Stop marijuana trade, U.S. drug czar urges

The Globe and Mail ^ | 11-22-02 | ROBERT MATAS

[jmc813]

VANCOUVER -- Riding high after U.S. states rejected measures to relax drug laws, drug czar John Walters came to Canada this week to talk tough about a new front in the drug war.

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

About 60 per cent of six million people who need treatment services for drug abuse in the United States are dependent on marijuana, he said.

Earlier this month, Mr. Walters campaigned against measures to relax drug laws in Nevada, Arizona and Ohio.

Despite well-financed campaigns by pro-marijuana advocates, voters in those states rejected the measures.

Mr. Walters said he is making his first-ever visit to Vancouver because British Columbia increasingly supplies marijuana to Americans.

The U.S. government had succeeded somewhat in controlling the flow of drugs across its southern border with Mexico, he said.

But while it was looking south, British Columbia developed a $6-billion industry of what he described as the most potent, most commonly addictive drug in the United States.

Police told him that 95 per cent of the B.C. product is exported to the United States.

The psychoactive ingredient in B.C. marijuana is up to four times stronger than in other marijuana currently available on U.S. streets, he said.

"The problem we face is that people do not appreciate the danger that marijuana poses, particularly for young people," he said.

Mr. Walters, who is described in U.S. media as a law-and-order conservative, has advocated severe prison sentences for marijuana smugglers as well as allowing the military to play a lead role in interdiction.

He said he has not spent enough time in B.C. to fully understand what is going on in the province. However, Canada's approach to marijuana conflicts directly with Mr. Walters's views on the drug and how to deal with it.

Legalizing marijuana -- which has been recommended by a Senate committee in Canada -- is "ludicrous," he said. Allowing marijuana use for medical purposes -- which is federal policy in Canada -- is not supported by science, he said.

Despite the differences, Mr. Walters said he wants greater co-operation from Canada on enforcement of antimarijuana laws.

Earlier this year, U.S. officials reported they had seized nearly twice as much marijuana at the B.C.-Washington state border as in the year before.

Mr. Walters said targets have not been set to further reduce cross-border marijuana traffic. He anticipated that stepped-up measures introduced mostly for security reasons will have an impact on the flow of drugs through Vancouver's port and border crossings.

Offering a glimpse of what is in store, he said he expected more prescreening of commercial goods at the ports and airports.

New technology will be introduced to allow inspectors to scan shipping containers without opening them. New devices are being developed to measure gases and other emissions, he said.

Mr. Walters also anticipated more prescreening of individuals.

However, the strongest efforts to disrupt the drug trade should not be made at the border, Mr. Walters said.

"Trying to do this at the border is like trying to hit a pitch in baseball blindfolded," he said. "You may once in a while connect but it is largely going to be an accident."

He would not comment on what he expected law-enforcement agencies in Canada to do.

RCMP Constable Danielle Efford later said Mr. Walters and the RCMP "shared information and ideas" during a private informal meeting.

The RCMP is committed to work with its partners in the United States and elsewhere, she said. However, she would provide no details about the discussions.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Phantom Lord]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver. About 60 per cent of six million people who need treatment services for drug abuse in the United States are dependent on marijuana, he said.

That is about the biggest load of crap I have ever heard about MJ.

[weikel]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

So this guy is directing reefer madness part two?

[miloklancy]

The Bush administration cannot fight the War on Terror and stamp out marijuana at the same time. This cannot be done and the continued fear mongering and lies about marijuana by the Drug Czar just makes the administration look like a laughing stock. Here is a tip for the feds, legalize it, so you can tax it and regulate it! That's simple enough, isn't it?

[Lexington Green]

insanity

[Phantom Lord]

The Bush administration cannot fight the War on Terror and stamp out marijuana at the same time.

The Bush administration, nor any other administration can stamp out MJ in absence of the war on terror or any other war. The war on MJ can never and will never be won.

[Willie Green]

So this guy is directing reefer madness part two?

You should audition for the lead role.
You just might win an Oscar, and wouldn't even have to act!

[HELLRAISER II]

I agree.

[weikel]

You should audition for the lead role. You just might win an Oscar, and wouldn't even have to act!

Well I don't smoke weed but if offered to me I would take the lead role even if its BS propaganda. No biz like showbiz.

[HELLRAISER II]

Don't smoke pot it will make you kill your neighbors & rape your farm animals. Sarcasm off! Please give me a break Mr. Drug Czar, that's the most assinine statement i've ever heard.

[weikel]

Well it won't do that but I could go to bang me in the a** prison.

[jodorowsky]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

Beauty pageants pose a greater threat to Islam than pork, alcohol, or Zionism, said Imam Sahib, the director of the Nigerian office of Shari'ah Enforcement in an interview yesterday in Ouagadougou.

[HELLRAISER II]

Oh I know that, I was just playing on the Reefer Madness nonsense.

[breakem]

Bush is responsible for this guy.

[Willie Green]

Well I don't smoke weed but if offered to me

I don't think you'd have to actually smoke it...
I just think you're capable of portraying the dibilitating effects without it.

[Bahbah]

You must not have heard about all of the people dropping dead from overdoses of weed. Hehehe

[weikel]

I don't think I'd be able to seem like a convincing Cheech and Chong type. I could do some more outlandish spoofs of the Cheech & Chong types. Have a script where I refer to it as MY PRECIOUSSSSSSSSS or something lol.

[Sir Gawain]

We need to outlaw alcohol too. Then people will stop drinking.

Any moron knows the quickest way to defund terrorists that rely on the illegal drug trade is to make drugs legal. Why are politicians so stupid?

[weikel]

If they legalize drugs and those drug cops are out on their ass then said drug cops will vote against those pols now won't they. Most things become clear if you get cynical enough.

[FreeTally]

Wow, John Walters is at it again. Surprise, surprise.

And the BS just keep getting thicker and thicker.

[FreeTally]

Bush is responsible for this guy.

As days go by, I find myself more and more relieved that I didn't fall for his BS vote for him.

[headsonpikes]

Ouagadougou KA-BOOM!!!

Mr. Walters--Go home.

[Pahuanui]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

I would have thought it was stupid political hacks in positions of high appointment.

Silly me.

[Squawk 8888]

About 60 per cent of six million people who need treatment services for drug abuse in the United States are dependent on marijuana, he said.

No doubt because those who got nabbed for possession decided that a plea-bargain for rehab was preferable to jail.

[Barry Goldwater]

"Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines"

If this is so wouldn't it be good policy to encourage those addicted to marajuana to move on to heroin or cocaine?

[big gray tabby]

Well, I for one am going to take him at his word and give up my weed habit for crystal meth.

[golder]

Frankly, I don't care for the drug, now alcohol, that's a good drug. I consider GW my president, love the man. Meat heads like this guy, do him no good.

Somebody help me!!!

[AUgrad]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters

It poses a greater threat to the validity of the WOD than any of the other drugs. The fact that he can say these things with a straight face reveals Walters to be nothing more than a contemptable idiot. Their fear and desperation are really starting to show.

[JohnGalt]

Reason Magazine reported that drug use is up 12% since this guy took over in May 2001.

Shouldn't he resign?

[jimt]

Why are politicians so stupid?

They're not. The WOsD is big business. Besides the armies of drug warriors, there's all the booty generated by asset forfeiture.

This blather is purely for the rubes. Would you expect Toys-R-Us to advertise the non-existence of Santa Claus?

[hove]

The war on drugs is a tool of collectivism. It is a liberal agenda. Those who subscribe to and back this farce are closet liberals, running a campaign of deception....or they are not too bright...and have been duped.

[AUgrad]

If this is so wouldn't it be good policy to encourage those addicted to marajuana to move on to heroin or cocaine?

Great point!!

[dljordan]

It's his job. He was givien an executive position and a very nice salary, so he has to justify his existence. It doesn't matter what he believes or what the truth is because he's not about the truth. The truth of the WOD is gaining public approval and on a lower level material gain through confiscation (or theft) of private property. You can add into the mix the overweening egos of the enforcement apparatus (swat teams) and the adrenaline rush of semi-combat. The entire WOD relies on the majority of the public wishing to control persons that they have been led to believe are somhow inferior to themselves and deserve whatever happens to them for not adhering to the general consensus of accepted behavior.

[APBaer]

"It's his job. He was givien an executive position and a very nice salary, so he has to justify his existence."
..."Relies on the majority of the public wishing to control persons that they have been led to believe are somhow inferior...

Did he have a doppelganger named Adolph Eichmann?

[big gray tabby]

Up 12%? That's pretty much everybody then.

[Egregious Philbin]

Somebody needs to roll Mr. Walters a fat one!

[Belial]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

Exactly. You can snort coke, and go on to be say...President.

[JohnGalt]

Seriously, if O'Neil is let go because the economy grew at 1% instead of 4%, shouldn't Walters be shown the door?


The government is far more cynical about the drug war than we can ever imagine.

[truenospinzone]

Exactly - you'd think they'd be pushing the whole "gateway drug" myth as a positive thing - "Weed is evil, but at least it soon leads users to the less dangerous drugs heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines!".

[expatguy]

Marijuana poses a greater danger to the United States than heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, said Mr. Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in an interview yesterday in Vancouver.

Absolute stupidity. And people wonder why our educators have trouble teaching young people.

We already have youngsters now who think that fellacio is not a sex act.

[jodorowsky]

Why are politicians so stupid?

Stupid?!? As you know, the war on drugs is not only a boon to criminals and degenerates, it's also an ingenious idea if you do government for a living.

Even the torchwielding mob is gratified by the scapegoating and purifying blood sacrifices.

[yoswif]

The "War on drugs not manufactured by large multinational corporations that donate millions of dollars to the Republican party and funnel millions in ad revenue to media corporations" is just another socialist welfare scam. The only beneficiaries are the lawyers, bureaucrats, police, and prison officials who plunder the federal and state treasuries to execute a ludicrous policy. I hope Canada legalizes MJ and tells the Bush administration that they're doing it because they're not owned by the manufacturers of the evil, killer drug alcohol.

[Mr. Mojo]

talk tough about a new front in the drug war.

Yawn...

The authoritarian dictators can open up all the new fronts in the War on People they desire, but all this serves to do (besides destroying the lives of countless peaceful citizens) is prolong the inevitable complete decrimminalization of marijuana.

Perhaps the FedGov should concentrate on real threats instead.

[spodbox]

Not to pick nits, but that's "fellatio." What you wrote there is I believe a musical term. Still, we appreciate your point.

[Trailerpark Badass]

The government is far more cynical about the drug war than we can ever imagine.

No doubt.

It's understandable that a few mouth-breathers like Dane and Willie Green and Roscoe would fall for the hysterical propaganda, but surely there are more than a handful of reasonable people in executive positions in government who can see it for the vile farce it is.

[breakem]

I dislike much about Bush's policies, but I think his response to 9-11 should strong leadership and it is the overidding issue.

[-YYZ-]

So many lies, so little time.

[golder]

Exactly. You can snort coke, and go on to be say...President.

Of the people I know that smoke dope or snort stimulants, give me the stimulant users. Having abused both in the past, the dope smokers have to be, hands down, the brain dead, lala land, idiots of our time. It could be that the condition existed prior to the dope smoking.

Excuse me, are you stupid, or just stoned? I firmly believe dope smokers were near-do-wells prior to the drug usage. Having said this, the WOD is akin to smoking too much dope!

[uncbob]

About 60 per cent of six million people who need treatment services for drug abuse in the United States are dependent on marijuana, he said.

What a load of BS
Wonder if he includes alcoholics in those drug abuse numbers