Cop Reveals Ugly Truths of Drug War
May 21st, 2009 by Russ
Academics and left-wing activists are well known for their opposition to the war on drugs. It’s less often that one hears the criticism straight from the horse’s mouth. In an interview for Allison Kilkenny’s blog, a former detective lieutenant and narcotics officer offered up some first hand evidence that the war on drugs is little more than a police-orchestrated charade.
The detective, Jack Cole, is now a member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.) A 26-year veteran of the New Jersey state police, Cole was well-acquainted with the discrepancy between department objectives and the reality on the ground:
We nor our bosses had any idea of how to fight a war on drugs. Our bosses did know one thing though; they knew how to keep that federal cash-cow being milked in their personal barnyard. To accomplish that they had to make the drug war appear to be an absolute necessity. So early on we were encouraged to lie about most of our statistics and lie we did.
And so the department inflated arrest statistics, seizure statistics, and any other metrics that would make them look successful:
We exaggerated the amount of drugs we seized by adding the weight of any cutting agents we found (lactose, mannitol, starch, or sucrose) to the weight of the illegal drug. So we might seize one ounce of cocaine and four pounds of lactose.
And as the lie steamrolled onward, the department funding poured in. Soon, “cooking” the stats was a mere formality and part of everyday policework. And, as they tend to do, the lie spiraled out of control.
In Cole’s words:
The War On Drugs gives the racists an easy hook to hurt people they don’t like. And they do.
The need for stats bred racial profiling, destroyed minority communities, and locked up hundreds of thousands of non-malicious, non-violent youths.
LEAP Speaks Out on Prohibition
December 5th, 2008 by Alex
On December 4th, 1933 the United States government put an end to prohibition – a failed experiment to curb one of America’s (and the world’s) base appetites. We are now seeing reflections of this movement in the present day war on drugs.
A group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which is made up of former law enforcement officials against the war on drugs, is using this anniversary to continue their lobbying on behalf of drug legalization.
In their efforts to get more direct conversation between constituents and federal / state lawmakers, LEAP has created an email form for people to easily contact your local elected officials.
One thing to point out is LEAP supports not just the legalization of marijuana, but also cocaine, heroine and other illegal drugs. It’s hard to find complete literature on their website about each drugs’ potential consequences (if legalized), but there is a provided study about today’s drug prohibition.
We all know this is a complex subject, but it’s even more interesting to see the increase in a push for legalization as a result of the downturn in America’s economy. If major shifts do happen, we will be looking back at this unexpected economic decline as one of the deciding factors.
Let’s finish off with a prescient quote by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the famous industrialist. He said:
When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.
Hmmm. Remind you of anything?
Marijuana Reform Breakdown
November 4th, 2006 by Alex
TalkLeft has put together a nice, quick breakdown of the upcoming marijuana reform initiatives that are taking place in Colorado, Nevada and South Dakota. This years’ mid-term elections are not only important because of the obvious Democrat vs. Republican struggle, but also because these measures might be the first steps toward legalization.
Public opinion is starting to swing in many states. Organizations like LEAP and SAFER Colorado are doing their part to improve awareness and promote the benefits of herb rather than the demonization and scare tactics employed by the US government.
Overall, even if these measures don’t succeed (and I sure as hell hope they do), I still believe we are on the path towards a more intellectual approach to smoking. When you compare the benefits and drawbacks against many other legal substances in the US, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
[via TalkLeft]
LEAP – An Organization to Support
August 23rd, 2006 by Alex
An organization known as LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) is another, albeit large, example that legalization is gaining steam and soon poised to become a national issue on a Presidential level.
LEAP was founded in March 16th, 2002 and is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of the United States’ existing drug policies. This should make an extremely strong impression on anyone who hears what they have to say. Executive Director, Jack Cole, doesn’t hide his viewpoint:
The war on drugs has been, and forever will be, a total and abject failure. This is a war on our own people. What if, today, we had legalized regulation of drugs and spent $69 billion a year on mandatory minimum education? Mandatory minimum health care? Jobs for anybody who wanted to work? Decent housing? We could do that kind of stuff with the money we’re wasting on the war on drugs.
The fact that so many educated, respected and involved individuals are beginning to speak out and bring attention to a more than obvious error in our country’s approach should be an eye opener. Jack Cole is here again to drop another one:
By the summer of 2008, I want 10,000 law enforcement members and a million private citizens who support what we’re doing. If we get those numbers, and I’m almost sure we will, we will elevate the discussion of legalized regulation of drugs to the level of a presidential campaign issue. Then, we can show the candidates that they won’t lose one more vote than they’ll gain. We will end the prohibition on drugs.
The implications of this are gigantic and to give an actual horizon of action is a step forward by itself. If not by 2008, 2012 should be the year that national legalization begins to take serious hold and has a legitimate chance to change our country.
If you can, get involved with LEAP today.
