Lets be clear: There is not now, nor has there ever been, a "War on Drugs."
What there is is a cynical program of political duplicity who's intention is not to prevent drug abuse (which it very successfully encourages), but to create a social climate of alienation, divisiveness, distrust, fear, hostility and violence while distracting Americans from more significant political and economic concerns. The so called "War on Drugs" is in actuality a policy of domestic violence waged primarily against the young, the poor, the non-white and the socially disaffected to the advantage of the Elected, the Corporate, the Privileged and the Few.
President Nixon launched this war against American citizens in 1968, at a time of extreme political and social unrest. For Nixon, it was a method of "getting even" with "uppity" blacks, "radical" leftists and "dirty" hippies who he and the nefarious interests he represented regarded as "traitors" to the American way of life.
On the contrary: What we were doing then, and what we are doing now, is trying to liberate America from a reign of political and economic tyranny that is sustained by rhetorical propaganda and misinformation. We love America and the Constitution and wish nothing more than for Her to complete Her Constitutional Promise of Freedom and Justice for All.
Dividing Americans against Americans, making them fear and wage war one against the other: This is what the so called "War on Drugs" was meant to do and that is precisely what it has done--far more successfully than even Richard Nixon could have hoped. After him, Ronald Regan and George Bush found their own uses for the "War on Drugs." Besides the political advantages of making one look "tough" on the very crime that prohibition engenders, the appeal of easy and unregulated funding for illegal and covert operations was simply irresistible. What began as a bad habit became a full fledged addiction.
At this point in our history--the election year of 1996--this insidious and increasingly malignant and militaristic policy is still with us. And to judge by President Clinton's appointment of General Barry McCaffrey as "Drug Czar," we may safely assume it is going to get worse. This "policy" has become so much apart of our media conditioned sense of every day reality that it is difficult to imagine an America without it. Anyone who publicly opposes the inflamed rhetoric or tries to bring rational, informed opinion to the issue, is branded a "traitor," characterized as a "drug pusher" or worse. Witness the forced resignation of Surgeon General Jocylin Elders after she took a position of leadership on this issue.
There are many areas on the Web where important information regarding drugs, their history, their use, and the "War on Drugs" can be found. One of the biggest and best--complete with search engine--is the Online Drug Policy Library of the Drug Reform Coordination Network.
What I offer here is an opportunity to read a few powerful writings which can help us understand the history of this war against American citizens and what we can do to put an end to it once and for all.
One thing is clear: Despite powerful opposition, we must bring an end to this war as soon as humanly possible. The damage it has done to our society is already far greater than most of us know. It is a National Tragedy that may take generations to heal. Failure to act quickly and responsibly by educating ourselves and our neighbors while taking a strong political stand in opposition to this war will only lead to further erosions of our cherished Constitution and its Amendments.
Thank You,
- The Duplicity of the War on Drugs
- This essay was written by an anonymous author and posted on the Web. I feel the information contained in it is so important that I am asking everyone to down load this document, print it out, make copies and distribute them as widely as possible.
- Nicotine Is More Addictive Than Heroin
- A short, pirated posting from the nations leading expert on addiction, Jack Henningfield, stating that nicotine is more addictive than heroin, alcohol, or cocaine. A voice uncorrupted by tobacco money.
- Marijuana and Immunity: Leo E. Hollister, MD.
- A study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs p159-163 Vol. 24 Apr.-Jun. 1992. Such studies as this, though somewhat difficult for the lay person to read, make up the scientific foundation for rational discussion of Drug Policy Reform.
- Those of us who advocate Drug Policy Reform understand that drug abuse is a reality--a serious reality with which every American should be concerned. However, the current policy of prohibition and criminalization of drugs does not reduce drug abuse or the harms drugs cause. On the contrary, it exacerbates them far beyond the dangers of the drug themselves by making criminals of drug users and transforming our society into a police state. Clearly, therefore, some rational alternative that will effectively limit the harms drugs cause both the individual and society must be sought.
- Health Aspects of Cannabis: Leo E. Hollister, MD.
- This lengthy but balanced and well documented study of the Health Aspects of Cannabis is taken from PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEWS Copyright © 1986 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Dr. Hollister is an associate of the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.
- Just about anything you would want to know regarding the Health Aspects of Cannabis Use are contained in this report. Special thanks to R. Givens of the San Francisco Bay Guardian for making these two reports by Dr. Hollister available.
- Legalize it NOW: F. Michael Wells
- I sent this letter, accompanied by many of the materials contained in this site, to President Clinton, both my Senators and my Congressman on Independence day, 1996. It expresses my outrage at the perpetuation of a political war waged against American citizens such as myself. I will no longer vote or advocate any politician which utilizes the "War on Drugs" as a "get votes" strategy
- I encourage you to write your own letter, expressing your feelings about this issue, to your elected representatives.
- The Hover Resolution
- An important document which could change the course of American history. The Hover Resolution calls upon the government to reexamine our nation's drug laws. It has received support from the Mayor and the Police Chief of San Francisco, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, former Police Chief of San Jose Joseph MacNamara, Dr. Milton Friedman, former Secretary of State George Schultz, and Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray.
- Please down load, print out, sign and mail a copy of this document to the addresses provided.
- Drug Reform Activist Cliff Schaffer has written an extensive introduction to the Hoover Resolution.
- The Heidleberg Declaration
- An English translation of an international petition to end the common practice of imprisoning non-violent drug offenders. Read it. Print out a copy. Sign it and mail it to the address included.
- Bibliography
- An extensive list of books suitable for the average reader that have to do with various aspects of the "War on Drugs." No, I haven't read all these books! There are, however, many excelent books on this list. I personally recommend "Smoke and Mirrors; The Politics of Failure," (Little Brown, 1996), by Dan Baum. It is the most readable and informative history of this crime against all Americans that I have read. I also recommend "The Politics of Consciousness," (Loompanics, 1995), by Steve Kubby. Steve is a true American patriot and Consciousness Revolutionary.
This bibliography was borrowed from another site and added to by me. If you know of works you feel should be included on this list, please email me with their titles and other relevant information: painter@sirius.com
Michael Wells