‘We've got a finely calibrated dose of meth, it isn't going to kill you or rot your teeth,’ are we O.K. with that?"  Maybe we should begin by asking the various nations the United States has signed drug treaties with?  Does the President even realize that the U.S. is now in violation of several international treaties due to drug decriminalization in various states?  The zero-tolerance approach to drugs in the U.S. has certainly taken its toll on the prohibition of drugs, especially marijuana.  When searching a little deeper, legalization of marijuana would also cost police department’s vast amounts of money because legalization would also change and void asset forfeiture laws.  But then again, we already know the President plans to make up the difference by taxing the rich and aiming for single-payer universal healthcare with Obamacare. 

Off in the distance, somewhere in Northern California, members of a Mexican drug cartel have set up shop on public land to grow marijuana.  Destroying the eco-systems by creating dams to divert water for their crops, they use toxic and dangerous pesticides in the form of “edible” pellets that kill birds and they shoot the deer that like the taste of marijuana leaves.   Even bears are attracted to the site from the scent of food in the grower camp and when they come near, are shot dead.  To pass the time, dead bears and deer become trophies and the growers like taking pictures next to their kill, posing as if he just won a giant stuffed animal at a family carnival.  

They have guns and knives and have no hesitation using them when they spot other drug gangs or cops  in the area.  Gunfire from black market growers has sparked many spot and even wildfires.  When a rival cartel is spotted, drug gangs have also been known to detonate small bombs to smoke each other out. 

Depending on light and growing conditions they stay at the site about 100 days.  That is usually the turn around period it takes for a crop to reach harvest and acceptable drying conditions.  When they are finished, they leave trash and toxic waste behind and the eco-system to fend for itself.  All they care about now is turning the marijuana into fast cash to anyone willing to pay the asking price on the street.  Legalization of marijuana has made things easier for Cartels that have also been caught working with marijuana doctors.  

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the City is fighting to shut down over one thousand marijuana dispensaries because people are abusing medical marijuana laws.  Instead of buying from the cartels and drug gangs, patrons seeking recreational marijuana in California, find him and herself claiming false illness to obtain a doctor’s recommendation to legally obtain marijuana under state but not federal law.   These recreational users would rather lie than buy marijuana from a drug gang and many believe by doing so they are engaging in a noble cause by choosing to buy pot from a regulated lawful source.  The question is, can we truly call these people criminals and lawbreakers knowing the alternative of how drug cartels operate to get drugs onto America’s streets?

Americans have chosen to use marijuana long before the question of drug legalization became a daily topic in the news.  Politically, legalization for recreational use has been before voters for more than 41 years.

According to the latest Gallup poll, 58% of Americans now believe marijuana should be legalized.  Evaluating the risks of introducing marijuana as a recreational drug into the legal market has proven roads would be more dangerous, on-the-job accidents more prevalent and has shown that teenage use dramatically increases.  Do these factors prevent us from stopping drug cartels and drug gangs who push marijuana on citizens that have no clue where the pot he or she is buying came from, or what is in it?

Let’s face it, there are those among us who have decided that at one time or another marijuana will become a recreational habit.  One we can take or leave alone.  I have yet to see a pro-drug group outspoken about drug addiction so that we can curb drug abuse.  That is simply not the intention of the drug lobby and apparently it is also not the intention of President Obama.  

Being sober more than 15 years I can say I have already had my fair share and in my case, it didn’t increase the quality of my life.  Therefore, I don’t use pot or anything else unless I am so ordered by my physician and even then I may not use what is prescribed.  Yet I also know that I am not like everyone else and that people have a right to choose what to put in his or her body.  People have a civil right to want their own experience with marijuana whether it benefits the quality of life or not and they are exercising that right whether we like it or not.  As it stands, the only thing can prevent these choices is the law, which condemns and outcasts drug users, taking away quality of life and liberty.  

It is pretty likely that within the next two years more than half the country will have states with medical marijuana laws.  In other words folks, the train has left the station and there is no point in chasing the train down the tracks trying to reverse the irreversible.  That means the national poll numbers are likely to increase, especially when looking at polling trends of favoritism toward the decriminalization of marijuana in the last ten years.  A tragedy?  Yes, because the movement, like President Obama, is aimless and wants not just to legalize drugs but also to liberalize them.   

Therefore, the question we should be asking is no longer if pot should be legal.  But rather, are we going about legalization in the right way?  Are drug policy advocates selling a reckless agenda and succeeding just to get their foot in their door?  Is America going to keep falling for the same arguments of back-door marijuana legalization by getting states to jump on the bandwagon with medical marijuana laws?   Or are we going to get smart about this issue and figure out a way to get control of it?

Starting at the top with the President of the United States, we are increasingly no longer a nation that wants to get tough on drugs or drug users.  If legalization methods and polling trends continue, it is quite possible that marijuana and even other drugs will be legal for recreational use within the next five to ten years.  Without clarity and leadership from the Commander in Chief, the chaos with conflicting drug laws in America’s communities is only going to continue.  We either find a way to create clear drug policy and create a safe and regulated market or we make the on-going free-fall liberalization of drugs worse.  

TBAC - Roger Morgan: Obama/Holder Serving Soros, Republic Enemy Number One

By Roger Morgan, Take Back America Campaign

Obama, faced with his “redline” declaration, is about to bomb Syria to avenge the 1500 people who were heinously gassed to death in Syria. 

How about, Mr. President, we Americans “redline” you for turning your back on America’s drug problem, even perpetuating the problem by ignoring your obligation to enforce federal CSA laws.  Almost all of the 1500 Americans who die every two weeks started their drug journey with marijuana.  While you punish Assad, maybe America should punish you.

The reality is America has been hijacked by Republic enemy number one, master of subversion, billionaire, sociopath Drug Lord George Soros.  Soros hates America, and is the principle financier behind the pro-legalization movement, and Obama’s campaign.  Soros’ purpose is designed to destroy a significant percentage of our population to help fulfill his messianic vision of a new world order. Unfortunately, due to the corruptive powers of his money, he controls the President, the press and the Democratic Party. 

Obama’s first act was to downgrade the Drug Czar position from cabinet level to reporting to the Vice President, a nice buffer so he wouldn’t have to face America’s biggest problem directly.  The result was we ended up with two national drug policies: 1) Drug Czar Kerlikowske’s official national drug policy, for political cover, and 2) Holder’s “do nothing” policy in terms of enforcing federal law. The result is a 15 to 20% increase in marijuana use, and an unenlightened nation being led down the path of destruction by legalization efforts for a drug that causes permanent damage to adolescent brains, and myriad other adverse outcomes.

Marijuana doesn’t kill by overdose, but overdose isn’t the only cause of death.  Marijuana is a causal factor in psychosis, including schizophrenia, paranoia and suicidal depression.  It is a major factor in armed robberies, violent crime, traffic deaths, testicular cancer, respiratory problems including cancer of the head, neck, throat and lungs, just to mention a few.

The mass shootings of late, like Tucson, Aurora, the Pentagon and more are a result of marijuana induced psychosis.  Even the Boston Bombers were both pot heads.  Marijuana isn’t the only cause of psychosis, but it is a major cause.  And rather than find resources to treat it and shovel up the damage, we should be preventing it to begin with.

Nationally 53% to 87% of arrestees test positive for drugs.  The average addict commits 100 crimes a year.  America has declined to 26^th in the world academically, with a one-third drop out rate.  Each drop out carries a life time cost of $392,000 … which equates to $470 billion per annum considering we have 1.2 million dropouts. 

In August 2012 research at U of Texas San Antonio revealed that today’s high potency pot can kill a baby in the womb within two weeks of conception, before the mother even knows she is pregnant.  Research from 40 or 50 years ago showed marijuana caused still births to ruse from 12% normal to 44%.  Babies that survived child birth often had physical deformities and brain damage.  What’s worse, because of mutations to sperm the problem could result from the male partner, and because it led to chromosomal abnormalities, it was mutagenic, which meant the problem could leap one generation and effect the next. 

Obama’s administration REFUSED to issue a health alert.  Of course that was pre election. How many babies have died, and/or will die, because Obama is serving Soros instead of the American people? 

By doing nothing, Obama has intentionally allowed the proliferation of “medical hoax marijuana,” to spread to 21 states, and marijuana use to grow by 15 to 20%.   Now he and Holder have arrogantly condoned recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, in direct contradiction to the federal laws they are expected to uphold

Drugs, starting with marijuana, kill, destroy and inflict more economic harm on America than all events in modern history.  If the Commander-In-Chief is unwilling or incapable of fulfilling his oath of office to protect the American people, then it is time to replace him with someone who will.

More at:  www.tbac.us

Attorney General Eric Holder’s Speech at the American Bar Association on Reducing Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Non-Violent Drug Offenders Leaves Much to be Desired in Terms of Recovery

By Alexandra D. Datig

Reduction of mandatory minimum sentences for low level, non-violent, drug offenders is a novel concept.  In my opinion it is even a very good idea that will save the taxpayer money and might show a glimmer of promise that a drug offender can get the help and understanding he or she needs form a community.  But what exactly are we talking about?  Did Attorney General Eric Holder cover all the bases? 

The United States has around 330 million people.  Of those people many do not understand the difference between jail and prison.  Most also don’t understand the difference between state and federal prison or the private prison system.  Therefore, when Attorney General Eric Holder goes before the American Bar Association and says there are more than 50% of people in federal prison on drug charges, the general population has no concept of what he is talking about.  Most people are not aware that state prisons have, give or take, 1.4 million inmates and federal prisons have roughly 210,000 inmates  (Bureau of Prisons, 2011).  In 2007, 95,446 federal prisoners were drug offenders (Bureau of Prisons, 2007).  But what does that exactly mean?

The criminal justice system relies heavily on plea-bargaining, charge bargaining and sentence bargaining.  Without those tools the criminal justice system would implode.  Only 2% of all cases in the United States actually go to trial.  What this really means is that most cases have charges for a variety of crimes that are bargained down to a lesser sentence.  Therefore, the 95,446 federal prisoners who were drug offender in 2007, were in fact plea-bargained down to a lesser charge ending in a sentence for a drug offense.  Fact is we don’t really know what their crimes actually were.  Only less than 1% of those drug offenders were in federal prison for drug offenses only.  For state prison, in case you were curious, the percentage of drug offenders is 19%.

Attorney General Eric Holder also spoke about the racial disparity in the United States prison system.  This is a serious issue and one of the main reasons for it is the lack of a full-spectrum approach with a working addiction recovery program and a job program that has a direct linkage to a job in the community once a prisoner is released.  The simple truth is, communities are not willing to embrace prisoners back into the community as rehabilitated human beings because there is wide-spread evidence that rehabilitation programs are ineffective, especially in the under served communities.

In 2007, the racial breakdown in the overall prison system was 34.1 percent white, 38.2 percent black, 20.8 percent Hispanic, and 6.9 percent other minority.  Blacks represent 12.6% of the U.S. population where whites represent 72.4%.  Latinos represent 16.4% of the population.  The number of blacks in prison clearly shows a disparity of incarceration, yet at the same time blacks are also committing half of the murders in the Untied States. 

The U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country in the world.  The U.S. also has 5% of the world’s population and consumes 66% of it’s drugs (Take Back America Campaign).  Therefore, we should be very careful to buy into the argument of allowing shorter prison terms without a solution for a working recovery program which solves the problem of addiction.  More than 70% of all recovery establishments use the 12-Step program which is a great program if taught correctly.  Unfortunately, only 3-7% of those who enter the 12-Step program at the community based level actually find solid recovery.  That means most people who enter the 12-Step program do not make it in his or her first year.  History has also shown that most addicts, who die, do so from relapse at a far more rapid rate when compared to first time use.

We would be well served by not treating every drug offender like a nail that is hit with the same hammer a drug trafficker is hit with.  However, we are still sending these offenders back into a community with problems they have not learned how to deal with on their own and are thereby overwhelmed because they are not able to find solutions. 

Over the years, the Department of Justice has reaffirmed again and again, that drug abuse and criminal behavior are strongly connected.  If we are going to deal with the staggering recidivism rate and the overcrowding of prisons by reducing mandatory minimum sentences, we must also be able to offer something to the non-violent drug offender that makes his or her life tolerable and does not end in going back to addiction and committing crime.

NNOAC Position on Attorney General Eric Holder's Smart on Crime Initiative

Some of the key assumptions baked into reform proposals are plainly inaccurate. State and federal prisons are NOT filled with low-level non-violent drug possession offenders. The administration and reformers fail to offer any hard numbers on convicts in prison who are there as a result of mandatory minimum sentences for low-level possession. Many of those who are serving prison sentences for drug crimes are there because of their continued recidivism and disregard for the laws, not just simple possession of controlled substances. 

The facts don't lie. Crime statistics indicate that violent crime and other categories of crime have fallen dramatically over the past 30 years. Since 1992 the violent crime rate is down almost 50% and the property crime rate is down more than 40%. In addition, drug use has declined between 15% and 50% for various drugs. Statistics show that less than 3% of state inmates and less than 1% of federal inmates are actually serving time for drug possession alone. The picture painted by reformers and by the Attorney General of a broken system and prisons stuffed with non-violent drug possessors is clearly not reality. 

[Note: See ONDCP report at www.prisonpolicy.org] 

Often forgotten in the policy debates is that drug trafficking itself is a crime of violence. Firearms and gang intimidation are tools of the drug trade, but even those who are involved in the less visible and less violent aspects of drug trafficking are responsible for the delivery of poison that results in abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths for more than 30,000 of our citizens each year. Drug traffickers do not discriminate - they sell their products to anyone who wants them, and by doing so they facilitate the ruin of American lives. 

There are ways to improve outcomes and reduce costs in the criminal justice system, and ways to reduce recidivism through effective reentry programs. Diversion programs and drug courts have been proven to be very effective. Access to effective treatment for incarcerated addicts is essential. Proven prevention programs should be spread widely. We support those efforts. It is also important to remember that all of those who enter diversion programs and drug courts and many who enter treatment programs end up there because of the efforts of law enforcement. If not for intervention by law enforcement, many of those people would not have access to treatment. 

It is essential to acknowledge that the totality of our crime and drug control policies – including sentencing policies – of the past 30 years have been successful in reducing crime and drug use. Reformers often talk about failed policies and a “broken system”, but the fact is that our policies have largely had 
their intended effect. 

Research shows that social disapproval of drug use, helped in large measure by the fact that drug use is illegal, leads to less demand for drugs and therefore less use. Research also shows that when cultural approval of drug use increases, drug demand and availability increases, followed by use. The costs to society of increased drug use and increased recidivism are massive. Statistics show the crime and drug use costs American society billions of dollars every year. 

As we work to improve criminal justice policies and reduce costs we must keep these facts in mind. If we step backward on drug and sentencing policies, we will likely see a reversal in progress on crime and drug use rates and an increase in financial costs to society. Parents, communities, and the nation at large cannot afford to backslide on crime and drug policy. 
The men and women on the front lines of law enforcement - including America's narcotic officers - have played a vital role in our nation's crime and drug use reductions over the last 30 years. The voices and real-world perspectives of those officers must be considered as policy makers address these issues. We look forward to working with policy makers to build on our historic accomplishments and continue improving criminal justice outcomes.

National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition Website:  www.www.natlnarc.org 

DRUG FREE AMERICA FOUNDATION, INC.’S RESPONSE TO ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER’S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT CHANGING MANDATORY MINIMUM GUIDELINES

While improvements to drug policy and the criminal justice system are certainly needed, we, as a nation, need to remember that both violent crime and drug use in America have declined significantly over the past 3 decades.  One must conclude then that we have obviously done some things right. 

Until legalization advocates initiated well-financed campaigns to normalize and legalize drugs in the early 1990s, with an emphasis on the legalization of marijuana under the guise of medicine, we had made tremendous progress in pushing back against drugs, actually reducing overall drug use in America by greater than 50%.  

Our nation’s drug epidemic peaked when in 1978, according to the Monitoring the Future report, 10.7% of 12^th graders reported smoking marijuana daily.  By 1992, those rates dipped to a low of 1.9%, an astounding 80% decline.  Since the launch of those pro-drug campaigns, we have slowly been slipping back to the old mindset of “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out.” In 1997, following the passage of Proposition 215 which legalized marijuana as a so-called medicine in 1996, daily use of marijuana by 12^th graders jumped to 5.8% and in 2012, it rose again to 6.5%.

Attorney General Holder could do much to help us move in the direction of further reduction of drug use if he would respect the duties of his job and enforce our federal marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington where so-called recreational use of pot is now allowed.  He also could take decisive action to stop the legalization of marijuana under the guise of medicine that is spreading across the country.  Drug prevention and treatment groups and law enforcement officials have repeatedly and directly asked for his help on this issue now for almost a year, and he continues to ignore our pleas while lives are damaged every single day from the abuses of marijuana.

Some of AG Holder’s recent comments about revamping the mandatory minimum guidelines are rather confusing because, in reality, people rarely get charged in federal court for simple possession charges (a misdemeanor). And if they do, it is usually because of other related charges like firearms, immigration, or a serious criminal history, and the drug charge has very little to do with the ultimate sentence.  Less than 1% of offenders are in prison for simple possession and these have typically pled down from much more serious crimes.

Mandatory minimum guidelines were instituted as a result of a bi-partisan commission and involved both congressional and judicial input to, among other things, address inequities in sentencing and provide national uniformity. They have also been a tremendous leveraging tool to find and prosecute the “Big Fish” while allowing the small-time drug peddlers to be diverted to alternative programs.  

Eliminating mandatory minimums could actually resurrect the problems that they were intended to fix in the first place. The fact that violent crime and drug use in America have been declining should seriously be considered before we reverse the directions and policies that may be contributing to these declines.

Regarding Holder’s comments on rehabilitation and releases, we need a full spectrum approach that includes a working recovery system and a direct linkage to a job for those in recovery or being released. Just releasing prisoners is not going to improve anything and can be argued to be a form of political grandstanding. It may appear to reduce incarceration costs but the real costs to society will likely go up if we are releasing prisoners that are going to be back into our neighborhoods to sell drugs and commit crimes to support their habits or to compensate for their lack of real life ability and skills to cope with life on the outside.

We need more clarity from Mr. Holder about what his total plan includes. The devil is always in the details and details are rarely, if ever, contained in speeches. There is reason for all Americans to be concerned without a more in-depth policy description.

Drug Free America Foundation urges AG Holder to support drug courts and other diversion programs that hold drug users accountable while requiring them to stop using drugs, to support programs to help those incarcerated return to productive lives free of drugs, and to continue to exact swift and significant penalties upon drug traffickers that target and endanger our children.  We further call upon Mr. Holder to uphold his duty to enforce federal marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington and bring our nation back into compliance with our international treaty obligations!

Contact information:  Lana Beck, Communications Director

                                    Telephone: 727-828-0211, ext 102 or 727-403-7571

                                    Email: lbeck@dfaf.org

                                    Website: www.dfaf.org