PDA

View Full Version : New Drug Czar - better than old one, but...




surf
02-12-2009, 12:16 PM
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008732707_webkerlliskowske11m.html


Seattle police chief to become nation's drug czar

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske has accepted a job as the nation's drug czar in the Obama administration, according to a source in Washington, D.C., who is familiar with the administration's plans.
...
But his tenure has been rocky at times, marked by controversy over allegations that he was too soft when it came to disciplining officers in misconduct cases.
...

"Oh God bless us"

Kerlikowske's possible role in shaping drug policy for the Obama administration was applauded Tuesday by local medical-marijuana advocates.

In 2003, Kerlikowske opposed a city ballot measure, approved by voters, to make marijuana possession the lowest law-enforcement priority, saying it would create confusion. But in doing so, he noted that arresting people for possessing marijuana for personal use was already not a priority.

"Oh God bless us," said Joanna McKee, co-founder and director of Green Cross Patient Co-Op, a medical-marijuana patient-advocacy group. "What a blessing — the karma gods are smiling on the whole country, man."

McKee said Kerlikowske knows the difference between cracking down on the illegal abuse of drugs and allowing the responsible use of marijuana.

Douglas Hiatt, a Seattle attorney and advocate for medical-marijuana patients, said his first preference would be for a physician to oversee national drug policy.

But Kerlikowske would be a vast improvement over past drug czars, who have used the office to carry out the so-called "war on drugs," Hiatt said.

Kerlikowske is a "very reasonable guy" who would likely bring more liberal policies to the job, Hiatt said.

When i saw the headline i was hoping it was going to be Norm Stamper, former top-cop in Seattle who now, i believe, is a LEAP member

Elwar
02-12-2009, 12:55 PM
I think it's funny that they call themselves a drug czar...I hope I'm not the only one who sees the irony of it.

Xenophage
02-12-2009, 12:57 PM
LOL, whatever!

JaylieWoW
02-12-2009, 01:30 PM
I think it's funny that they call themselves a drug czar...I hope I'm not the only one who sees the irony of it.

Yeah, I was noticing the increased use of this "title" lately... what gives? Was this the title all along and I was just ignorant?

All this "czar" talk lately is really creepy if you ask me.

Agent CSL
02-12-2009, 01:40 PM
Yeah, I was noticing the increased use of this "title" lately... what gives? Was this the title all along and I was just ignorant?

All this "czar" talk lately is really creepy if you ask me.

I KNOW! I noticed this. What's with the use of this word. I bet all the guys who fought in the cold war are spinning around in their beds at night. You know your country is going socialist but this really drives it home.

dannno
02-12-2009, 01:41 PM
Yeah, I was noticing the increased use of this "title" lately... what gives? Was this the title all along and I was just ignorant?

All this "czar" talk lately is really creepy if you ask me.


The title was first published in a 1982 news story by United Press International which reported that “Senators... voted 62-34 to establish a ‘drug czar’ who would have overall responsibility for U.S. drug policy.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Czar

gls
02-12-2009, 01:42 PM
McKee said Kerlikowske knows the difference between cracking down on the illegal abuse of drugs and allowing the responsible use of marijuana.


What a hypocrite.

"My use of marijuana is responsible. People's use of other drugs is illegal abuse."

constituent
02-12-2009, 02:40 PM
What a hypocrite.

"My use of marijuana is responsible. People's use of other drugs is illegal abuse."

yep, which just goes to show that most people don't get it.