ScooterMan

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock: Who Will Be Obama’s Pick For ‘Drug Czar’?
December 20th, 2008 By: Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director



Is saving the Drug Czar nominee as the last cabinet pick indicative of the low priority assigned by the incoming Obama administration to the so-called ‘war on drugs’?



With the entire cabinet nominated (save for US Ambassador to the United Nations and director of the Central Intelligence Agency), who is President–elect Obama going to nominate as director of the Office Of National Drug Control Policy (a.k.a. ‘Drug Czar’).

To date, Obama and Co. have prioritized the cabinet nominations of:

Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Homeland Security, Attorney General, Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary of Veteran Affairs, National Security Adviser, Director of National Intelligence, Director of National Economic Council, Director of Securities and Exchange Commission, US Trade Representative and Director of Office of Management and Budget.

But no Drug Czar (or Czarina)!

Obama told the media yesterday that his entire cabinet would be nominated before he is to begin his last semi-sane holiday break this week with his family. But as of 10AM this morning (eastern), there has been no nominee announced for ‘Drug Czar’.

Hmmmmm. One wonders why not?


Looks like one reputed nominee for Drug Czar, retiring Republican congressman Jim Ramstad of Minnesota is getting hung up in the political vetting process. Some in the media and in drug policy reform inform NORML that Atlanta police chief Richard J. Pennington might emerge as the potential nominee. Some speculate that current Drug Czar transition team leader, Dr. Don Vereen, might pull a ‘Cheney’ and offer himself up as the best person to head the ONDCP.

Whatever the case and whomever the nominee, is the ONDCP nominee and their staff going to closely adhere to Obama’s stated goal that health (and environmental) policy-making in his administration, unlike the current Bush White House, will be guided by contemporary and credible science—and not ideology or politics?

In Obama’s now weekly radio address, he asserted this morning that science and rational thinking is going to instruct much of his decision-making in the realms of education, public health and environmental protection. To demonstrate such, this morning Obama nominated two prominent scientists—not political hacks—to fill important science policy-making roles in his new administration (Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

“Because the truth is that promoting science isn’t just about providing resources – it’s about protecting free and open inquiry. It’s about ensuring that facts and evidence are never twisted or obscured by politics or ideology. It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient - especially when it’s inconvenient. Because the highest purpose of science is the search for knowledge, truth and a greater understanding of the world around us. That will be my goal as President of the United States.”
-President-elect Barack Obama (December 20, 2008)

NORML certainly hopes that Obama’s professed support for science over political ideology logically extends to repairing and overhauling the country’s totally flawed and decidedly unscientific approach in administering a functional and economical criminal justice system—fueled in large part by antiquated and misguided illicit drug laws, notably the abject failure of 70 plus years of cannabis prohibition laws.

In the interim, please join me (and thousands of other drug policy reform supporters), with a bit-of-tongue-in-cheek, in advancing Drug Policy Alliance director Ethan Nadelmann, Ph.D as Obama’s next Drug Czar. Now that is change I can believe in!

Who President-elect Obama nominates for Drug Czar I believe will strongly demonstrate whether or not he genuinely believes in science as a guiding principle in replacing failed, feckless, racist and politically expedient law enforcement efforts to ‘control’ drugs with, ultimately, effective, commonsense, scientific and public health-based alternatives to America’s failed war on some drugs.

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Let me get this straight, I can go to the store and buy a bottle of legal poison and get drunk, and buy a pack of cancer, but I can't use a plant that grows wild in the ditch and has never killed anyone? Hypocrisy is never intelligent.

DdC

Biz Czar Ramstad???
http://www.yahooka.com/forum/politic...r-ramstad.html

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OldMan&TheWeed

Obama has not stated that he is going to end the drug war, but he has signaled a wiliness to not interfere with the medical marijuana laws of the individual states. To that end he is probably trying to find a credible candidate for the post that can unequivocally represent Obama’s position.

My guess is that drug warriors who do not have a history of attacking medical marijuana are hard to find. For example Republican Congressman James Ramstad has voted against medical marijuana five times.

In other words, Rep. Ramstad (and others like him) do not appear to be committed to the kind of change President-elect Obama has said he will bring to our nation’s drug policies.

Maybe Obama will have to settle for a true reformer if he can’t find a decent hybrid one.

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Nintey-three percent of what I say is brilliant, factual information and seven percent is complete bullshit. Have fun deciding which is which.

DdC

Darral from the ole Hemp-Talk? Hey.

I see by the Seahawk's it's snowing. bummer.
It's about 50 and rain here. sucks
Thanks, but I don't do jewelry.

Ramstad is a convert x booze junkie. Over enthused to save us.
Supports Teen Challenge Sin based addiction "treatment"
Bucks in "treating" not in preventing or curing.

Nadelmann for Drug Czar
Drug Czar of My Dreams

Nadelmann for Drug Czar Petition

Read Dr. Nadelmann's OPED
"Let's End Drug Prohibition,"
published in the Wall Street Journal.



Tommy Chong for Drug Czar.

Kings of Stoner Comedy, Cheech & Chong Reclaim Their Thrones
The reunion between comedy legends Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong was going to get under way in 2002 or so. But a not-so-funny thing happened, and Chong ended up in federal prison for trafficking in water pipes ( which is kind of like imprisoning Don Rickles for telling a Polack joke ).

Cheech and Chong Newshttp://



Obama clin Biden & the U.S.Al Qaeda?

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seattle420lover

I will learn so much from your posts,
but due to a stroke I cannot remember as well a I used to..

Thanks hope you make it out to hempfest some time soon

I want to be able to make it to the denver 4:20 next year, lets hope!

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"The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining to an understanding of compassion" SOCRATES, 470-399 BC

ScooterMan

I think Obamas delay in choosing is as Old Man&TW has stated, but I also think that when he has established himself in office and possibly gained more confidence, in himself and from others, that maybe, just maybe, he will address the marijuana reform issue with a bit more willingness and ability than he will or can right now. Hope springs eternal....

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Let me get this straight, I can go to the store and buy a bottle of legal poison and get drunk, and buy a pack of cancer, but I can't use a plant that grows wild in the ditch and has never killed anyone? Hypocrisy is never intelligent.

Smokey Smokey

I'm on pins and needles to see what will happen.

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When the world ends,
We'll be burnin' one.
When the world ends
We'll be sweet makin' love.

- Dave Matthews Band

The Law is for the people and by the people,... make it your own.