The Feb. 14 Gazette editorial, “Fix cracked drug policy,” reflects a shift in the public consciousness that rejects the drug war. While there has been years of data that clearly show the crack cocaine laws have had a disparate impact on the African-American community, Congress repeatedly rejected attempts to correct this flawed system of justice. According to the U.S. survey on household drug use, blacks make up one-third of crack cocaine users, yet account for 74 percent of prisoners convicted of crack offenses. The reduction in the penalty for crack is a small step in the right direction. There are other areas of drug policy where Congress lags behind the public’s sentiments. For example, medical marijuana. A 2005 CNN/Time survey shows that 72 percent of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Yet, twice Congress voted down legislation to have a federalized standard to regulate the drug for medical use. You have the George W. Bush administration, which ran on a platform of states’ rights, conducting raids of marijuana dispensaries where the states voted to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes. You also have a president in Bush, who refused to deny his own alleged drug use, then once he got into the White House, waged the drug war full steam ahead. A Barack Obama presidency would offer an honest debate over how we handle our drug problem. He is the only remaining presidential candidate on record to state that we have failed in the war on drugs. America has come a long way from, “But, I didn’t inhale.” The drug war is an enormous, expensive issue that requires an honest and candid assessment, something that our elected officials have failed to provide us with ever since President Nixon declared this war 40 years ago. WILLIAM AIKEN Schenectady
A Barack Obama presidency would offer an honest debate over how we handle our drug problem. He is the only remaining presidential candidate on record to state that we have failed in the war on drugs.
Well, clearly the war on drugs and the legalization of pot is not on the list of priorities with the American citizens. Cause if it was, Ron Paul would be the front runner.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Im sort of sick of I declare war- Lets see how are we doing ?
War on drugs War on poverty War on cancer War on obesity
That is the stupidest saying I have ever heard-
That's right--wars are never won,,,only very little battles one at a time....the only 2 things we can say are: I choose drugs or I do not choose drugs etc......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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