Comments on: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: City’s Police Chief To Be Next Drug Czar http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/ Working to reform marijuana laws Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:36:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Nora Garda http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-38145 Nora Garda Sat, 16 May 2009 00:54:20 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-38145 You need to help me to stop this craze, please.Someone in this country has to help us. I want a more reasonable outcome for my son Adrian: he wants to go back to school at Truman State University in MO and work to pay for tuition while getting professional help for his depression caused in part by being punished with 5 years probation and 400 hours of community service for possession of a few mg of Adderall. He was 19. Over 2 years ago he was stopped in Scotland County on his way to Truman University, because of speeding. He had a sandwich bag with a few Adderall pills. Why the pills? Well, Adrian’s friend had a prescription of Adderall, a drug that keeps you awake. His friend gave him a few of these pills because Adrian was having trouble sleeping and needed something to stay awake while studying for Midterms. He did not pay for the pills and he had no idea that taking in them, it was a serious offense. He could not keep up with the strict probation rules for such a long time. He is back in jail because of multiple “Probation Violations”. By the time of the first Hearing with the Judge he will have spent 6 weeks in jail doing nothing but watching TV and playing cards, as a nonresident offender “waiting” in your jails and in your state, using your resources and clogging your system. And he faces either 7 years in prison or 4 months of Shock Treatment in a Correctional followed by another 5 years of Probation. This is crazy! This is a true failure of the system to not look at the real reason for targeting innocent people and then creating criminals where there were none. There are far more guilty perpetrators out there and furthermore, Adrian would not be in this hopelessness if the system had not insinuated itself in his and his family’s life so emphatically. Current drug laws don’t work; locking up people on drug dealing charges who aren’t dealing drugs drains our treasury and saps our system of legitimacy. I became a memeber DRCNet: The Drug Reform Coordination Network in Washington DC. A quick look at their research shows you how Legislators are beginning to work in making more reasonable “drug-laws” all over the country. Money that goes to locking up Adrian is not being used to prosecute real drug dealers. You know that. Doing nothing in the face of a clearly unfair system makes us look irresponsible to our constituents. Loading up the criminal justice system with minor –naïve- offenders taxes that system in a way that leads to more dysfunction of the system. Please advise what steps I can take to voice my concern and to get my son Adrian out of the criminal system as soon as possible. He needs a hand up not a lock up. Please don’t make him a criminal. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks a lot for your attention. Thanks a lot for your attention. Nora Garda, 319 400 4695 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City IA noragarda@gmail.com MS Analytical Chemistry. Chemist at the University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmacy. Artist, videographer. Festivals Producer. Adrian’s Dad: Juan Marcos, PhD in Chemical Engineering, Developer at Pearsons Education Nora Garda 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City, IA 52240 319-400-4695 noragarda@gmail.com Wall Street Journal, May 14 and May 15, 2009 The idea that there's anything controversial about moving towards a more moderate drug policy is just false on its face. The opposite is true. Americans are tired of the "tough criminal justice approach" and they elected a president who said he'd bring a new perspective to this issue. Obama made repeated statements in favor of various drug policy reforms on the campaign trail, including support for medical marijuana, treatment over incarceration, needle exchange, and fixing the crack/cocaine sentencing disparity. In a hard-fought campaign, these were among his least controversial positions. You need to help me to stop this craze, please.Someone in this country has to help us.

I want a more reasonable outcome for my son Adrian: he wants to go back to school at Truman State University in MO and work to pay for tuition while getting professional help for his depression caused in part by being punished with 5 years probation and 400 hours of community service for possession of a few mg of Adderall. He was 19.

Over 2 years ago he was stopped in Scotland County on his way to Truman University, because of speeding. He had a sandwich bag with a few Adderall pills. Why the pills? Well, Adrian’s friend had a prescription of Adderall, a drug that keeps you awake. His friend gave him a few of these pills because Adrian was having trouble sleeping and needed something to stay awake while studying for Midterms. He did not pay for the pills and he had no idea that taking in them, it was a serious offense.

He could not keep up with the strict probation rules for such a long time.

He is back in jail because of multiple “Probation Violations”. By the time of the first Hearing with the Judge he will have spent 6 weeks in jail doing nothing but watching TV and playing cards, as a nonresident offender “waiting” in your jails and in your state, using your resources and clogging your system.

And he faces either 7 years in prison or 4 months of Shock Treatment in a Correctional followed by another 5 years of Probation. This is crazy!
This is a true failure of the system to not look at the real reason for targeting innocent people and then creating criminals where there were none. There are far more guilty perpetrators out there and furthermore, Adrian would not be in this hopelessness if the system had not insinuated itself in his and his family’s life so emphatically.
Current drug laws don’t work; locking up people on drug dealing charges who aren’t dealing drugs drains our treasury and saps our system of legitimacy.
I became a memeber DRCNet: The Drug Reform Coordination Network in Washington DC. A quick look at their research shows you how Legislators are beginning to work in making more reasonable “drug-laws” all over the country.

Money that goes to locking up Adrian is not being used to prosecute real drug dealers. You know that.
Doing nothing in the face of a clearly unfair system makes us look irresponsible to our constituents.

Loading up the criminal justice system with minor –naïve- offenders taxes that system in a way that leads to more dysfunction of the system.
Please advise what steps I can take to voice my concern and to get my son Adrian out of the criminal system as soon as possible. He needs a hand up not a lock up. Please don’t make him a criminal.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks a lot for your attention.

Thanks a lot for your attention.
Nora Garda, 319 400 4695 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City IA noragarda@gmail.com
MS Analytical Chemistry.
Chemist at the University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmacy.
Artist, videographer. Festivals Producer.

Adrian’s Dad: Juan Marcos, PhD in Chemical Engineering, Developer at Pearsons Education

Nora Garda 1403 Boyrum St Iowa City, IA 52240 319-400-4695 noragarda@gmail.com

Wall Street Journal, May 14 and May 15, 2009
The idea that there’s anything controversial about moving towards a more moderate drug policy is just false on its face. The opposite is true. Americans are tired of the “tough criminal justice approach” and they elected a president who said he’d bring a new perspective to this issue.
Obama made repeated statements in favor of various drug policy reforms on the campaign trail, including support for medical marijuana, treatment over incarceration, needle exchange, and fixing the crack/cocaine sentencing disparity. In a hard-fought campaign, these were among his least controversial positions.

]]> By: James T http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-19643 James T Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:50:18 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-19643 I've lived in the Shoreline Washington, just north of seattle during the period of Norm Stamper and Gil Kerlikowske. I feel kerlikowske is willing to think outside of the cop mind set to activily consider the communities pleads for drug reform. I feel he is open minded to I-75(which makes marijuana smoking of adults a low prority for the seattle police) and washingtons medical marijuana program. Gil Kerlikowske will implement Idea's of the Obama administration just the same as he did with I-75. I’ve lived in the Shoreline Washington, just north of seattle during the period of Norm Stamper and Gil Kerlikowske. I feel kerlikowske is willing to think outside of the cop mind set to activily consider the communities pleads for drug reform. I feel he is open minded to I-75(which makes marijuana smoking of adults a low prority for the seattle police) and washingtons medical marijuana program. Gil Kerlikowske will implement Idea’s of the Obama administration just the same as he did with I-75.

]]> By: indijo http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-19033 indijo Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:17:59 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-19033 Truly democratic Americans need to support minority democratic leaders now more than ever before. The strength of Obama is the strength of minority democratic leaders. They are everywhere, and they need OUR support NOW!!!!!! Understand????? Truly democratic Americans need to support minority democratic leaders now more than ever before. The strength of Obama is the strength of minority democratic leaders. They are everywhere, and they need OUR support NOW!!!!!! Understand?????

]]> By: Starship Troopers Pc Game State Police Trooper Panel Interview Questions Storm Trooper Cops | Aircars http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18577 Starship Troopers Pc Game State Police Trooper Panel Interview Questions Storm Trooper Cops | Aircars Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:16:31 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18577 [...] Releases :: RE: Starship Troopers *DVD5* [RITUEL]Better Citizenship Through WoW? | GamePoliticsNIU Shooting: One Year Since Deadly School Attack, Motive Still … NORML Blog » Blog Archive » Seattle Post-Intelligencer: City’s … Obama fails his first [...] [...] Releases :: RE: Starship Troopers *DVD5* [RITUEL]Better Citizenship Through WoW? | GamePoliticsNIU Shooting: One Year Since Deadly School Attack, Motive Still … NORML Blog » Blog Archive » Seattle Post-Intelligencer: City’s … Obama fails his first [...]

]]> By: Ray DiPasquale http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18222 Ray DiPasquale Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:07:55 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18222 Why do we even need a drug Czar and a drug war? It is apparent after over forty years of waging war on drugs it has become a lost cause. The only thing that has changed is the cost. The war on drugs cost taxpayers $600.00 per second. Just google the drug war clock and watch the numbers go on and on, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week after week, year after year, the cost of war rages on. Now imagine if we did not have a war on drugs what America could do with that money? The cost of the contraband itself is another cost we must consider as well as the cost of the lives. Look at all the jails and prisons filled,clogged court systems,the mandatory minimums,the longer prison sentences,the expansion of the prison industrial complex,the private corporate run correction facilities,more police, more alphabet agencies, more legislation, it is a never ending nightmare of more. Nothing has changed but the propaganda and lies and the cost. All of this will be paid for by the taxpayer and that is you and me.The numbers look real good in the newspapers or goverment statistical data sheets of how many were arrested in a drug sting or a raid it should be the opposite if it was a successfull war. But the actuality is all of these professionals that are involved in this lair of systematic assembly line justice merely support or increase the price of the contraband that they are determined to be rid off. A giant control system grid created for outlawed molecules. The foundation of career building that is as endless as time itself. We must ask ourselves as Americans How much more can this go on for? How much more shall we be taxed? How much can we spend on a failed policy? How much more of our constitutional rights and freedoms shall be eroded for fear or manufactured crime? How much cost of not only money but lives must be sacrificed? If we do not ask some very serious questions the war on drugs will be an infinite forever with Orwellian scenarios.The Inquisition and the witch hunt conducted by the self-righteous thought police with impunity. As an American I do not want to keep paying for our only failed war and the most costly war in our country’s history. As an American you must ask yourself these questions, it is your money and your responsibility and it is your right if not then you will be asking yourself later this question, Why did I not ask when I had the chance to make a difference? Then it will be too late and that is not American. “Your mistake is failing to recognize that the very measures you favor are a major source of the evils you deplore.” Milton Friedman Why do we even need a drug Czar and a drug war?
It is apparent after over forty years of waging war on drugs it has become a lost cause.
The only thing that has changed is the cost.
The war on drugs cost taxpayers $600.00 per second.
Just google the drug war clock and watch the numbers go on and on, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week after week, year after year, the cost of war rages on.
Now imagine if we did not have a war on drugs what America could do with that money?
The cost of the contraband itself is another cost we must consider as well as the cost of the lives.
Look at all the jails and prisons filled,clogged court systems,the mandatory minimums,the longer prison sentences,the expansion of the prison industrial complex,the private corporate run correction facilities,more police, more alphabet agencies, more legislation, it is a never ending nightmare of more. Nothing has changed but the propaganda and lies and the cost. All of this will be paid for by the taxpayer and that is you and me.The numbers look real good in the newspapers or goverment statistical data sheets of how many were arrested in a drug sting or a raid it should be the opposite if it was a successfull war. But the actuality is all of these professionals that are involved in this lair of systematic assembly line justice merely support or increase the price of the contraband that they are determined to be rid off.
A giant control system grid created for outlawed molecules.
The foundation of career building that is as endless as time itself.
We must ask ourselves as Americans How much more can this go on for?
How much more shall we be taxed?
How much can we spend on a failed policy?
How much more of our constitutional rights and freedoms shall be eroded for fear or manufactured crime?
How much cost of not only money but lives must be sacrificed?
If we do not ask some very serious questions the war on drugs will be an infinite forever with Orwellian scenarios.The Inquisition and the witch hunt conducted by the self-righteous thought police with impunity.
As an American I do not want to keep paying for our only failed war and the most costly war in our country’s history. As an American you must ask yourself these questions, it is your money and your responsibility and it is your right if not then you will be asking yourself later this question,
Why did I not ask when I had the chance to make a difference?
Then it will be too late and that is not American.

“Your mistake is failing to recognize that the very measures you favor are a major source of the evils you deplore.” Milton Friedman

]]> By: indijo http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18171 indijo Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:45:17 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18171 Obama should open the gates to the WH and let in his supporters. I think he would if the people pushed ahrd enough. If the people who voted for change don't give him the support he needs, he's stuck inside the WH with a bunch of federalist party fascists and he'll have no choice but to let the corporate pigs rule over his entire administration. If the people who voted for change don't march on the WH again soon, he'll have no recourse but to let the corp-pigs rule over the govt again. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss - doesn't have to be that way, not if the people force the WH gates to open for their support. Obama should open the gates to the WH and let in his supporters. I think he would if the people pushed ahrd enough. If the people who voted for change don’t give him the support he needs, he’s stuck inside the WH with a bunch of federalist party fascists and he’ll have no choice but to let the corporate pigs rule over his entire administration.

If the people who voted for change don’t march on the WH again soon, he’ll have no recourse but to let the corp-pigs rule over the govt again. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss – doesn’t have to be that way, not if the people force the WH gates to open for their support.

]]> By: Elijah http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18148 Elijah Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:58:06 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18148 If everyone would please call and flood President Barack Obama's own message line at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 and tell him we want him to REPEAL our Federal marijuana/hemp laws now, every day until our Federal Gov. Repeals all marijuana/hemp laws, then "We the people's voices will be finally heard loud and clear! Copy this and pass it along! MAKE A DIFFERENCE! CALL If everyone would please call and flood President Barack Obama’s own message line at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414 and tell him we want him to REPEAL our Federal marijuana/hemp laws now, every day until our Federal Gov. Repeals all marijuana/hemp laws, then “We the people’s voices will be finally heard loud and clear! Copy this and pass it along! MAKE A DIFFERENCE! CALL

]]> By: adam http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18137 adam Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:17:15 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18137 Hey wake up. Obama is not going to change anything. Keep marijuana illeagel lets the CIA sell more marijuana for cheap. This weed grows any where the only thing that gives it value is the drug war. Obama is a puppet to few wealthy families trying to enslave the world. Hey wake up.

Obama is not going to change anything. Keep marijuana illeagel lets the CIA sell more marijuana for cheap.
This weed grows any where the only thing that gives it value is the drug war.

Obama is a puppet to few wealthy families trying to enslave the world.

]]> By: Nax http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18113 Nax Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:58:39 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18113 Maybe I'm just paranoid on this issue, but I think this is going to bite us worse, not make things better. Hope is something that can only be afforded to those with nothing to gain. Maybe I’m just paranoid on this issue, but I think this is going to bite us worse, not make things better. Hope is something that can only be afforded to those with nothing to gain.

]]> By: Troy - Free your mind http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/comment-page-1/#comment-18110 Troy - Free your mind Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:37:48 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/11/seattle-post-intelligencer-citys-police-chief-to-be-next-drug-czar/#comment-18110 I don't know much about this guy, and didn't really find much that excites me - I live in a non-medical marijuana state. But you guys are excited, Norm Stamper seems to support him, so suppose it's cause for some celebration. I don’t know much about this guy, and didn’t really find much that excites me – I live in a non-medical marijuana state.

But you guys are excited, Norm Stamper seems to support him, so suppose it’s cause for some celebration.

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