Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss?
Is there something in the water over at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that turns every new drug czar into a babbling idiot? If not, how else can one explain the latest statement from new ONDCP honcho Gil Kerlikowske? Has he somehow been possessed by the spirit of his predecessor, John Walters?
While never a reformer, Kerlikowske had a reputation for being pretty rational while he was police chief in Seattle. But a story in Wednesday’s Fresno Bee quotes the drug czar as saying, “Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit.”
Bear in mind that this is from an administration whose declared policy is not to attack state medical marijuana laws (even though the law authorizing ONDCP requires the director to “take such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use” of any Schedule I drug). And bear in mind that Mr. Kerlikowske’s scientific judgment has been contradicted by, among others, the American College of Physicians, the American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, American Academy of HIV Medicine, etc., etc., etc.
Click here to use our online action center to send a message to the president about his drug czar’s statement.
Distressingly, Kerlikowske made the remark while tagging along on the latest adventures of California’s marijuana “eradication” drive, for which he seems to have become an enthusiastic cheerleader. This is a campaign that, despite a 2,000% increase in plant seizures over the last dozen years, has produced zero reduction in marijuana availability. But it has had one notable impact: Until 2001, the majority of plants seized were on private lands. Now, nearly three-quarters are on public lands — often environmentally sensitive areas located in national parks and forests. “Eradication” campaigns have literally driven growers into the hills, multiplying the environmental damage.
So the new drug czar is touting policies that make the problem worse while spouting unscientific nonsense. John Walters lives.
Tagged with: California and drug czar and eradication and kerlikowske and law enforcement and Medical Marijuana by the author
72 comments
You can also email the ONDCP here:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/utilities/contact_form.html
How can elected and appointed officials continue to refute the overwhelming science, which is available everywhere? This is simply another moral failing within America!
STOP THE LIES, and LEGALIZE!
I don’t understand this at all, how someone can stand there and tell people with a straight face that marijuana has no medical value is beyond me.
At the very least, discounting all other medical sources, it serves as a pain reliever. If people smoke marijuana and their pain is relieved, it’s a pain reliever. What I don’t understand is why opiates (with their myriad of associated problems) are legal and marijuana isn’t…
The only logical explanation I can think of is that big pharm has bought off our politicians as well as the FDA.
Well every one who voted 4 Obama take a look at whatcha got. Next time vote for a real candidate for Change like Ron Paul.
All I can say is that I am flabbergasted at his remarks. And, honestly, I am having a hard time believing anything will ever change. Especially, when we keep getting people such as Walters and Kerlikowske in a useless position of power like the drug czar. Makes me want to give up on America and its’ continuous civil rights violations.
Patent # 6630507
The U.S. Government does not work for the will of the people. I ask who they do work for!?
It is amazing what money can do.
One acre of cannabis destroys Ten acres of land. WTF are they snorting on capital hill? And don’t bother calling the Czars office to leave a polite message, I did and was transferred to a voicemail that was full, imagine that. When I called back the Second time, I was told they had all my info, wierd huh? check this shit out, within 5 min I got a call from 1-228-209-8325, I answered and got hung up on. I tried to call the # back immediately and got a recording saying that the # had been disconnected. I write this just in case the SS squad comes to get me.
they are nothin more than educated idiots who need to re educate
With our Government so interested in Health Care Reforn and reducing the overall costs to the Health care System, why are there no reports or estimates that show the effect Medical Marijuana could have on our Health Care System. The biggest issue that I see in Health care is the profit that is built into the system. Phamaceutica Companies spending billions to come up with the new miracle cure (only to find out years later that the drugs cause depression and may lead to suicide) only increase the costs to the system. Legalizing Marijuana for medicinal purposes could reduce the need for prescriptions for pain (Vicondin, Lortab), for nausea (think of all the cancer drugs that could be eliminated), for sleep deprivation (Ambien), for anxiety (Paxil), or depression (Welbutrin).
When you include all of the costs for research and development, clinical trials and marketing there’s no way medical marijuana would even come close to costing the system as much money as some of the prescription drugs that have been created.
they are getting a cut from the drug cartels. why legalize? they wont get that cut anymore. think about it
This is disheartening news, especially when my MS is so flared up by the summer heat. I smell some of those mythical, tricky, billionaires at the bottom of this. It certainly appears that some very powerful people simply don’t want marijuana to be part of any legal market- medical or not. Oh dear. Let’s just push harder, children!
Kathleen Sebelius has the ability to change Kerlikowske’s tone on the matter, she also has the ability to legalize pot.
“[I]f the Secretary recommends that a drug or other substance not be controlled, the Attorney General shall not control the drug or other substance.” 21 U.S.C. § 811b
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removal_of_cannabis_from_Schedule_I_of_the_Controlled_Substances_Act
This is a shame considering the enormous amount of medical evidence, patient testimonials etc.
We must all push back and make a stand. They no longer have public sentiment and the momentum is in our direction.
In 2010, Californians need to sign that initiative to make a change to stop these oppressors from arresting our children!!!
President Barrack Obama:
“I think the basic concept that using Medical Marijuana in the same way, with the same controls, as other drugs prescribed by doctors… I think that’s entirely appropriate.”
C’mon Mr. President get control of your Administration!!!
This is pissing me the F@*# Off. I cannot belive what he said. They second this was on my email I immediatly called that fool and left him a comment on how he is so wrong and should really follow the scientific truth about pot, but let me tell you how bad I want to yell at the fool that answet the phone and tell him to take head off his ass! but I was brief and calm and said thank you.
WE CAN’T STAND FOR THIS ANYMORE!!!!
Just like the Bush, Obama was a lying politician before he was elected and he still is a lying politician. He now works for big money. Just remember all of this when he starts lying again in 3 and a half years. It will happen.
Kerlikowske is not a doctor. How can he contradict the medical opinion of so many doctors who agree that cannabis does have medicinal benefit? Not to mention all the patients who claim relief. He displays much audacity to try to make treatment decisions for all americans with illness.
Also, haha…. Look at the two pictures at the top of the page. Bruce, the supposedly dapraved pot-smokin criminal, has a big smile and a content, genuinely happy look on his face.
Kerlikowske, the supposed role model and upstanding g-man, looks wahed up, constipated, up tight, and, frankly, like he could use a toke.
Once a pig always a pig.
I wish MPP would make a tee-shirt that only has MPP.ORG on it. I will buy it and wear it everywhere just like my MAP.INC tees. Think about it!
Just goes to show,All politcians are liars,and our government doesnt work for us. Who do they work for? This isnt the USA it supposed to be. Not even the USA it was 2 years ago. Anyone else see this?
Why is anyone surprised? You all got fooled again. It isn’t going to be legalized anytime soon. Just keep puffin’, legal or not. They aren’t exactly dishing out rights in this country.
Anyone like me who has an illness that has been shown to be helped by marijuana needs to get in touch with the org.s that work to cure and relieve it. Tell them it’s time they get out in the media! If they have people who hook up with the federal govt., email them and tell them there’s got to be a change now. The time for lies is OVER NOW. Let this be our call to make the truth known and heeded by ALL.If you have MS you can email the vice prez of fed govt relation-Shawn O’Neail at shawn.oneail@nmss.org Tell him to explain to the president that federal policy is blocking studies and blocking patients from getting the medicine they need. I think alot of people think having a medical marijuana law gets you marijuana. It doesn’t.
I have wondered if the vice-president has anything to do with it?
When John Walter was the drug czar, he can do and say anything he wants because he didn’t have to worry about his job. John Walters is a close personal friend of George W. Bush’s dad.
these are our elected officials at work there is very good proof that mj has medical use that is why our freinds out west have taken on a system to take care of its people and there econemy…this ass hole should have been shot out of the cannon when he got out of the academy…but he sucked the life out of every room that he walks into …so the just kept moving him along one room after another..and he still has not gotten of f of his knees yet … and obama might not have been the best pick but bush had us all headed for the poor house ….
This motherfucker needs to be removed from office NOW!!!
“Every cop is a criminal” – Mick Jagger
I voted for Obama. Not next time!!! FUCK YOU BARRY!!!
The power to be, has gotten to the new Czar, much the same as it had gotten to the old Czar. Who has that kind of power?
I have a plan B. If everything else fails, our last resort should be to have a national SMOKING WEEK! IN PUBLIC, EVERYWHERE! then once all the 1,000,000,000 citizens that smoke are ALL arrested they will see that without us contributing to society and no longer paying taxes they can’t survive without us! this should be a last resort, but a very overwhelming one for “authority” plus the ratio for police v.s. citizens is not great, so therefore they wont be able to arrest everybody. this should be broadcast and just watch how it turns out. like a “modern UNITED STATES WOODSTOCK” -just a thought
There is more of us then there are them.. If this truly is a society “FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE” then this shouldn’t even be a debate about whether or not it should be legal. I’M DONE HIDING!
They only have as much “POWER” as we give them! REMEMBER THAT! I dare them to come into my house and tell me how to live! FUCK GOVERNMENT
Patience friends, I am pissed about these nonsensical comments just like you are, but we are still winning no matter what they say. There’s 2 full out legalization initiatives(aside from A.B. 390) scheduled for the Nov. 2010 ballots one in CA and one in Oregon. (Sorry, the one in Oregon is still gathering the required signatures, and they are making a distinction between Medicinal and commercial cannabis so the sick are not taxed to death). And unlike Tom Ammiano’s bill these initiatives will be voted on by the people, all bullshit aside. We are the people, and we are winning, it may not seem like it but, with every week theres more and more debates on Cannabis, and every week it seems like there’s another medical or decriminilization bill being introduced at the local or federal level. The prohibs are trying to save face with the uneducated in the country, playing that same old “I’m tough on crime and drugs shit” that is all. They’re scared because they know that we will win this War on Cannabis. 2010 Oregon and my beloved California will LEGALIZE!!! This war is all but over.
great job Gil keep up the Great work man….Fucking Moron
what has happened to our country and world we were built on revolution so why cant we do it now. we have become sheep and our shepherds are greedy, corrupt evil men that don’t care what happens to us. they only what money and that is it.they don’t care how many lives they ruin.
IMHO this isnt about MJ at all….. this is about been seen to back the current office in power.
I mean how does it look if a newly appointed “drugs czar” says MJ ( currently classed as an illegal drug by current administration ) is ok ? It would make the whole thing look farcicle.
Ok so at present it is, but it would give the general public a wake up that the current administration cant control their own dept’s.
So even if it is completely rediculous as i agree it is, Gil Kerlikowske HAS to be seen to back up the presidents decisions.
Agreed that this does make the legalisation arguement seem rediculous from a anti-prohibitionist point of view and maybe jusy maybe they will hang themselves with their own rope… lets hope that rope is made of hemp eh
TELL HIM THAT OXFORD MISSISSIPPI IS WHERE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT GROWS MARIJUANA FOR MEDICATION
“IT ALL CATCHES UP…SOONER OR LATER”
One tells a lie…then…has to tell two lies to cover up the first lie…then…four lies…and so on…and so on. Well!…it’s finally caught up with government. Now!…they have to enforce all of that mendacity they spewed on We the People, to save face, or what’s left of it. Because there was never any logic to their actions in the first place, less logic manifests itself as the results of their current attempts to cover their tracks, and fill their deep holes, caverns, of deceprtion. It just doesn’t make any sense at all, and that’s what is turning the tide of public opinion against them. A lie, is a lie, is a lie. and when you lie to the American public, you’re a goner for sure…and we say…”TAKE YOUR LITTLE ACT DOWN THE ROAD.” Remember…evil has a silver forked tongue. However…in their supreme arrogance, they do not fear what We the People can do to them. Well!..”FOOLISH IS, WHAT FOOLISH DOES.”
For our part…knowledge gives us power over the prohibitionist. A world, a country, a state, a community, We the People, are of a much higher standard, and hold our Constitution above all prohibitionists. We are sworn to protect and defend our Constitution against “ALL ENEMIES” foreign, and domestic. Prohibitionists are determined to assassinate our Constitution, and force us into a lock-step mass of mindless robots, bending to their will, and no other. I only have one thing to say to that…
“IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN HERE…NEVER, EVER, EVER, NEVER…SO HELP ME GOD!”
We the People…each and every one of us, are the front line defense against the personification of pure evil. We must let prohibitionists know, in no uncertain terms that, “WE WILL NEVER ALLOW THEM TO PENETRATE OUR SOULS, OR OUR CONSTITUTION.” Not by any stretch of the imagination, do we bow to their audacity to sway our connection with our God, and our Constitution, and that we are willing to pay the ultimate price should the try.
Why do these people make public appearances? Why not drag out a tape recording of addled Harry Anslinger from 60 years ago, place it on the podium and hit ‘play’. Really, Kerlikowske is repeating the same tired lies that have been spewed forth for decades now. The mind boggles.
bullshit bullshit and more bullshit. is brainwashing mandatory in government?
my grandmother died of ovarian cancer, she took chemo and all the drugs the doctors gave her but she couldn’t keep them down because she was always vomiting. my uncle tried to get her to use marijuana to help her but she refused because she believed all the bullshit the government has spoon fed to people for so long. because of the government she died in an awful way. LEGALIZE IT!!!
What an idiot. He and every congressman as well as the president need to know that cannabis reform is a priority, it is political suicide NOT to support the HR2943 bill. Best option we the people have is to contact our reps and those in the Committee and urge them to support the HR2943 bill.
As a medical marijuana patient for several years with a reccomendation from a very qualified physician here in Maine (one of the 13! states).
I tell you marijuana IS the reason I am still here today!
So it looks like they are going to continue his War on Americans……How SAD this country has become……..We must all unite to save ourselves and our families from the diabolic plans this government has planned for us.
Think about it……..
There must be a reason they are building more private prisons in this country……..
Just who is it that they plan to lock up in there?????……….OUR FAMILES AND OUR CHILDREN, and they will continue to use this charade they call a “Drug War” to lock up your kids and violate our rights and freedoms and subvert the US Constitution!!!
WE THE PEOPLE, must unite to take our FREEDOM back just like our forefathers did!!!!
I hope in Mn ,we get to vote in 2010,At times i can barely contain myself,but what i really and hopefully it passes, then i can say a big FUCK YOU GOV PALENTY.President Palenty in2012 not a fucking chance,i look so forward to you being laughed at and you’re bullshit,you’ll be lucky to get a job emptying Al Frankens garbage can in DC.
Sorry to be the pessimist Cliff – commenter # 18 – “Just remember all of this when he starts lying again in 3 and a half years. It will happen”.
Humans have a short attention span, where ever you go. Obummer will do a few “nice” things, then he’ll get re-elected and continue his lies to the American public over this crucial and important issue of ending Prohibition.
I am 60 and am beginning to wonder if I will live to see freedom? Our nation and its lawmakers are out of control. The for profit jail system is growing stronger and paying our leaders more to insure their profits go up. The main cost of the war on US are the poor, young, people of color. So I suppose they are not worth saving just a few more ni–ars in jail right. Well if I could wave a wond and end it tomorrow I would. But I need help from everyone if we work together we take our country back.
Cherokee Fred Jesus
help! vote at
http://www.change.org/actions/view/step_one_end_special_interest_in_washington
to stop the bribery of our lawmakers by people like for profit jails and the liquor/beer industry..
CFJ
5 days before my grandfather died of lung cancer he asked my sister for some pot while in deep pain in the hospital in texas it would not of saved his life and i do not know if he had smoked it before but he knew it would ease his pain.
people know whats wrong when its wrong but people also go with the crowd and the goverments voice is louder than a million citizens if this is going to become legalized we need to take a page out of the equal rights movement and protests, by this i mean sit ins on goverment places like court houses legislative offices all the way up to washington d.c. and this is not just for california it has to be the nation not just some act of individualisim will make this happen only a show of togetherness and actions of peaceful protest
obama will leagalize-bull-shit. just another democrat lie to get elected. folks put the pipe down long enough to get a clear look. he convinced the stoner community to get him elected and now will use his ill-gotten power to take more freedom away. wake up don`t waste your vote…
[...] New ONDCP chief: “Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit.” Did you know that he is actually required by law to say that? Not kidding. He isn’t allowed to have another opinion, no matter what the evidence says. [...]
Heres a video I feel all Americans should listen to and consider..even if you dont agree to all in it. There is something there for everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA
Norman @ # 48
My father died some 5years ago from lung cancer. If I had know of the med uses of cannabis, I know it would have made his last year much more comfortable. He would have used it too. He suffered terrible becuase of chemo and all the pills they shoved at him. He couldnt eat. He died from stavation and heart attack in the end. Not of the cancer. It pissed me off so much…well…here I am.
You think Buzz Aldrin got tired of moon-landing “hoax” accusers? POW, right in the kisser…
Yep i think even John Walter,as much as we couldn’t stand him was in the same boat.
we’ll see what Obama does in his first yrs,after that if he says one word about how it should be lagal etc,well he can fool us once,,but it sure as hell wont happen twice,Just have to vote for a Ron Paul,
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
– Mohandas Gandhi
Tell him that if pot has no medicinal value then the Feds better stop sending their canisters out every month to the “select few” and you’d better get Marinol off the market fast.
Must have got his pockets filled with money, and pressure from the old white haired “no” generation who are barely but still holding on until they take their last earthly breath.
I sent an email to the White House about his statement and got a tacky form letter about health care. Nowhere did it mention their marijuana policy.
Big surprise.
I know it doesnt make much sense but I will try to explain a theory of mine.
The US government adopts characteristics of other countries and governments when they interact with them.
Bush adopted the characteristic of iraqs government and we saw some of our freedoms dissappear.
Obama is adopting charactristics of China since he is responsible for dealing with them now in a deficit crisis.
It appeaers the government is controling financial responsibility of America to be in lock step with the commies, perhaps from direct pressure from China.
You see, what I am trying to explain is that our government imitates policy and politics of countries and governments that it interacts with and it has been doing this for a long time.
Our government was originally set up to imitate the Senate of Rome and the Congress of Greece.
The procedures of those houses were supposed to imitate the british parliment, (time limits, form requirments and ect.) probably because they wanted to demonstrate they could make it work better.
All thru the history of the US government it has been imitating those things it wants from the ones it interacts with.
They are trying to build a perfect government and it appears they are close to it because We the people have no way to correct or change our laws and our government.
Its only a theory but if you have time to think about all these different things that our government has gone wrong on you will find that another country did it before us.
LOOK. SIMPLY SENDING OUT LETTERS AND EMAILS IS OK, BUT ITS NOT ENOUGH! NIXON DECLARED WAR ON THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY IN 1969 WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE WAR ON DRUGS. ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME WE FIGHT BACK?
LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM, ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS PROHIBITION IS A TERRORIST!
OUR FOUNDING FOREFATHERS WOULD BE EXTREMELY DISPLEASED WITH US. THEY WOULD AGREE THAT PROHIBITION IS A CRIME AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S FREEDOMS AND SHOULD BE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH!
I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULD START KILLING ANYONE, BUT I AM SAYING ITS TIME WE FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE!
NIXON AND EVERY OTHER PROHIBITIONIST SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE BIGGEST CRIMINALS THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN!
Anonymous 08.01.09 8:58 pm
I think Nixon pretty much went down in the history books
the way you decribed it. We didn’t tag him “Tricky Dick” for nothng. And, when he said…”I’m no crook”…well!…
non profess their innocence so loudly as the guilty.
Everyone understands your anxiousness about a show of power, and your right…”It is time”…but…We the People cannot go off half cocked. Hang in there anonymous…hold that thought.
When Gerald Ford said…”Our national nightmare is over”…what he meant was…it’s headed back to San Clemente. Well…he was wrong! The nightmare stuck around and is here today, slapping us in the face. That bad dream is Nixon’s entire effort to include cannabis in the Controlled Substance Act as a schedule I substance. Well…Nixon took care of himself…and…it’s time for this “utterly stupid” inclussion to take care of itself, but it needs our help. So here’s what I say:
“NOTHING HAPPENS…UNLESS WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.”
Fortunately…”WE CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN.”
So let’s do it, or as we coined the phrase in the Golden Year ‘57…DO IT!…DO IT!…DO IT!, then IF IT FEELS GOOD…DO IT!, then JUST DO IT!
[...] that unwelcome trend continues to this very day here, as evidenced by drug czar Gil Kerlikowske’s recent lie that marijuana “has no medicinal benefit.” Not sure who Kerlikowske’s scientific advisors [...]
President Obama tried to finesse the drug reform community by appointing as his Drug Czar Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske the former chief of the Seattle Police during the time when reform of local marijuana laws was taking place there. Not six months into his tenure as Drug Czar and Mr. Kerlikowske issued these statements, “ Marijuana is dangerous and has no medical benefit”, and “legalization is not in the Presidents vocabulary”. For the second time the President has dissed the reform community.
The first time was at the online town hall meeting when he made a joke about the reworded most asked question. He said he didn’t think legalization was a good idea, ha , ha!!. Here with Kerlikowske the President has done it again. A move designed to ’ keep us happy ’, has again exposed the presidents true colors.
We should not allow it to happen again. The President expects us to hang in there until he is reelected and then supposedly he will support reform in his second term. Don’t believe it for a second! After his reelection he will be worried about his legacy and we will have been dissed again.
At 871,000 arrests per year 2,613,000 citizens will be arrested during the rest of his first term, By the end of his second, 6,097,000 will have had their lives ruined and still no relief in sight!
We should not sit idly by and let this happen. Everyone of us should write the President and inform him that if there is no significant progress on federal marijuana law reform during his first term we will not be able to provide support for his second term in the form of either votes or money. This needs to be done in a coordinated manner so the full weight of the reform community can be brought to bear on the President.
The old saw is ‘ Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! We should not wait till we are fooled a third time.
Every time you send a letter to the pres or congress add the line– If there is no significant progress on marijuana law reform at the federal level i don’t think I can support you with either votes or money in2012.
that ought to get their attention!!
Free the people of The United States, in order to form a more perfect Union. Freedom to grow Hemp, and freedom to smoke cannabis, if you wish, alone could bring such large scale happiness World wide, that we might possibly be able to focus on all of our world wide calamity,s for a change. The World is a mess, War is not the answer, Give PEACE a chance
Who are you? Where do you come from? Do you come in peace? SMASH!
[...] [...]
[...] month, the drug czar told reporters that marijuana “has no medical value.” During a follow-up interview with KOMO-TV in California [...]
No, it’s nothing in the water, it’s a requisite for the position, only complete idiocy is required to perform that job. I take offense to the government spending tax dollars to promote lies and false information, let alone a whole department full of bull shit, that causes more harm, and destruction, than any terrorist group.
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