Wise counsel on drug laws
http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Wise-counsel-on-drug-laws-5948878.php
Advocates for ending the war on drugs found an unlikely new ally last week: Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland.
In an interview with Houston-based radio show Cultural Baggage, McClelland candidly discussed the undeniable facts about our nation’s criminalization and prohibition of marijuana, calling the drug war a “miserable failure.”
“Most police chiefs understand that when it comes to marijuana use, we cannot (continue) to criminalize such a large population of society that engage in casual marijuana use,” McClelland said during the pre-recorded interview that aired Friday on KPFT 90.1.
Beyond listing the drug war’s financial toll on taxpayers, and its general ineffectiveness, McClelland also provided a perspective from our nation’s police officers. As McClelland tells it, trying to enforce drug laws as a local peace officer means working within a world of conflicting orders. Marijuana is still illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I drug – the most restrictive category. But plenty of local district attorneys, state legislators and voters are pushing back and creating their own policies. Police officers don’t know what they’re supposed to do.
“A lot of law enforcement officers see things in black and white, and they want to know, look, from the federal government, if it’s illegal, do you want us to enforce it or not? And if it’s something that should be changed, then take it off the list.”
Filed under: General Problems
Kudos to Chief McClelland! While many from law enforcement advocate for sensible reform regarding our drug laws, it is usually not from ACTIVE law enforcement officers. Way to take a stand sir.
Interesting tidbit I found while searching for information about Chief McClelland,
Hopefully he has more luck in pushing forward the issue of drug reforms than he does with his driving. What are the chances of hitting a pedestrian and they turn out to be an attorney? Sheesh.
http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Houston-Police-Chief-faces-lawsuit-after-5929892.php [Attorney struck by HPD chief’s SUV sues]
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition or LEAP
Others current and retired law enforcement officers who speak out in opposition to our harmful laws against drug use (and civil liberties). http://www.leap.cc/
*Time to Listen to the Experts on Legalizing Drugs
Posted: 09/29/2014 11:00 am EDT Updated: 11/29/2014 5:59 am EST
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-dimond/time-to-listen-to-the-exp_b_5899846.html
The Global Commission on Drug Policy, an illustrious panel including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, former presidents and prime ministers of nearly a dozen countries and others issued a detailed study about why it’s smart — for reasons both humanitarian and financial — to legalize marijuana and other drugs………………
As a former Houstonian (because of no access to medical cannabis), I have to agree with the Police Chief — take marijuana off the Scheduling List!
But, dude, first you’re gonna have to convince the Texas State Medical Board… good luck with that.