Marijuana: Why ex-drug warriors hate Amendment 64, other drug initiatives

By William Breathes Tue., Oct. 16 2012 at 4:20 PM

Former drug czars, DEA administrators and national "addiction experts" have come out in opposition to Colorado's Amendment 64, as well as similar measures before voters in Washington and Oregon.

In other wildly-unexpected news: The sky is, indeed, blue.

William Bennett and John Walters, both former directors of the White House Office of National Drug Policy (under George Bush and George W. Bush, respectively) head the loose-knit group. Last month, they sent letters to both President Barrack Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging them to take a public stance on Oregon's Measure 80, Washington's Initiative 502 and Colorado's Amendment 64. All three would legalize limited amounts of cannabis for adult use. In Colorado, Amendment 64 would also allow for the creation of retail cannabis shops whose products would be taxed and regulated in ways similar to alcohol.

William Bennett.

The group isn't really asking for anything else in their letters. They merely remind President Barrack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder that marijuana is illegal at the federal level as defined by the Controlled Substances Act, and argue that by remaining silent, the two are conveying "to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives".

On Monday, the group held a virtual teleconference cheekily-dubbed "What are they Smoking?" We missed the press conference because we were busy smoking cannabis, but we assume the conference went something like this:

Talking head: "Blah blah blah, marijuana is bad."

Talking head two: "Blah blah blah, federal laws are in conflict with state legalization."

Talking head three: "Blah blah blah, blah blah blah."

Feel free to make the rest of the conversation up in your head based on the last forty years of rhetoric from the war on drugs: It probably wouldn't be be far off from what really transpired. Our friends over at the Huffington Post did get a few quotes (as well as comment from Amendment 64 proponent Mason Tvert), and they are exactly what you would imagine them to be. If you really are a glutton for punishment, you can listen to the .mp3 of the conference on the TrueCompassion.org site.

Continue to read the group's letters to President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder opposing cannabis measures in Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Tags:

Amendment 64, Drug Enforcement Agency, Initiative 502, John P. Walters, marijuana, Measure 80, White House Office of National Drug Policy, William Bennet

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Paula Abolafia

What a hilarious article, please legalize it :'D

Jeremy Hull

After I leave a job, I send letters to my boss all the time telling him what to do.

David Spohn

Don't hate! Partake! Fuck those pussy "warriors" they are just butt hurt they lost their stupid futile battle againsts Gods gift! MMJ is not the problem here it's thier ignorance that is problematic! Shame on them for wasting our tax money!

Brian Whatley

they dont want the price to go down, and in some cases it will, but there is high quality Alcohol. and the people producing it in the prohibition of alcohol didn't want it to be legal, cause they thought it would put them out of buisness, its the same thing with Marijuana Prohibition. there are high quality Cannabis strains , that would be more higher priced than others.

Paul Vincent Saurini

Did not the mj advertising SAVE Westword from its own demise?

RedOwl

"Last month, they sent letters to both President Barrack Obama "

"President Barrack Obama"

"Barrack"

Way to spell the president's name right, Westworrd.

IcePick

@RedOwl /me clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap

teb_1973

I am for marijuana legalization, but I don't know if these bills are the right approach. At least it is something, though. Just getting it legalized SOMEHOW is better than the current hypocrisy. The lies and misinformation from the drug war goons just don't fly for most people. They see through their smokescreens and the half-truths that they use to make people afraid just like in the old days when the racist drug laws were formed. Education is what America needs so everyone can make their own choice as to what to use or not. We don't need our government leaders telling us what we can or can't do when we are not infringing on the rights of our neighbors. Responsible drug use is a reality for millions of people. There will always be rebellious kids who want to get trashed on whatever, but most kids who are EDUCATED about marijuana (think tobacco), will be able to make an informed choice for themselves instead of being enticed by the taboo of a controlled substance.

michael.roberts moderator editortopcommenter

@teb_1973 Thoughtful post, Teb. Thanks.

TheSpleen

"The House I Live In" premiers in Denver at the Chez Artiste during the last week of Oct. I hope it helps make a difference.

Stephen At Half Aspen

I support legalization but 64 was poorly written. A far simpler, and palatable, solution would have been to amend the existing MMJ laws to exempt the medical exam requirement for the patient license. Same end result but with the oversight in place. This would have been acceptable to many but as it it's written, no chance.

James Ryan Hamilton

Keeping pot illegal will cure addiction like prohibition cured alcoholism.

Michael Barger

Using their argument, slavery should still be legal. Oh wait...

Angel Jimenez

It will pass. Where are the polls tracking 64 at? 51%? Of course the people you've listed hate this fact. They need to go find real jobs now. HA!

kevin_hunt topcommenter

If you want to get revenge on these corrupt old fools like Bill Bennett, vote YES on A64. Legalization in Colorado would be a slap in the face to these anti-drug warriors that have been working hard to make this country into a fascist police state. Out with the old, in with the new!

Gueston

@kevin_hunt if you want to see some funny shit about Bill Bennett. Google "Louis CK Bill Bennett." Louis ripped him a new one, its hilarious.

Gueston

@kevin_hunt errr youtube not google

Gueston

@kevin_hunt oh you know what, it was Bill Donahue, not a Bill Bennett. I get all these anti-American "Bills" mixed up lol.

http://youtu.be/neDyIWRyiXQ

Gueston

@kevin_hunt fuck i cant find it now either, weird

kevin_hunt topcommenter

@Gueston sorry, I couldn't find it

Monkey

I don't like A64, but I hate our National Drug Policy. These guys don't care about what legalization would do to America, they care about what it would do to their reputation. The only reason they object to even our fake legalization Initiative is because it's proof people already think drug czars and the DEA shouldn't be involved with cannabis. They don't care about weed, they care about their grandchildren respecting them, when it seems Americans are losing respect for what they've done to people who use/sell cannabis.