Local, national groups call for end to ‘war on drugs’

Middletown Press ^ | December 04, 2002 | JOHN ZORABEDIAN

[MrLeRoy]

MIDDLETOWN -- Peter Christ and Cliff Thornton are two men with very different backgrounds: Thornton was a substitute teacher in Hartford’s schools, and Christ is a former police officer in western New York state. But both men have reached the same conclusion -- that the ‘war on drugs’ is a massive failure that only deepens the national crisis of addiction and drug-related crime.

After 20 years on opposite sides of a war that has cost over $1 trillion in 30 years, with millions of casualties on both sides, the two men, and many more around the country, are pursuing campaigns to decriminalize illicit drugs.

"No matter how many (drug offenders) are locked up, the problem doesn’t go away ..it gets worse," said Thornton, an educator for a Hartford-based drug law reform group. "The drug war is a colossal waste of resources (and) we must dismantle this monster."

Speaking to a large group of students at Wesleyan University Tuesday, Thornton and Christ explained their shared perception of the so-called drug war as a policy that not only fails to keep drugs off the streets and out of schools, but leads to the incarceration of large sectors of the population -- mostly poor people and minorities.

"The average drug user in the United States has a 40-hour per week job and is white," said Thornton, who cited reports from Amnesty International condemning U.S. drug policy for its violations of human and civil rights. "But the faces of prisoners are overwhelmingly black and brown."

African-American men make up only 3 percent of Connecticut’s population, according to Thornton’s group, Efficacy, but constitute 47 percent of all inmates in the state’s prisons and halfway houses.

Prisons themselves are "largely violent, drug-ridden places," he said, where inmates are not likely to get the treatment they need."

Although Thornton likened the "war on drugs" to "class and race warfare," Christ said he views the prohibition of drugs as a matter of practicality -- prohibition simply doesn’t work.

Alcohol prohibition ended in the 1930s, "not because alcohol became benign ..but because we realized the policy (of prohibition) caused more problems than (alcohol did)," said Christ.

A founding member of the national group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Christ said he wants to see drugs legalized as a way to reduce drug-related crime and to regulate dangerous drugs.

Comparing drug prohibition to abortion and gambling laws, Christ said legalization will not cause an increase in the number of drug addicts.

"I want to regulate and control drugs in this country," said Christ. "You can’t regulate the black market."

The forum was sponsored by the Wesleyan group Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list ping

[Lurker]

""I want to regulate and control drugs in this country," said Christ. "You can’t regulate the black market." "

Finally, a cop who get's it.

L

[RJCogburn]

The drug problem is a problem on the demand side of the equation. The stupid WOD targets the supply side and cannot succeed.

[headsonpikes]

There is no drug problem.

As always , there is a political 'problem'.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[MrLeRoy]

There is no drug problem.

An overstatement IMHO. I would agree that there is no drug problem that is the proper object of government coercion.

[Houmatt]

Peter Christ and Cliff Thornton are two men with very different backgrounds: Thornton was a substitute teacher in Hartford’s schools, and Christ is a former police officer in western New York state. But both men have reached the same conclusion --

They are complete and utter morons. And most of America agrees.

[breakem]

This is an amazing site. Just say drugs or sodomy and you'll get 1000 replies. Of course I add to the total. Put me down for repeal of drug laws and putting gangs out of business.

[MrLeRoy]

They are complete and utter morons. And most of America agrees.

Actually, a recent poll showed that 74% of Americans agreed that the War On Drugs has failed.

[headsonpikes]

"And most of America agrees."

Thus substantiating de Tocqueville's fears about American 'democracy'.

IMO.

[Vidalia]

There is no war on drugs.

The actual "war" is by the armed alphabet agencies to maintain their funding and keep their "killing machine" agencies in power.

These agencies are also afraid that the absolute corruption that is rampant within these agencies.

The lie that is out there is that these agencies "hate" each other.

Verified proof is mounting exponentially that many agents from differing agencies are working hand in hand to enrich themselves and their nepotic families.

[ellery]

Even if your facts were correct, citing the general agreement of the public is not exactly a strong argument. Remember, Clintoon was elected twice...

[clamper1797]

Even if your facts were correct

Which they are NOT

[RonF]

Drug use kills people. It always has, and it always will. Now, who do you want it to kill?

Legal drug use kills drug users, and the occasional innocent bystander when a user uses drugs in a car.

Illegal drug use kills drug users, drug dealers, victims of crimes that drug users commit so that they can afford expensive illegal drugs, victims of crimes that drug dealers commit so that they can continue their illegal activities, innocent bystanders that get hit when gang-bangers have a shoot-out, cops trying to enforce the law, etc.

I'd rather have the law set up so that drug users just kill themselves, and minimize the killing of other people. I don't recall anywhere in the Bible where it says, "Thou shalt not smoke dope."

[Houmatt]

Actually, a recent poll showed that 74% of Americans agreed that the War On Drugs has failed.

And who did the poll? When?

Nobody I know thinks we should just throw up our hands and legalize drugs. And I have never been called and polled about anything.

So I seriously doubt the veracity of any poll; that one especially.

[taxed2death]

WOD = total waste of my tax money.

Government should hand out as many / much drugs as they can get their hands on. I say, pass 'em out like Chicklets every Monday at about noon. Get the little kiddies out of school for an hour or so, down to the local holding pen and have 'em watch the losers smoke crack until they crap their pants and bleed from their eyes. When they flop around on the ground like fish on a dock and their eyes roll into the back of their heads and their hearts explode, the little kiddies will see the effects of drug use.

Publik Edumacation at it's best.....Scared straight or whatever you want to call it. I'll bet the kiddies will run like hell at the mere mention of "illy".

Just a thought.

I'd pay to see it on PPV. :)

[fporretto]

Are you quite sure of that figure? The last I saw a survey, 88% of respondents approved of the Drug War and wanted to see it continued at least.

As others have already said, one doesn't argue for a policy position by using its popularity. Alcohol Prohibition and the Income Tax Amendment both commanded a majority at one time, too. But I hope you have a good source for those numbers. It would be terrible to be called on them in the thick of debate.

PS: I'm pro-legalization.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[Houmatt]

F*ck off, troll.

[gcruse]

Even if your facts were correct, citing the general agreement of the public is not exactly a strong argument. Remember, Clintoon was elected twice...

What you're saying is that people are too stupid to govern themselves.
So the lifestylepolice/gungrabbers/drugwarriors should run the country
according to their own lights?