Obama Off Base On Drug Legalization

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Obama Off Base On Drug Legalization

April 18th, 2012 11:57 am Leonard Pitts Jr.

If President Obama had a son, he would look like Trayvon Martin. So the president famously said.

And the president’s son would thereby find himself at significantly greater risk of running afoul of the so-called “War on Drugs” than, say, a son of George W. Bush. Depending on what state he lived in, a Trayvon Obama might be 57 times more likely than a Trayvon Bush to be imprisoned on drug charges.

This is not because he would be 57 times more likely to commit a drug crime. To the contrary, white American men commit the vast majority of the nation’s drug crimes, but African-American men do the vast majority of the nation’s drug time. It is a nakedly racial disparity that should leave the U.S. Department of “Justice” embarrassed to call itself by that name.

So it is difficult to be anything but disappointed at President Obama’s recent declaration at a summit in Colombia that “legalization is not the answer” to the international drug problem. The president argued that drug dealers might come to “dominate certain countries if they were allowed to operate legally without any constraint.” This dominance, he said, “could be just as corrupting if not more corrupting than the status quo.”

One wonders if the president forgot to engage brain before operating mouth.

Dealers might “dominate certain countries”? Has Obama never heard of Mexico, that country on our southern border where drug dealers operate as a virtual shadow government in some areas? Is he unfamiliar with Colombia — his host nation — where, for years, the government battled a drug cartel brutal and brazen enough to attack the Supreme Court and assassinate the attorney general? That scenario Obama warns against actually came to pass a long time ago.

Similarly, it is a mystery how the manufacture and sale of a legal product could be “just as corrupting if not more corrupting than the status quo.” How could that be, given that there would no longer be a need for drug merchants to bribe judges, politicians and police for protection? What reason is there to believe a legal market in drugs would be any more prone to corruption than the legal markets in cigarettes and alcohol? Or, popcorn and chocolate?

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Tags: Barack Obama, Colombia, drug legalization, Justice Department, Leonard Pitts Jr., Mexico, War on Drugs

policardco

Perhaps after the “election [he will] have more flexibility”

http://www.facebook.com/sidney.r.smith1 Sidney R Smith

Actually, this is something that came to my mind when I heard he was against legalization, fearing he would loose votes. I’m an Obama man and highly support him, but on this issue I believe he’s copping out.
Reading the comments here, plus my own long time opinion is that legalization of Marijuana is not an option, it is a necessity to stop senseless spending on an unwinnable war and would be a boost to the economy. It would end the ruination of peoples lifes who want to smoke a little weed and get high. They get convicted of a felony and loose their rights to vote.
It works great for my service connected PTSD with its anxiety from Vietnam for 44 years keeping my anxiety from developing into rage. It tends to make me laugh it off.
But meth and cocaine in particular develops psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia. With the availablity of guns on the streets this makes a lethal combination that would increase the murder rate dramatically.
Just a little bit of balance here, alright?

http://profile.yahoo.com/BEICL3B5IEPMIBRNJHM6BFTGCU Raoul

I have always backed up the president, but in this case, I am afraid I can’t agree with him. Alcohol prohibition was a disaster. So is drug prohibiion as we run it now. However, this is a political bomb. Now is not the time for him to bring this onto the carpet. I hope he will change his mind after the elections…
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Mesler/100000315409942 John Mesler

I agree it’s a stupid war . Why didn’t whoever label the “War on Drugs” or the” War against Terrorism” ever take a minute and say….Hey, a war must have a conclusion in order to claim victory. Both these “Wars” are ridiculous and un-winnable , conventionally speaking. And ,yes, Obama ‘s statement and decision on this are wrong…..and I’m an Obama supporter! Legalize pot and utilize that money for something else like, oh, health care! Also would save millions that we pay the people who are “fighting” this so called war.
http://profile.yahoo.com/5WUYYDJ2M3U6UV2L5W2VGWUH3Y Mendemoi

I am very much surprised at the ignorance of the writer of this article. It is not President Obama who did not use his brains, it was the writer of this article. Apparently the writer is quite oblivious to the worldly production and consumption cycle of drugs. Let me cut it short, that whereas Columbia, Mexico and other are PRODUCERS, the USA and EUROPE are the CONSUMERS.

Therefore where will the effect of drug consumtion hit the worst?…The COSUMER countries. That’s where drug addicts will be created in abundance and hence that will cost the country $billions in TREATMENT. Have we considered the effects on the society of drug problems? Whatever price the drugs will be at when legalized, still not everyone will afford, thereby leading to drug wars etc.

When USA allowed sex education in schools, it led to young kids experimenting, not abstaning and we ended up with children having babies. How young will our chidren be when exposed to drug-taking parents, before trying it themselsves? Before you know it 6 years olds will become addicts…and we end up being a nation of addicts.

http://www.myspace.com/btdsloveshack blazintommyd

Yeah he’s right, let’s drink some Dioxin instead
http://twitter.com/Dev4k John Kinney

If the government could tax all drugs when/if they get legalized, there might be money to provide better oversight and treatment for people who get hooked and go crazy. Smoking is an example of oversight warnings, treatment and public advertising that has worked pretty well against a rich industry. Until recently, that is, as things went to hell on public confidence in anything.
biglt

The problem with your little fairy tale is that it ignores real-world experiences. Countries that have legalized – or at least de-criminalized – drugs have experienced an uptick of usage, followed by a decline, ending up with lower usage than when it was illegal.

Second, comprehensive sex education has resulted in fewer unintended pregnancies, fewer abortions, and later first sexual experience. Abstinence-only is an abject failure, as it provides no preparation for it’s enormously high failure rate. Thus, a higher proportion of the “abstinence” kids end up with std’s and pregnant.
Dave_dido

I don’t agree with you about the author being ignorant. If you would re-read his article you’ll see the statistic that 1.3% of Americans were drug addicted in 1914 and the percentage today is still 1.3%. This in spite of 41 yrs. of a “war on drugs”. That would seem to indicate sound logic by the author in calling for an end to an expensive, damaging, failed endeavor. You say that “drug addicts will be created in abundance”, but that’s not what the statistics indicate.

http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Mesler/100000315409942 John Mesler

I agree it’s a stupid war. Why didn’t whomever labeled the “War on drugs” or the “War against Terrorism”ever take a minute to say…Hey, a war must have a conclusion in order to claim victory. Both these “wars” are un-winnable,conventionally speaking. And, yes, Obama’s statement and policy on this are wrong, and I’m an Obama supporter! Legalize pot and utilize the money we can make for something else like, oh, health-care! Think of the millions we will also save by not having to budget the “pot” part of this so called war.

http://www.myspace.com/btdsloveshack blazintommyd

Biden’s the big romantic on keeping pot illegal. With him it’s like – well someone asked McGovern back in 1972 … yep that’s right Joe, and guess what, it’s 2012. Time flies when you’re having fun I guess. The main reason pot is illegal is the D-rs are afraid someone will get stoned and laugh at them. Gotta keep that chill of paranoia goin. Some group posted a You Tube clip where Hearst said something like ‘marijuana must be made illegal because it allows the Nigra man to look the white man square in the eye and look at a white woman twice”. So they’re still riffing in that groove

monkeybass

Is there any way to circulate a petition that might eventually reach a lot of people so the boneheads in charge can see what the people overwhelmingly want? They already know the war on drugs is a failure in the conventional sense, but in the sense that it rewards them financially it is a great success and they don’t want to let go of their cash cow.

http://www.myspace.com/btdsloveshack blazintommyd

I’ll probably run out of allowed characters, but it took several cases in State and Federal Court and petitions for Cert, all as a pro se litigant; and failing there attempting to make contact with Congress: before I truly understood how the status quo works and there alone that realization was delayed for 15 years . It’s pretty simple, they get a plan and they go with it, in this case for around 80 years, like separate but equal. No matter how correct your position is they don’t care – key – as long as they have a majority and no matter how small, the resolve is always this: ‘the power of the many over the few everyone abide by majority rule’. It’s the Legacy of Thomas Jefferson’s destruction of the Federalist Party with his broadside propaganda. The Last true friends we had were on the Court, Douglas and Brennan. Abe Fortas did good things for the short time he was there, too. When those guys were gone, justice and reason left with them. Consequently everything now is majority rule, and they haven’t a clue, the only minority protected is the 1%, ironically by 10 or so votes short of what? Cloture. Pot is a naturally occurring plant and grass is a fabulous metaphor. How do you make it, illegal.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Hemphill/1139796490 Joseph Hemphill

when Obama took office, he set up a virtual petition at the White House and had a stated policy that if an issue received enough signatures ( 15,000 ) then he would address the issue. Marijuana legalization received over 500,000 signatures, but the issue was dismissed out of hand by the administration and the regional crackdown on state legal medical marijuana began, going back on a promise to leave state rights alone. There is too much money aligned behind continued prohibition, big pharma, private prisons, police unions, industry that would be threatened by industrial hemp, its all about the money…..

barbarahugh

I did 5 yrs for posession of illegal substance , part which I agree I am guilty. But to legalize drugs? NEVER!!!! Put the users to longer sentences NOT probation or clinics , if there is no users there’s NO merchants ..Mexico is a big country and if they don’t change their politics and way or style of life then nothing will change concerning drugs , Make a real war not just
say it but act it. Declare a war and you will get rid of 3/4 of the trafficing if not all of it.Put
an end by fighting this just like a real war those in Mexico are real soldiers that have defected so this war on drugs should be a real war and do not give legal papers to no more Mexicans 9.9 times out of 10 they have a relative that are dealing and they know it very well and get help from them too one way or the other .So stop the crossing and arrest the users and the years you give those that sale and you will see the drop of drug trafficing.

biglt

You obviously lack critical thinking skills. We are unable to keep drugs out of prisons, some of the most carefully controlled areas on the planet, so what makes you think it is even POSSIBLE, let alone likely to keep drugs out of an entire country. The total boarder and coastline is almost 20,000 miles long. Would you fence it ALL? Patrol it ALL? (Remember the prison reality.)

This is really simple. If people want drugs, they will get them. We should learn from what other countries have successfully done to legalize drugs, and treat addicts.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Hemphill/1139796490 Joseph Hemphill

any attempt to legislate morality issues IE: drug use, prostitution, etc. go against basic human nature and will always fail. well regulated and strictly enforced on the other hand would bring down crime and increase revenues allowing emphasis on treatment.

http://twitter.com/Dev4k John Kinney

The war on drugs is a disaster, everyone agrees. Many folks have said that drugs should b e legalized, but drug manufacturers, doctors and pharmacies don’t want this. Drug dealers and growers certainly don’t. And the dwindling family homes don’t want to have their children exposed to a legal drug environment. President Obama can’t fight that fight on top of healthcare reform. So it’s not going to happen– even though it’s more costly than BOTH Iraq or Afghanistan. But keep up the dialogue. For a peace process.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GPAJBX2EJGLYKZCC4ZQG6IBNPQ PaulCindy

It’s too bad Liberals never want to secure the border & not enforce our Illegal “immigration” Laws, then cry about Hispanic drugs going to Black youth.

LUVUSAAZ

Total BS from the GREEDY OXYMORON PARTY and FOX that spread the lies to the flock of sheep.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4JK5UTBYBW34I6QZZXYEBMSTT4 TEN-OF-WANDS

I can see it now: 2,000 eight-balls of ROCKS distributed along the Mexican border in a new drug-enforcement craze known as FAST AND DELERIOUS.
dggrundhoffer

You are right !!! Legalize pot. Tax it like tobacco. Put tax money for health care reform and secure borders from entry of other illegal drugs. Provide better education. And reduce the debt!!!
http://profile.yahoo.com/6BSZ6XHY7NAI4WSBLR6EXTTU3I DrMindbender

Lipstick on a pig?? this statement should make it clear that Obama is a member of the Oligarchic party, the same party as GW, Romney, McCain, Rove, et. al. …hello??
http://www.facebook.com/people/Steve-Skinner/100000138507010 Steve Skinner

By legalizing drugs,we would put an end to the drug cartels,& spare alot of innocent lives.Plus it would put an end to overcrowding in prisons,& jails.It’s time to put an end to the drug wars,& put time ,energy,& money to better use.Alot of good people are made criminals just because they smoke weed.It just doesn’t make sense.
http://www.facebook.com/sreynoldssmith Sheila Smith

I am a 67 years old mother and grandmother. I believe in having a strong military program. With the technology we have now, that doesn’t mean “boots on the ground” except in rare circum-stances. I believing bombing the hell out of anyone who attacks us and a strong defensive actions in place. I also believe in education for all, health care for all, housing for all, job training and working for all of it. I also believe everyone who is able to work should and if they don’t they don’t eat. I say all of this to define me as a liberal as needed and a conservative as needed.

LEGALIZE DRUGS AND TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF IT! Treat those that want to get off of drugs and let the rest kill themselves. It worked in Scandinavia and other countries in Europe. While distasteful, it is far less distasteful and less costly than watching drug dealers hook kids on free drugs at a very early age, filling our jails, prisons and hospitals and taxing our law enforce-ment agencies everywhere. The drug wars on our border with Mexico, the drug wars in our cities and rural areas will never stop until the money dries up. We simply cannot afford to follow the pathway of the past. The money spent on all drug related activities would pay for education and job training. It would also go a long way to fix our economy. Why have our politicians not voted to take this bold action in the past – have the guts to be a one term anything and just do it?

Ever wonder what would happen in our inner cities if all of the young people with sub-standard educations, housing and job training got off drugs and took a look around. I have. The inner cities would erupt enmasse across the country all at the same time. We had the technology to have stopped the international drug trade years ago. It’s a management problem – a big one. economy
http://profile.yahoo.com/ALYOLBFEDHE2M65PG655WIZZHI Kevin

Marijuana should be legal. period. It’s a no-brainer. However, it is certainly not the time to fight that political battle, and Obama knows that. It doesn’t matter what the silent majority wants, it’s all about who votes. And remember that just a few years ago somewhere on the order of 70-80% of the American population wanted healthcare reform. At this time the GOP is busy pandering to a very predictable, easily manipulated and motivated voting block – the far right social conservatives. Just look at the Santorum candidacy. As the country claws it’s way out of a recession and tries to extract itself from two bankrupting wars he’s stumping about…..drum roll please…… making contraception illegal. And the guy won primaries!
That, my friends is our first and most pressing political battle. We must get rid of the far right – at least their candidates – and return our nation to a more reasoned discourse. That is the only way we can possibly address real issues, by getting rid of the buffoons like Santorum etal who would turn every issue into a juvenile gainsay or divert the conversation into inane social issues. To do this we most stay vigilant and motivated and we must vote and encourage everyone with reason to vote. We cannot be complacent and think that because these right wing candidates are so ridiculous that they cannot win a general election.
All that said, I did lose some respect for Obama. If I wanted to hear propaganda I could tune into FOX News.
http://profile.yahoo.com/Z47SV4AWTJI2TXTW4AZC7G336A TEXMEX123

Please Mr. Pitts, get your information straight “Mexico where drug dealers operate as a virtual shadow government in some areas” Drug dealers are fighting against each other because even if they united they could not fight against the thousands and even millions of Mejicanos wanting to regain the turf for peace in their communities.
stephen miller

I think Obama did a 180 on medical marijuana as part of the “health-care reform” [sic] deal with Big Pharma. If people would just stop smoking pot and use all our wonderful pharmaceuticals instead!
But it looks like the machine has drawn him in completely now.
TNMakarios

I absolutely agree that any belief that the drug war has been beneficial to anyone other than those who thrive on the burgeoning prison industry in this nation is at best a fantasy. However to lay the responsibility for the this inefficacious attempt to curb drug trafficking in the USA solely at the feet of the president is in itself also an injustice. Diligent study of Mr. Obama’s record will clearly show that he has attempted to address this disparity (i.e. the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, for example) yet as usual his efforts have been met with unprecedented resistance once gain as at every turn by a dollar influenced Congress. There is also the matter that on state, local and neighborhood levels the police are not targeting, racial-profiling or arresting caucasians (despite the police also knowing that caucasians purvey and use controlled substances more greatly than minorities); they are targeting, racial-profiling and arresting minorities. Thus you have the disproportionate number of convictions because you have a disproportionate number of arrests; arrests which are carried out by those who make the in-the-moment decision as to who they are going to arrest, not by the president.. Simple mathematics and recognition of the truth of racism’s perpetual existence in this supposedly progressive nation will attest to that. While Mr. Obama just may carry some blame for this particular one of society’s debacles it is highly ludicrous as well as simply unfair to say that he shoulders the blame alone. In one respect, capacity, fashion, form or manner we all do. And it should be us all doing our individual and collective parts, working together, to resolve the madness.
http://www.facebook.com/genny.abbott1 Genny Abbott

Genny Abbott I agree with John Mesler’s comment below. I too support President Obama for the most part but I sure do not agree with him on this “war on drugs” stance. If we took the profit motive out of illegal drug trade by making them legal we could save alot of strain on our prison system &, as was pointed out maybe ? our justice system would benefit. Am really amazed at the President for not connecting the dots between what he obviously realized about the stereotyping that occured in the Treyvonne Martin case & his rigid stance on this issue. God forbid, but what if one of his girls was caught running around with some hidden weed on her or looked like she MIGHT be selling or sharing it with another kid or more–What COULD happen if she was wearing a fashionable hoodie or was not recognized for any possible reason? Another thing (I’m an RN) what about all the prescription drug abuse going on with LEGAL drugs that big pharmaceuticals make a fortune on & many MD’s freely prescribe them, often indesdriminately to certain people–some dangerous controlled substances are even advertized o TV with encouragement to people to “ask your Dr. if this would help You?” Makes me angry & makes good MD’s angry too. Many KNOW that use of prescribed legal medical marijuana would do a better job,much more safely than heavy or prolonged use of narcotics for chronic or long-term pain as found in terminal illnesses. to say nothing of the damage that alchol does to user & others but that rich people’s drug of choice is all OK. Are we stupid or what? Alot to think about for those who will think.
TNMakarios

Furthermore, who in their right minds could find a reason to justify the legalization of crack cocaine, street grade heroin, methamphetamines or a host of other life-destroying, socially-debilitating substances? Marijuana? Okay I’m on board for its legalization and I don’t even indulge in its use. But I have witnessed first-hand and suffered the devastation of some of the aforementioned substances. If one believes their legalization will solve the problem of excessive arrests and convictions of minorities as opposed to caucasians you’re out of your gourd. Those in charge will only create laws that serve the purpose of continuing the practice of racial divisiveness culminating in the perpetuation of injustice in all its sordid forms.
http://www.facebook.com/sidney.r.smith1 Sidney R Smith

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http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G6HXRRZZSNTC3OW6SBXOVZNZPM Brian M

I read a lot of Blogs and most comments are so far smarter than anything I hear from the so-called leaders of this country. Politicians are by nature cowards. When is the last time any legislation was passed with the majority of Americans being in favor. I am 53 years old now and financially stuck here, but if you are young and reading this and want to make a good life, get the hell out of America… Politicians say one thing and do another. Bush smoked pot, Clinton, Obama and several congressmen I know personally have smoked pot with me, and then went on national television only to claim how bad it was. Cowards, everyone. They worry about the far right or left or any other group voting them out. What is just as bad is that less than 20% of this country thinks the system is working yet 98% of those in office will be re-elected??? WTF is all I can say about that. In the last 25 years I have voted but never for anyone. I always vote against. Perhaps that makes me an anarchist but all I know is that if I can have any power I need to continue to move the non-working network out as best I can or pick up a gun and find those who want to take change to the next level. I am not opposed of it, just haven’t found a committed group or leader who I would follow… Sound radical? Well, maybe but so is this so-called American way of life. People are walking the streets hungry, families are forced out of homes, dependable jobs moved off shore and we argue about rich versus poor and Conservative versus liberal… A total waste. There is only one enemy and it is our politicians yet as Americans we cannot even agree on removing them all… I don’t have the answers, just know the source of the problem and weather it is the US Government policy on drugs, war, economics, or immigration these bastards find a way to keep us all fighting over the crumbs while they walk away with all the pie… Just sad!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MHI5VTXEITZLD2R7HODWPZO66U softballcoach

It’s true that the war on drugs is costly and unwinnable, however, I don’t think ANYONE has a real plan to address the problem, not even the author of this article. The fact is, the percentage of people addicted to drugs hasn’t increased, according to the article, and that is an indication the war on drugs IS having some affect. When I was young, drugs were hard to find in my community. Today, access to drugs is much greater, and I suspect the same is true everywhere. Yes, looking at that statement, it would seem the war is being lost, but when you couple it with the fact that there is no greater percentage addicted now than before, the cost of drugs, penalties for using and the much more publicized health impacts of using drugs IS having a very real impact on Americans. If the war is stopped, drugs WILL flood the streets! As a parent, this is unacceptable! My children are very good kids that are respectfull and intelligent, but even they will find it hard to just say no! As to the statement about Mexico and Columbia being overrun by the drug dealers, it is true, but the fact is if the Governments of those countries would do more to address the problems there, maybe have their OWN war on drugs, they could change the reality that is so horrible in their countries. I absolutely DO NOT want the U.S. to have the same issues that those countries have! Maybe the wars on drugs and terrorism are unwinnable, as is the war on Cancer, Alzheimers, Heart disease, etc., but they are wars we should and MUST fight! I refuse to give up my country that so many have fought and died for just because it costs money to fight to keep it safe! I suggest that the writer of this article didn’t engage HIS brain before writing this article!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F3AEVYAEPTF5EQAQBKY7B4IUSU EAT THE RICH

total hypocracy, the government finances its black ops with coke and herion sales, then busts the end users, never the garbage who make their payoffs. end the bs. selectivly enforced laws just makes criminals rich, and produces personal crimes by the million. take away the profit. havent you ever wondered why crack is $5 a rock on damn near any corner, but pot is $4000 a pound? WE grow pot, the cia brings coke and junk in .by the ton. most hard drugs are controlled at the local level by the sheriffs dept. the first thing the gangsters do is buy the cops. all this bull about ” cartells” is an attempt to completely kill off private competiters, that way the government gets all the money, from importing to imprisoning. it has never been a “war on drugs” it has been a war to gain total control. if people are either strung out, or afraid, they wont be paying any heed to whats really going on in dc. and where the billions of dollars are really going.
Barry Feist

Are you kidding me? Really? So the answer is… if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em? I don’t think so. The so called “war on drugs” is a construct of the Bush administration. But giving in is not the answer either. Do we have fewer alcoholics because alcohol is legal? Absolutely not. We do, however, have reasonable prices on alcohol. Is that what we want for cocaine and other hard drugs, good prices? Because that’s all you will get with legalization.
Barry Feist

Oh… and the real issue is racism, not drug control
seecd5

Stupid war. Why always war. Is it better your relitive has a drug problem you can intervene if he goes to far or is it better that they goes to dark places and meet shady folks to get the drugs and then when he does get busted you can’t have a chance to help them. There put in one more of our perfact systems that we f.. up all the time with F..ed up experts. Jail that we have created is crule and unusaual treatment period. To take a person that was kind and wounderful and throught him or her in with folk that
are just serviving and ready to recruit or kill you if you don’t join. Folks that run these places can’t weight to get away. Now my relative is out of my hands and i can’t help him. the experts have them now. How many more years before the experts that have never been throught this get it right.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4ZWZ46JNBIYPAAQV5DOHP3AZKA g-man

It just is’nt Obama, every President since Reagan has been losing this war, we need to legalize this and collect taxes on these vdrugs. We will never stop the drugs and the violence
this has been going on for years and its going tokeep happening. When will we learn?
Neverdnyed

Hilary Clinton when asked why not end the war on drugs answered “We can’t; there’s too much money involved.”
It’s the banksters who keep it going laundering billions of drug cartel money.
This country tried prohibition in the 1920′s finally to reverse it after ganster violence and public outcry. Our politicians are profiting from this and as long as this “war on drugs” continues so will they.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!! YOU ARE BECOMING A THIRD WORLD DICTATORSHIP!!!!!!
delightman88

Did Obama say what he did because he had no choice? Given the considerable majority who want to end the drug war, the increasing number of states that have allowed medical marijuana sales, and now the decriminalization of marijuana in a few states, you have to wonder who Obama is speaking for. It’s certainly not us. No one in Washington, save Ron Paul, has even suggested that the use of pot or any other drug be legalized. So who is really behind this costly, destructive war? Good question, and one that needs answering.
Eleanore Whitaker

I find this article about as ignorant as it needs to get. So a Trayvon Obama, because he’s black automatically is destined for a career in drugs while a Trayvon Bush isn’t? Is that because the Trayvon Bush is the one behind the billions in profit drugs have become? Sorry, I don’t buy this analogy one bit. The reality is that while the Trayvon Obamas on the streets live in poverty and want out it, the Trayvon Bush’s live on Big Oil ranches the Trayvon Obamas’ parents are paying the tax subsidies for.

Anyone too ignorant not to know that drugs dealers are assisted by a whole lot of Trayvon Bushes to launder drug money. How many of the drug money launderers have access to some of the biggest US banks? US corporations? Organized crime?

Those who think the answer is ending the War On Drugs have a back room agenda. Legalizing cocaine, crack and crack cocaine will civilize a society? Will encourage more college degreed careers? Will advance science?

No…it won’t. All legalizing drugs will do is create another immense rip off industry with one major difference. What’s to stop one drug lord from taking out another that reduces his drug corporations profits? Will there be Drug Venture Capitalists too? How about a round of Drug Infested businesses so messed up by druggies that you dare not spend a dime on their goods or products for fear you’d end up dead from massive negligence? And how reliable will a Drug CEOs services be? Or will there be some magic line between the Drug CEO and their drugged up sales staff?
Eleanore Whitaker

The US DEA knows how drugs enter this country. If the DEA knows this, shouldn’t they have enough legislative teeth to at least make a dent in the proliferation of drugs in the US? Anyone who keeps up with the illegal drug industry has heard numerous times from the horses’ mouths that the US is a HUGE buyer of illegal drugs. And just why is that? Because dealers make millions from them. What else?

In their view, they can sell a few drugs and earn what a CEO does in a year’s time. Isn’t that also part of the problem? Devalue the drugs and that at least puts a dent in the illegal industry.
http://www.facebook.com/debbie.kieselryan1 Debbie Kiesel-Ryan

Mr Obama sounds like an uneducated oath when he says “The president argued that drug dealers might come to “dominate certain countries if they were allowed to operate legally without any constraint.” This dominance, he said, “could be just as corrupting if not more corrupting than the status quo.”” I thought the whole point of legalization is that it would be regulated, the drug cartels would not be involved, there would be a plan as to who would be growing and selling? Did I miss something or is the President talking out of his head, and by that Imean he’s making no sense by this statement what so ever!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/lydialmr Lydia Rodriguez

Leagalization is the answer, but decriminalization is a start. The drug business needs government control.
randy miller

Our drug problem exist because the people in power depend on it. This includes law inforcement, our court system, our health care system, our prison system, all of our border
security perosonal, our arms manufactures. The list goes on and on.
washbag

The war on drugs is failing to be sure , but is legalizing all drugs the answer? I think we should follow the lead of the Netherlands and glean as much info as we can on what happened when they did it. If we were to just legalize pot and use the proceeds to begin a comprehensive education program starting at the second grade I’d be all for it. Legalizing Heroin and Cocaine could be a huge can of worms you couldn’t put the lid back on. Much of the Mexican problem comes from the demand in this country for pot as well as cocaine but if you eliminated the pot and concentrated on coke and heroin you just MIGHT be able to make some progress.
http://www.facebook.com/patrick.courts Patrick Courts

It’s a classic fascist trip called targeted oppression that in turn feeds the prison industrial complex. Since our southern boarders with Mexico are tightening up and stepped up the deportation process big time, a lot of farmers around those parts can’t get anybody to harvest, pick and carry the fruit, etc. and certainly not for not but a ram’s wage. Well there’s a bunch of prisons down there, private and otherwise, that have been bandying about the idea of having inmates fill the labor gap.
http://profile.yahoo.com/VTV55S5BALQIDBQFOLH7WIZNSA Don B

Let’s face it, the Drug War needs to keep going so our country’s Black Ops projects get the money they need to stay in existence—If the American people knew all about all the projects done in the CIA, etc. out of public view they’d scream…..Yup, our alphabet security agencies need that dough from illegal drugs to keep themselves flush with cash.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Graves/100002694695711 Gary Graves

Didn’t the Bush and Regan era take care of the drug problem. No blame Obama.
washbag

What we all rail against is a system we feel we can’t change. Whether to legalize drugs or not is almost a secondary issue to the inability of the government to change the way it does business.Everybody on this page agrees something MUST be done , and while ideas about exactly what and how differ greatly , the system seems the culprit in every analysis. I might remind people that change takes place in small pieces and bits . Each time we fight a battle and win, we change the system and eventually , turn the country a different direction. Although this is a very painful and slow process, the system does work. When Bush appointed two people to the supreme court it was a dagger in my heart since the outcome was very predictable. Citizens United was just the beginning.Next will be Obamacare falling and who knows after that. It is sooo important to voice our dissatisfaction with those decisions. The ONE thing that politicans have to listen to is the VOTERS. We will legalize drugs only when we indicate we won’t vote for the person who is unwilling to do so.
Sandyjasski

I have been in recovery from drug addiction for over 24 years and let me say that I agree with keeping drugs illegal. If an addict does not suffer any consequences then they will not hit a bottom, find recovery (if they live through it), and become responsible citizens. Supporting more recovery programs and education of how serious this is should be the answer. Drugs kill, they almost killed me. I have seen it too much over the years and they destroy lives and families. I believe almost everyone has an addict in their family or knows of one or more and can see that. I was told over 40 years ago that marijuana can lead to harder drugs and guess what they were right. I also am a huge Obama supporter.
Sandyjasski

Another point not mentioned is where are the statistics for how many addicts in recovery that has increased tremendously, particularly due to the court orders, such as drug court. Marijuana is still considered a misdemeanor in most states for a small quantity. That constitutes probation and fees. The biggest “war” we have today in the US is the war on meth. Again, I say put more into education and recovery programs. How about the old saying “more education, not legislation”. Keep things the way they are for legislation and add more education…..duh???!!!!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KOPKDFAUQPIIRAFI3HEXNMSHLQ Ed

We should legalize and tax it. That would greatly reduce the cost of our prison systems and our DEA. No police officer should aver have to sacrifice his life to prevent americans from getting what they very badly want!
bmcquilkin

Let us get this clear. your quote,”One wonders if the President forgot to engage BRAIN before operating mouth” is DISRESPECTFUL. Don’t attack the person. stay on topic and discuss the issues. I wonder if you forgot to engage brain before operating YOUR mouth.
Goldcoaster

Ah Mr. Pitts. Always have to get that racist jab in there, dont you.

White American men commit the vast majority of the nations drug crimes. Hmmm. Ok. Well, whites comprise 80% of the population, so I guess thats reasonable.

But lets explore further. If by drug crimes you mean using drugs, OK I might buy that, again given population.

But if by drug crimes you mean dealing drugs, that I would question. Love to see your source material on that statement Mr. Pitts.

What should leave us all embarassed is the high (50%) High School dropout rate of young black men. Who then deal drugs because they are not qualified for any productive work.

And that is why young black men do the vast majority of the nations “drug time”. It is not a nakedly racial disparity that should leave the Dept of Justice embarassed. Its a fact.

That is the root of the problem, Mr. Pitts. Not racially targeted drug arrests.

In any event, the war on drugs is an abject failure. Legalize and tax soft drugs, and focus on the hard drugs. Never happen though, too much “infrastructure” has been developed, too many nice jobs to protect enforcing these laws.

I have an idea. How about redeploying drug war resources to fighting human trafficking and sex slavery? A massively rampant problem. worldwide. Far more destructive to lives as well.
http://profile.yahoo.com/JGTK5OFPFRTFAJP2BZL2D45O4Y MinhN

We spent roughly $8000/year on educating our students from 1st to 12th grade and above $50,000/year on prisoner. More than 70% of the CA prison population is drug-related. Do the math, legalization makes perfect senses to me. Even Pat Robinson/800 club thinks we should treat drugs like alcohol and legalize it. As I see it, the people oppose to legalization drug has hidden agenda, $$$$$.

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