Daily Archives: June 25, 2017

From a very important article in The Intercept by Jon Schwartz The History Channel Is Finally Telling the Stunning Secret Story of the War on Drugs (emphasis added):

The History Channel is showing a new four-part series called Americas War on Drugs. Not only is itan important contribution to recent American history, its also the first time U.S. television has ever told the core truth about one of the most important issues of the past 50years.

That core truth is: The War on Drugs has always been a pointless sham. For decades the federal government has engaged in a shifting series of alliances of convenience with some of the worlds largest drug cartels. So while the U.S. incarceration rate has quintupled since President Richard Nixon first declared the war on drugs in 1971 (see chart above), top narcotics dealers have simultaneously enjoyed protection at the highest levels of power in America.

On the one hand, this shouldnt be surprising. The voluminous documentation of this fact in dozens of books has long been available to anyone with curiosity and a library card. Yet somehow, despite the fact the U.S. has no formal system of censorship, this monumental scandal has never before been presented in a comprehensive way in the medium where most Americans get their information: TV.

Thats why Americas War on Drugs is a genuine milestone. Weve recently seen how ideas that once seemed absolutely preposterous and taboo for instance, that the Catholic Church was consciously safeguarding priests who sexually abused children, or that Bill Cosby may not have been the best choice for Americas Dad can after years of silence finally break through into popular consciousness and exact real consequences. The series could be a watershed in doing the same for the reality behind one of the most cynical and cruel policies in U.S. history.

That this series exists at all shows that were at a tipping point with this brazen, catastrophic lie. We have to push hard enough to knock it over.

You can watch a 4-minute overview of the series above and you can watch full episodes of the series online here:

Episode 1 Acid, Spies, & Secret Experiments

Episode 2 Cocaine, Cartels, & Crack Downs

Episode 3 Gangs, Prisons, & Meth Queens (requires sign-in with your cable TV provider)

Episode 4 Heroin, Terrorists, & Kings of Pain (requires sign-in with your cable TV provider)

Bottom Line: As Ive written before, Im confident that in a future, more enlightened, advanced, open-minded and tolerant America, well look back on Americas immoral, senseless, expensive and failed War on Drugs Otherwise Peaceful Americans Who Chose to Ingest or Smoke Plants, Weeds and Recreational Substances Proscribed by Arbitrary Government Regulations with the shame, contempt, and embarrassment that it so rightfully deserves for such cruel, intolerant, and inhumane treatment of our fellow citizens (and our children and family dogs). Kudos to The History Channel for making such an important contribution to bringing us much closer to that future reckoning with such an embarrassing and shameful chapter of Americas history that matches (if not exceeds) Americas previous failed, costly and shameful War on Alcohol Otherwise Peaceful Americans Who Chose to Ingest Recreational Beverages Proscribed by Arbitrary Government Regulations during the 1930s.

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History Channel tells stunning secret story of War on Drugs from the beginning it was a political war on people - American Enterprise Institute

From a very important article in The Intercept by Jon Schwartz The History Channel Is Finally Telling the Stunning Secret Story of the War on Drugs (emphasis added):

The History Channel is showing a new four-part series called Americas War on Drugs. Not only is itan important contribution to recent American history, its also the first time U.S. television has ever told the core truth about one of the most important issues of the past 50years.

That core truth is: The War on Drugs has always been a pointless sham. For decades the federal government has engaged in a shifting series of alliances of convenience with some of the worlds largest drug cartels. So while the U.S. incarceration rate has quintupled since President Richard Nixon first declared the war on drugs in 1971 (see chart above), top narcotics dealers have simultaneously enjoyed protection at the highest levels of power in America.

On the one hand, this shouldnt be surprising. The voluminous documentation of this fact in dozens of books has long been available to anyone with curiosity and a library card. Yet somehow, despite the fact the U.S. has no formal system of censorship, this monumental scandal has never before been presented in a comprehensive way in the medium where most Americans get their information: TV.

Thats why Americas War on Drugs is a genuine milestone. Weve recently seen how ideas that once seemed absolutely preposterous and taboo for instance, that the Catholic Church was consciously safeguarding priests who sexually abused children, or that Bill Cosby may not have been the best choice for Americas Dad can after years of silence finally break through into popular consciousness and exact real consequences. The series could be a watershed in doing the same for the reality behind one of the most cynical and cruel policies in U.S. history.

That this series exists at all shows that were at a tipping point with this brazen, catastrophic lie. We have to push hard enough to knock it over.

You can watch a 4-minute overview of the series above and you can watch full episodes of the series online here:

Episode 1 Acid, Spies, & Secret Experiments

Episode 2 Cocaine, Cartels, & Crack Downs

Episode 3 Gangs, Prisons, & Meth Queens (requires sign-in with your cable TV provider)

Episode 4 Heroin, Terrorists, & Kings of Pain (requires sign-in with your cable TV provider)

Bottom Line: As Ive written before, Im confident that in a future, more enlightened, advanced, open-minded and tolerant America, well look back on Americas immoral, senseless, expensive and failed War on Drugs Otherwise Peaceful Americans Who Chose to Ingest or Smoke Plants, Weeds and Recreational Substances Proscribed by Arbitrary Government Regulations with the shame, contempt, and embarrassment that it so rightfully deserves for such cruel, intolerant, and inhumane treatment of our fellow citizens (and our children and family dogs). Kudos to The History Channel for making such an important contribution to bringing us much closer to that future reckoning with such an embarrassing and shameful chapter of Americas history that matches (if not exceeds) Americas previous failed, costly and shameful War on Alcohol Otherwise Peaceful Americans Who Chose to Ingest Recreational Beverages Proscribed by Arbitrary Government Regulations during the 1930s.

Read the original:

History Channel tells stunning secret story of War on Drugs - from ... - American Enterprise Institute

By Renee Hoagenson

Hello, my name is Renee Hoagenson, candidate for the office of United States House of Representatives in the November 2018 elections.

On June 15 my campaign held a town hall in Columbia, during which many questions were asked covering a variety of subjects. There were several questions regarding the addiction epidemic and the related subject of incarceration.

In the Friday Tribune article covering this event, I am quoted as saying that my personal opinion is that most drugs should be legal so that addiction could be addressed in the open. This quote is presented as my platform in my bid for Congress. My opponents reply indicated that I advocate the use of drugs by children in schools.

First, let me be clear that no child should ever be given any recreational drugs or alcohol. This insinuation by Vicky Hartzlers office is false and opportunistic. This sort of rhetoric is damaging to the public discussion and stands in the path of making meaningful progress in combatting addiction in our country.

So what is the nature of this problem and what can be done?

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder. It is a health issue. Much research has been conducted on this issue shedding light on the physiological processes that happen in an addicts body and brain. We know, for instance, that 95 percent of addiction begins during adolescence. Some people are more vulnerable to addiction due to predispositions that include genetics, emotional trauma and mental illness.

We also know that there is treatment available that is effective in restoring an alcoholic or addicts mental health. Sometimes this treatment is effective the first time, sometimes it requires a cumulative approach. It usually requires an ongoing recovery practice to achieve and maintain a drug-free, healthy life.

Its easy to misunderstand the addicts plight as a weakness of character or a moral failing. Loved ones often are perplexed as to why the addict shows tremendous willpower regarding every area but this. Its confusing to think that the addict chooses to ruin his life with excessive alcohol or drug use.

Indeed, the addict feels alone and misjudged, unable to find the words to adequately explain the feeling of compulsion. This is compounded by the fear of being incarcerated should they seek help. So the addict suffers silently (or not so silently) in shame and stigma trying to manage the itinerant fallout of his behavior.

According to the Department of Justice, one third of drug offenders in prison had no prior criminal history. More than 40 percent will return within two years on another drug-related incident. We are imprisoning sick people, further desecrating their lives when we could be helping them at far less cost.

In Facing Addiction in America, the Surgeon General reports that we save $10-$12 in incarceration costs for every dollar we spend in treatment. Think about that, if we took 10 percent of the budget we currently spend to incarcerate drug offenders and instead spent it on treatment, we would have fewer active drug addicts. Treatment rehabilitates people, restoring them to the community and their families. The penal system costs 90 percent more and helps no one.

Not only is treatment more effective for addiction, it is less expensive to society overall. The National Institute of Health reports that drug addiction treatment reduces drug use and its associated health and social costs including reducing drug-related crime, justice system costs and healthcare. Add in the related financial and emotional costs to the family. Also, consider the incalculable costs of bringing an effective worker back into the community and their family.

Addiction touches at least one in three adults in someway, occurring in at least one in ten people. When adults struggle for emotional balance it is impossible to be an effective role model for their children, perpetuating this heartbreaking cycle.

We have tried the War on Drugs for the last 40 years. It doesnt work; its a failed campaign. Addiction rates and drug-related death rates continue to increase. Its time to look at the addiction epidemic in our country from a different perspective.

Renee Hoagenson is a candidate for the Fourth Congressional District seat.

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War on drugs is an abject failure - Columbia Daily Tribune

Last weeks revelation that Attorney General Jeff Sessions was plotting to target medical marijuana providers was largely obscured by his testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee the next day. In a letter written to Congress on May 1, Sessions argues that because marijuana remains illegal under the controlled substances act, representatives should disregard longstanding protections against the prosecution of medical cannabis. These protections had just been renewed as part of a budgetary bill two days prior. Its no coincidence that when the bill hit President Donald Trumps desk on May 6, he included a signing statement that largely echoed the attorney generals sentiments. On May 10, Sessions outdid himself when he issued a memorandum calling on US Attorneys to seek the harshest punishment allowed by law when prosecuting drug crimes, directly overturning the more lenient sentencing guidelines pushed forth by Eric Holder in 2013.

This threatens to undo significant progress that drug war opponents have made in recent years. Since Colorado voters made the Rocky Mountain State the first to legalize recreational cannabis in 2013, eight other states have followed suit. Added with the 21 states that allow medicinal cannabis, 60percent of Americans live in a jurisdiction that has legalized marijuana. Moreover, former President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of over 1,000 non-violent drug offendersmore than any previous president.

In the current political environment, ramping up the War on Drugs would cause backlash for both the Trump administration and the GOP. In 2018, incumbent Republicans in states that have legalized marijuana would be forced to answer for an administration intent on disregarding the will of voters. Conversely, any Democrat running on a pro-marijuana platform would gain an instant boost in support as well as financial backing from an increasingly profitable cannabis industry. Come 2020, the issue would also give a boost to Democratic presidential candidatessuch as Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, both of whom have expressed support for legalization.

Even if Trump loses in 2020 and these policies are overturned by a future administration, their impact over the next four years could prove devastating. If Sessions memo is followed by federal prosecutors, it would mean an increase in the enforcement of mandatory minimum laws, which remove judicial discretion and carry automatic 10 and 20 year sentences. Prior to Holder ratcheting back enforcement of these laws, they led to disproportionate sentences on numerous occasions. In one instance, a man was sentenced to a triple life prison sentences merely for introducing two drug dealers to each other. In another, a man was sentenced to a 42-year prison term for selling crack, a sentence the judge was obligated to impose under the three strikes law because he had two previous misdemeanor arrests for selling pot.

Increased enforcement of medical marijuana laws will lead to more horror stories such as these and will further increase the U.S. prison population, which is already the largest in the world. For medical cannabis users, many of which suffer from debilitating health conditions, a federal crackdown would make it more difficult for them to get the relief they need. It could also increase the risk many users already face of losing child custody.

For drug war opponents, the ultimate goal is that Congress pass a law decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level. This would be the only surefire way to both restrain Sessions and ensure that somebody of his ilk never again sets their sights on the War on Drugs.

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Jeff Sessions Ramps up War on Drugs, Sets Sights on Medical ... - Observer