Drug Czar calls for end to 'war on drugs' Promising remarks from the newly appointed drug czar and former Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske. From the Wall Street Journal The Obama administration's new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting "a war on drugs," a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use. In his first interview since being confirmed to head the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske said Wednesday the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation's drug issues. "Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them," he said. "We're not at war with people in this country." I also liked this metaphor by Ethan Nadelmann: I also liked this metaphor by Ethan Nadelmann: Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance, a group that supports legalization of medical marijuana, said he is "cautiously optimistic" about Mr. Kerlikowske. "The analogy we have is this is like turning around an ocean liner," he said. "What's important is the damn thing is beginning to turn." » more at: online.wsj.com Posted By Morrison at 2009-05-14 11:14:56 permalink | comments Tags: Gil Kerlikowske drug czar war on drugs legalization decriminalization » More ways to bookmark this page





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