UPDATE!!! UPDATE!!!

Speaking of debate, my recent appearance on Dr. Drew Pinsky’s nationally syndicated radio show is now archived here. (Click on ’show audio’ for July 31, 2008.)

Dr. Drew and I spent 30 minutes discussing HR 5843 and whether the federal government has any business legislating what substances adults put into their bodies. By the end of the segment it appears that even the good doctor concedes that the answer is “no.”

Anyone who follows this issue closely knows that paid prohibitionists like John Walters and Scott Burns refuse to engage in debate with marijuana law reformers.  

In fact, several years ago the US Drug Enforcement Administration actually published and disseminated a publication, “How to Hold Your Own in a Drug Legalization Debate,” that recommended its employees decline invitations to publicly debate drug policy issues.

Given this environment, it’s refreshing to see the creation of a website like OpposingViews.com.

The new site, recently profiled by the Washington Post, faces off experts head-to-head on various hot-button political issues, including drug policy.

Ever wonder why drug warriors steadfastly refuse to debate reformers on drug policy issues? Just click here, here, and here, and you’ll have your answer.

Nearly six years ago, Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns mailed a two-page letter to every prosecutor in America urging them to target and “aggressively prosecute” marijuana violators, including first-time offenders.  

At that time, I spent some 5,000 words addressing Mr. Burns numerous lies and exaggerations — which included this shocking statement, ”No drug matches the threat posed by marijuana.”

Yes folks, in 2002 that was the official position of your federal government.

Fast forward to today and you’ll see that little, if anything, has changed among the Czars who cohabit the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Earlier this month Scott Burns flew to Humbolt County in northern California where he gave this revealing (as in, it reveals just how clueless this man really is) interview with the editors of the Arcata Eye, explaining why the White House continues to believe that pot remains the most dangerous herb on the planet. However, rather than bleed my fingertips to the bone responding to Mr. Burns’ inherent inability to tell the truth, this time around I’m simply going to let his words speak for themselves.

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It took less than one week for the White House to begin publicly lying about New Hampshire House Bill 1623, which seeks to make the possession of up to one-quarter ounce of pot a fine-only offense.

In a factually and grammatically challenged press release, Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns alleged that the proposal — which passed the House last week by a 193 to 141 margin — would decriminalize the “manufacturing” and “distributing” of “over 90 marijuana joints.”

Okay, aside from the fact that the measure applies to possession offenses only, one has to ask, what is up with the White House calculators? If one-quarter ounce of pot equals roughly seven grams, and if one joint contains roughly one gram of marijuana, then what the Hell does the Drug Czar’s office think is in the other 83+ joints?

Of course, regardless of whether it’s the Deputy Drug Czar Scott Burns, White House Drug Czar John Walters, or UN Drug Czar Antonio Maria Costa, there’s not a Drug Czar alive who can’t help but lie about marijuana.

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