tfs

Released earlier this month, the DEA’s ‘National Drug Threat Assessment 2006′ paints a realistic picture of how unsuccessful the War on Drugs really is. The official document – found here – makes 3 points extremely clear:

More marijuana is being grown each year
Marijuana is increasingly available to the public
The DEA’s marijuana campaign is completely ineffective

To top it off, it’s also been revealed that 98% of all domestically erradicated marijuana is actually ditch weed. That’s right – ditch weed. Weed that can’t be smoked, is worth absolutely nothing and grows naturally in the US. I just can’t see any situation where a taxpayer would be pleased with their governmental contributions going to this worthless cause.

When you look closer at the DEA’s data, some interesting trends start to surface:

Marijuana is by far the most highly used drug
Marijuana is primarily used by young adults (18-25 years old)
Marijuana is the most highly seized drug
Marijuana is not the highest in drug-related arrests (Cocaine is)
Marijuana’s THC content has been steadily on the rise since 1985
Seniors in high school love weed (33.6% worth actually)

Not exactly the most reassuring news if you’re a criminilization supporter, eh? It’s pretty obvious that the mind-set of the American public is shifting. Constant failure, millions (even billions) of dollars in waste and complete ineffectiveness should be convincing arguments for the cause of responsible legalization.

[via NORML]

In the beginning of August, I wrote an article on Safer Colorado’s Legalization Initiative. As the article said, it gives us hope that more and more states are pushing towards legalization, but that doesn’t mean the federal government is just going to give up the fight for it’s archaic War on Drugs.

The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is now inserting its large nose into Denver’s legalization movement. One agent in particular, a Mr. Michael Moore (not to be confused with the documentary director), has sent numerous emails to political campaign heads asking for support in the fight against Safer Colorado’s initiative. This should raise the alarm on multiple levels, especially the right of state legislations to create their own laws without interference from the federal goverment.

The emails being sent by DEA Agent Michael Moore state that he has $10,000 ready to start the anti-legalization campaign and that all interested parties should contact him at this DEA office. Now, Colorado law prohibits state employees from using state resources to advocate any political point of view. Unfortunately, the DEA is regulated by federal law, not state law. The feds are regulated by something called The Hatch Act. Passed in 1939 and amended in 1993, it is aimed at stopping partisan politics. In other words, it prevents the majority party in the goverment from using tax payer money against the opposing political party and its political movements.

What this means to the average Joe, is that the DEA is side-stepping this act, slipping through the cracks if you will, to oppose a law that will basically render their jobs impotent. Of course a a government agency that makes its livelihood our of tracking, arresting, and prosecuting drug offenders is going to fight the Colorado ballot initiative.

The federal government needs to respect the constitution and the ideologies that it was built upon. Unfairly influencing state level ballots is highly unethical and, as far as I’m concerned, dirty tactics in their War on Drugs.

Leading up to this vote, tFS is going to keep a close eye on the happenings in Colorado. Also, expect to see some more amusing information on the DEA. I’m sure native Coloradans can’t wait to see some “fair and unbiased” facts in DEA sponsored commercials. Riiiiight.

[via Newsvine]