The beast that will not die: trying to stop America's seemingly unstoppable "war on drugs".SEATTLE, 12/3/05: THE KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION'S "EXIT STRATEGY FOR THE WAR ON DRUGS" CONFERENCE IS IN FULL SWING ... PROHIBITIONISTS SAY THAT LEGALIZING DRUGS WOULD BE AN UNWORKABLE PROSPECT, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A WORKING MODEL THAT PROVES THEM WRONG: NAMELY OUR CURRENT LIQUOR LAWS liquor laws, legislation designed to restrict, regulate, or totally abolish the manufacture, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages. The passage of liquor laws has been prompted chiefly by the desire to prevent immoderate use of intoxicants, but sometimes also by the ! AN IMPRESSIVE LINEUP OF GUEST SPEAKERS ARE ALL MAKING WELL-REASONED ARGUMENTS AGAINST DRUG PROHIBITION FROM THEIR VARIOUS LEGAL, MEDICAL, ECONOMIC AND MORAL POINTS OF VIEW ... IN FACT, EVERYONE HERE IS IN SUCH FULL AGREEMENT THAT THE DRUG WAR IS FUCKED THAT THE PLACE IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE AN ECHO CHAMBER echo chamber n. A room or enclosure with acoustically reflective walls used in broadcasting and recording to produce echoes or similar sound effects. ... ONE NOTE OF DISCORD COMES FROM THE TWO BLACK SPEAKERS, CURIOUSLY, BOTH OF WHOM EXPRESS DISDAIN FOR THE MANY "LIBERTARIAN" SOLUTIONS BEING PROPOSED ... ONE OF THEM, CLIFF THORNTON OF EFFICACY, MAKES THIS STARTLING star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. STATEMENTS, FOLLOWED BY AN EQUALLY STARTLING SOLUTION ... THE ECONOMY OF MANY INNER CITIES IS LARGELY BASED ON THE ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE ... SO WE'D BETTER BE READY TO OFFER MASSIVE ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE IF WE EVER LEGALIZE le·gal·ize tr.v. le·gal·ized, le·gal·iz·ing, le·gal·iz·es To make legal or lawful; authorize or sanction by law. le DRUGS! NOT SURPRISINGLY, NO ONE REPRESENTING THE FEDS ARE TAKE-ING PART IN THIS EVENT (THEY NEVER DO), OTHER THAN A PARTISAN FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR, WHO WAXED NOSTALGIC FOR "THE GOOD OLD DAYS" WHEN JANET RENO Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. WAS IN CHARGE ... OUR BEST HOPE IS TO VOTE THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION OUT OF OFFICE ... ONLY THEN WILL WE EVER SEE REAL CHANGE! OH, BROTHER ... JUDGING FROM ALL THE EYE ROLLING eye rolling Neurology Rhythmic eye movements which accompany rotation of the head, seen in the Pelizaeus-Merzbacher form of leukodystrophy Vox populi Etc. HER COMMENTS ELICITS, I DOUBT MANY OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT SHARE HER FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS ENDING THE DRUG WAR. KING COUNTY A.D.A. DAN SATTERBERG IS THE ONLY ACTIVE MEMBER OF "THE DARK SIDE" TO SPEAK. HE TALKS UP THE COUNTY'S DRUG DIVERSION In the terminology of the Drug Enforcement Administration, diversion is the use of prescription drugs for recreational purposes. The term comes from the "diverting" of the drugs from their original purposes. PROGRAM, PARTLY TO SHOW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN'T TOTALLY HEARTLESS ... WE'VE HAD HUGE SUCCESS IN BOTH KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL AND OFF OF DRUGS ... BUT WE STILL NEED THE THREAT OF JAIL TO GET THEM OFF OF DRUGS! LATER, SATTERBERG EXPLAINS HOW OUR "DRUG COURT" WORKS: IT'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO KEEP NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS OUT OF PRISON ... EVEN THIRD--AND FOURTH-TIME OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN THE OPTION OF TAKING PART IN OUR TWO YEAR REHAB PROGRAM ... YET SOME OF THEM STILL CHOOSE TO DO THE TIME? IF IT'S A SHORT SENTENCE, YES, AND IF THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO GET CLEAN ... PLUS THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS HARDLY A CAKEWALK. NO KIDDING! WHILE IT MAY BEAT GOING TO JAIL, OPTING FOR THIS PROGRAM BASICALLY MEANS INVITING THE STATE TO CRAWL UP YOUR ASS AND LIVE THERE FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS. IT'S HUMILIATING hu·mil·i·ate tr.v. hu·mil·i·at·ed, hu·mil·i·at·ing, hu·mil·i·ates To lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of. See Synonyms at degrade. ! YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO WEAR AN ANKLE BRACELET AT ALL TIMES ... YOU MUST ALSO ATTEND REGULAR N.A. MEETINGS, ANGER MANAGEMENT AND PARENTING CLASSES, AND SEXUAL DEVIATION AVOIDANCE SEMINARS. ("SEXUAL DEVIATION"?) AND DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US YOUR PISS BEFORE YOU LEAVE. YES, YOUR HONOR. (HE MUST'VE REALLY BEEN ON A BENDER WHEN HE GOT BUSTED!) DRUG COURTS ARE SOLD AS A POSITIVE, FEEL-GOOD STORY, WHAT WITH THEIR "GRADUATION" CEREMONIES AND TEARFUL TESTIMONIALS. PERSONALLY, I FIND THE WHOLE THING NAUSEATINGLY PATERNALISTIC pa·ter·nal·ism n. A policy or practice of treating or governing people in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities. . OUR COURTS NOW RESEMBLE DAYTIME TALK SHOWS! ... I KNEW I HIT ROCK BOTTOM WHEN I AWOKE TO FIND MY DOG EATING MY FOOT ... STILL, I NEEDED TO SCORE SOME CRACK JUST TO DULL THE PAIN ... I'M ALL BETTER NOW, THOUGH ... HOORAY! SNIFF ... SNIFF ... I SMELL POT * ... HOORAY FOR TOUGH LOVE! SOB! * I ALWAYS SMELL POT IN THE KING COUNTY COURTHOUSE The King County Courthouse is the seat of government of King County, Washington. It is located in downtown Seattle, Washington, just north of Pioneer Square. The 1916 structure houses courtrooms for King County Superior Court and Seattle District Court; the offices of the King ! I ASK DAN HOW MANY DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS ARE POTHEADS ... VERY FEW. POT IS BARELY ON OUR RADAR SCREEN, * SINCE IT'S RARELY ASSOCIATED WITH ANTISOCIAL antisocial /an·ti·so·cial/ (-so´sh'l) 1. denoting behavior that violates the rights of others, societal mores, or the law. 2. denoting the specific personality traits seen in antisocial personality disorder. BEHAVIOR ... WE'VE ALSO NEVER FULLY PROSECUTED ANY MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS, I MIGHT ADD. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF DECRIMINALIZING POT, THEN? (* EVERY D.A. I SPOKE TO FOR THIS STORY TOLD ME THAT POT WAS A "LOW PRIORITY" FOR HIS OR HER OFFICE, YET 25-50% OF ALL DRUG ARRESTS ARE STILL POT-RELATED. GO FIGURE!) WELL, THAT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE 'slippery slope' Medical ethics An ethical continuum or 'slope,' the impact of which has been incompletely explored, and which itself raises moral questions that are even more on the ethical 'edge' than the original issue , SINCE I'M VERY AGAINST LEGALIZING MORE DANGEROUS DRUGS. BUT ALCOHOL OFTEN LEADS TO VIOLENCE AND-- SO WE SHOULD SELL CYRSTAL METH IN LIQOUR STORES AS WELL? NO WAY! THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER. PEOPLE DO REALLY CRAZY THINGS ON METH! ANOTHER CONFERENCE ATTENDEE, FORMER SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF NORM STAMPER, HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OPINION ... WE DEFINITELY SHOULD LEGALIZE DRUGS, ALL DRUGS ... AND WE SHOULD SELL THEM UNDER THE SAME RULES AND RESTRICTIONS WE APPLY TO ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. EVEN "HARD" DRUGS, LIKE HEROIN? YOU KNOW, OPIATES Opiates Analgesic, pain killing drugs, such as heroin and morphine that depress the central nervous system. Mentioned in: Withdrawal Syndromes LIKE HEROIN DO NEXT TO NO DAMAGE TO THE HUMAN BODY ... IT'S THE CRAP THEY CUT IT WITH, ALONG WITH THE INCONSISTENT PURITY AND DIRTY NEEDLES THAT CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND THIS WOULD BE SOLVED BY HAVING IT MADE BY PROFESSIONALS IN LAB COATS? AS OPPOSED TO A DISTRACTED USER IN A FILTHY FLOPHOUSE flop·house n. A cheap rundown hotel or boarding house. Noun 1. flophouse - a cheap lodging house dosshouse lodging house, rooming house - a house where rooms are rented ? OF COURSE! "AFTER A FEW YEARS ON THE BEAT I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT DRUG PROHIBITION WAS A HUGE WASTE OF THE FORCE'S TIME AND RESOURCES ..." OH, WOW, MAN! I'M IN A PO-LICE CARE! FAR OUT! TURN ON THE SIREN, MAN! PFAW PFAW People For the American Way (first amendment advocacy and watchdog group; founded in 1980 by Norman Lear) ! "I WAS ALREADY SICK OF DRAGGING OTHERWISE HARMLESS PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND OFF TO JAIL--AND THIS WAS BEFORE PRESIDENT NIXON DECLARED A 'WAR ON DRUGS'!" "OUR DRUG LAWS ALSO GIVE COPS WAY TOO MUCH DISCRETION AS TO WHO TO BUST OR NOT TO BUST, SINCE MOST PEOPLE CAUGHT HOLDING ARE NOT ARRESTED ..." TO HOME, YOUNG MAN, AND DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU BUYING DRUGS AGAIN ... YES, SIR. AS FOR YOU--YOU'RE UNDER ARREST! ?! "THUS THE HUGE RACIAL DISCREPANCY IN OUR ARREST RATES." MOST POLICE OFFICERS DON'T SHARE YOUR VIEWS, THOUGH. WHICH IS A SHAME, SINCE THE DRUG WAR HAS CORRUPTED ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT MAKES A COP'S JOB FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN IT NEEDS TO BE. A LOT OF COPS, SECRETLY AGREE WITH ME, TOO, SO IT'S NOT LIKE ALL OF THEM HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE LIES. THE REST OF US SURE HAVE, THOUGH ... ALMOST EVERY PARENT I KNOW LIES TO THEIR KIDS ABOUT THEIR OWN PAST AND PRESENT DRUG USE ... WHICH IS THE DUMBEST THING THEY COULD DO, BUT THEY'RE TOO AFRAID TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH! WE'RE SURE TO WISE UP EVENTUALLY, BUT I THINK THINGS ARE GONNA GET A LOT WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. ALL THIS SPOT TALK GOT ME WONDERING ABOUT ROGER SPOHN, THE SAD SACK MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT 1 PROFILED IN A PREVIOUS STORY, * SO I MET UP WITH HIM AGAIN TO CATCH UP ... ?/? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MY BACK IS KILLING ME ... I CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE! I'M SORRY TO REPORT THAT ROGER'S AS BIG A SHIT MAGNET AS EVER, AND IN SUCH BAD PHYSICAL SHAPE THAT IT'S A WONDER WHAT KEEPS HIM GOING (BESIDES POT, THAT IS). * "A MENACE TO SOCIETY," REASON AUG/SEPT. '05 ROGER'S LATEST ROUND OF WOES BEGAN WHEN A COP WITH AN END-OF-THE-MONTH QUOTA TO FILL PULLED HIM OVER FOR HAVING "SQUEAKY WHEEES" ... YES, OFFICER I'VE BEEN SMOKING MARIJUANA ... I'M ON METHADONE methadone (mĕth`ədōn', –dŏn'), synthetic narcotic similar in effect to morphine. Synthesized in Germany, it came into clinical use after World War II. It is sometimes used as an analgesic and to suppress the cough reflex. , TOO ... IS THAT A PROBLEM ?! ONCE THE COP SMELLED POT EMANATING FROM HIS CAR, HE CHARGED HIM WITH A D.U.I., EVEN THOUGH ROGER PASSED THE FIELD SOBRIETY TEST. CUE POLICE DETECTIVE LINDA DIAZ ("THE BANE BANE. This word was formerly used to signify a malefactor. Bract. 1. 2, t. 8, c. 1. OF MY EXISTENCE," SAYS ROGERS), WHO SEARCHED ROGERS' HOME WITH A BOGUS WARRANT, * CONFISCATED con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. ALL HIS MONEY, AND DESTROYED ALL HIS PLANTS ... SHE ALSO THREATENED TO REPOSSESS repossess v. to take back property through judicial processes, foreclosure, or self-help upon default in required payments. THE HOUSE ROGER WAS RENTING, SO HIS TERRIFIED ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. LANDLORD NATURALLY EVICTED HIM. * SHE DIDN'T TELL THE JUDGE ROGER WAS A M.M. PATIENT. A JURY FOUND ROGER GUILTY OF THE D.U.I. CHARGE, SO THE COUNTY IS NOW PLANNING ON TRYING HIM ON ANOTHER OLDER D.U.I. CHARGE THEY WERE SITTING ON ... I'M SUSPENDING YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE ... I'M ALSO ORDERING YOU TO ATTEND A.A. MEETINGS ... A.A.?! BUT I DON'T DRINK! THEY ALSO MAY HIT HIM WITH A "GROW CHARGE, SINCE THE POLICE CLAIM THAT HIS SUPPLY "EXCEEDED HIS NEEDS." * * WASHINGTON STATE HAS NO SUPPLY LIMIT FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS. I THREW MY BACK OUT TRYING TO WALK TO MY STUPID A.A. MEETING ... I WAS LYING ON THE STREET FOR HOURS BEFORE SOMEONE CALLED AN AMBULANCE TO TAKE ME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ... BUT WORST OF ALL IS I SPENT ALL OF MY ISRAEL MONEY HIRING A LAWYER WHO SPECIALIZES IN D.U.T.S... ?!? "ISRAEL MONEY"? THE MONEY I WAS SAVING TO GET TO THE HOLY LAND IN TIME FOR THE RESURRECTION, THOUGH NOW IT LOOKS LIKE I'LL NEVER MAKE IT ... "THE RESURRECTION"? DO YOU REALLY THINK THESE ARE THE END DAYS? WELL, YEAH. DON'T YOU? I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING! LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME! HOW ELSE CAN YOU EXPLAIN ALL THIS CRAZINESS? I, UH ... HMM HMM heavy meromyosin. ... I COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT, SO MAYBE ROGER HAD A POINT! END [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] P. BAGGE (PETERBAGGE@EARTHLINK.NET) |
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