This is not a surprising development, though I am a bit surprised that this has happened so soon.
Category: Drugs
The Kids Are Alright
A 17 year old student in Gig Harbor, WA gave a speech supporting the legalization of marijuana at a school event highlighting persuasive speeches.
At the end of the speech, he, “he pulled out a joint and smoked it in front of the class,” and then ate the roach (remainder of the joint).
I applaud his courage, though school officials did not. They called in the local sheriff, and he was sent to juvenile hall.
NY Rolls Back Rockefeller Drug Laws
They expect to see an annual savings of ¼ billion from not locking up people for years for a single joint.
It looks like we will see more of this as the downturn saps state budgets.
UN Discovers that Its War On Drugs Fueled the Drug Cartels
Anti-narcotics drive fuelled drug cartels: U.N. | International | Reuters:
A U.N. anti-narcotics drive has backfired in part by making drug cartels so rich they can bribe their way through West Africa and Central America, U.N. crime agency chief Antonio Maria Costa said on Wednesday.
The 10-year “war on drugs” campaign had cut drug output and the number of users, he said. But it had a “dramatic unintended consequence” — profit-gorged trafficking gangs destabilizing nations already plagued by poverty, joblessness and HIV-AIDS.
Hoocoodanode?
You mean that increasingly draconian strategies against illegal drugs increases the profit margin for the suppliers who survive, which gets them more sophistication, and influence, and increases corruption and violence in society?
They could have just asked Al Capone’s ghost, and he would have told them that.
Is Glenn Beck Stoned?
I’ve never watched him before, but I think that he is wasted here.
A Breath of Fresh Air for Drug Czar
Obama has selected Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the new drug czar and it appears that while he is 100% cop, and a heavy duty law enforcement guy, unlike previous heads of the ONDCP, he’s not an insane drug warrior.
People who are looking at a more humane policy in dealing with drugs are pleasantly surprised by his appointment, as are legalization groups.
Specifically, during his tenure as police chief, he actually followed a law, initiative 75, which specifically deprioritized marijuana enforcement,* and kept the police from harassing needle exchange programs, which helps reduce AIDS transmission.
He’s never going to be NORML’s man of the year, and he’s not going to call for legalizing weed, but he is remarkable improvement over the ‘war on drugs’ crowd that has done nothing but fill prisons with non-violent offenders.
*I-75 saw a decline in drug use as well.
Palin In-Law Drug Bust Delayed for Election
Well, this story is interesting.
It appears that the dope-dealing case of Sherry L. Johnston, whose son, Levi is due to marry Bristol Palin, Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter, has taken a few twists:
- Ms. Johnston Believed that she was already under surveillance, being caught on wiretap texting to a customer, “”Hey, my phones are tapped and reporters and god knows who else is always following me and the family so no privacy. I will let u no when I can go for cof. [Oxycontin]”
- That the search warrant was purposely delayed until after the election so that Johnston was, “no longer under the protection or surveillance of the Secret Service.”
- This last bit is particularly interesting, as the only time that she should be under surveillance or protection of the Secret Service would be when she was with Sarah Palin.
This raises the question as to whether Palin was using her position to delay the execution of a search warrant.
OK, This is a Story of a Celebrity Connected Drug Bush
Which generally means that I don’t write about it.
As I have said about She Who Must Not Be Named, and They Who Must Not Be Named:
Absent some sort of political activity, such as endorsements, running for office (PLEASE GOD NO!!), or their attempting to assassinate someone, she will not be mentioned here.
So why am I writing about the arrest of Sherry L. Johnston on drug charges that appear to be associated with possession or distribution of Oxycontin.
Why am I writing about a small time drug bust in the small town of Wasilla, Alaska….Hold it….Wasilla, where Sarah Palin comes from, and Johnston, like the guy, Levi, who knocked up her teenage daughter?
Yes, Sherry L. Johnston is Levi’s mom….And Levi Johnston and and Bristol Palin are still engaged to be married, and her baby is due today, though a quick scan of the ADN web site shows that the birth has not yet been anounced.
So, why am I mentioning it?
Let’s see:
- Palin thought that it was significant that Obama worked on a community board with William Ayers, and now her future in-law is charged with being a drug dealer.
- So by Sarah Palin’s own standards, she’s involved.
- Palin was just the vice-presidential nominee, and shows every indication of wanting to run for president in 2012.
- Wasilla was a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere when Palin became mayor, and by the time she left, it was known as the “Meth Capital of Alaska,” probably because she fired the competent police chief and replaced him with her own goon.
So, yes, this is noteworthy, particularly if your name is Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, or Jon Stewart.
You Know that No One Will See See the Inside of a Cell
Or even a few days paid suspension, but it’s pretty clear that Barry Cooper found some dirty cops in Odessa, TX.
He set up a house with surveillance equipment, and then put a couple of Christmas trees under grow lights, and 24 hours later, the police swore to probably cause to get a search warrant, and entered the house.
They are currently refusing to supply the affidavits, but it’s clear what happened: They illegally used infrared cameras looking for grow lights, and then lied to a judge to get a warrant.
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Andrew Lahde managed a hedge fund that returned 866% by shorting the subprime collapse.
Well, he just quit and shut down his fund, and his letter of resignation is a doozy:
Today I write not to gloat. Given the pain that nearly everyone is experiencing, that would be entirely inappropriate. Nor am I writing to make further predictions, as most of my forecasts in previous letters have unfolded or are in the process of unfolding. Instead, I am writing to say goodbye.
Recently, on the front page of Section C of the Wall Street Journal, a hedge fund manager who was also closing up shop (a $300 million fund), was quoted as saying, “What I have learned about the hedge fund business is that I hate it.” I could not agree more with that statement. I was in this game for the money. The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government. All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless America.
There are far too many people for me to sincerely thank for my success. However, I do not want to sound like a Hollywood actor accepting an award. The money was reward enough. Furthermore, the endless list those deserving thanks know who they are.
I will no longer manage money for other people or institutions. I have enough of my own wealth to manage. Some people, who think they have arrived at a reasonable estimate of my net worth, might be surprised that I would call it quits with such a small war chest. That is fine; I am content with my rewards. Moreover, I will let others try to amass nine, ten or eleven figure net worths. Meanwhile, their lives suck. Appointments back to back, booked solid for the next three months, they look forward to their two week vacation in January during which they will likely be glued to their Blackberries or other such devices. What is the point? They will all be forgotten in fifty years anyway. Steve Balmer, Steven Cohen, and Larry Ellison will all be forgotten. I do not understand the legacy thing. Nearly everyone will be forgotten. Give up on leaving your mark. Throw the Blackberry away and enjoy life.
So this is it. With all due respect, I am dropping out. Please do not expect any type of reply to emails or voicemails within normal time frames or at all. Andy Springer and his company will be handling the dissolution of the fund. And don’t worry about my employees, they were always employed by Mr. Springer’s company and only one (who has been well-rewarded) will lose his job.
I have no interest in any deals in which anyone would like me to participate. I truly do not have a strong opinion about any market right now, other than to say that things will continue to get worse for some time, probably years. I am content sitting on the sidelines and waiting. After all, sitting and waiting is how we made money from the subprime debacle. I now have time to repair my health, which was destroyed by the stress I layered onto myself over the past two years, as well as my entire life — where I had to compete for spaces in universities and graduate schools, jobs and assets under management — with those who had all the advantages (rich parents) that I did not. May meritocracy be part of a new form of government, which needs to be established.
On the issue of the U.S. Government, I would like to make a modest proposal. First, I point out the obvious flaws, whereby legislation was repeatedly brought forth to Congress over the past eight years, which would have reigned in the predatory lending practices of now mostly defunct institutions. These institutions regularly filled the coffers of both parties in return for voting down all of this legislation designed to protect the common citizen. This is an outrage, yet no one seems to know or care about it. Since Thomas Jefferson and Adam Smith passed, I would argue that there has been a dearth of worthy philosophers in this country, at least ones focused on improving government. Capitalism worked for two hundred years, but times change, and systems become corrupt. George Soros, a man of staggering wealth, has stated that he would like to be remembered as a philosopher. My suggestion is that this great man start and sponsor a forum for great minds to come together to create a new system of government that truly represents the common man’s interest, while at the same time creating rewards great enough to attract the best and brightest minds to serve in government roles without having to rely on corruption to further their interests or lifestyles. This forum could be similar to the one used to create the operating system, Linux, which competes with Microsoft’s near monopoly. I believe there is an answer, but for now the system is clearly broken.
Lastly, while I still have an audience, I would like to bring attention to an alternative food and energy source. You won’t see it included in BP’s, “Feel good. We are working on sustainable solutions,” television commercials, nor is it mentioned in ADM’s similar commercials. But hemp has been used for at least 5,000 years for cloth and food, as well as just about everything that is produced from petroleum products. Hemp is not marijuana and vice versa. Hemp is the male plant and it grows like a weed, hence the slang term. The original American flag was made of hemp fiber and our Constitution was printed on paper made of hemp. It was used as recently as World War II by the U.S. Government, and then promptly made illegal after the war was won. At a time when rhetoric is flying about becoming more self-sufficient in terms of energy, why is it illegal to grow this plant in this country? Ah, the female. The evil female plant — marijuana. It gets you high, it makes you laugh, it does not produce a hangover. Unlike alcohol, it does not result in bar fights or wife beating. So, why is this innocuous plant illegal? Is it a gateway drug? No, that would be alcohol, which is so heavily advertised in this country. My only conclusion as to why it is illegal, is that Corporate America, which owns Congress, would rather sell you Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax and other additive drugs, than allow you to grow a plant in your home without some of the profits going into their coffers. This policy is ludicrous. It has surely contributed to our dependency on foreign energy sources. Our policies have other countries literally laughing at our stupidity, most notably Canada, as well as several European nations (both Eastern and Western). You would not know this by paying attention to U.S. media sources though, as they tend not to elaborate on who is laughing at the United States this week. Please people, let’s stop the rhetoric and start thinking about how we can truly become self-sufficient.
With that I say good-bye and good luck.
All the best,
Andrew Lahde
Someone needs to give this guy Hank Paulson’s job.
I approve of the bit about hemp too.
Turn on, tune in, drop out.
Our Friends in Afghanistan
Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of Hamid Karzai, who the US installed as Afghan president, is hip deep in the heroin trade in Afghanistan.
Heck of a job, Bushie.
Well, the WaPo Finally Talks About Junkie Cindy McCain
It appears that the story was written, and the title put into the feed a few days early, so here it is.
The issue is not that she is* a junkie. The issue is that even though she had the ability to feed her need in a number of ways that would not have put people at risk, she forged other people’s names at her charity, etc. which placed them at risk through no fault of their own, and then she used her money, and McCain used his position, to protect her and to pursue vendettas against people who did the right thing, and went to the DEA.
Honor, my ass.
*Once someone is an alcoholic or junkie, they always are, the question is just whether they are recovering, or still doing whichever substance they have a problem with.
So, Now it Appears that John McCain Used His Office to Support His Sugar Mama Dope Abusing Wife
We know the basic story: Cindy McCain used a charity that she set up to steal Percocet and Vicodin to feed her habit.
One of the principals in this matter is Tom Gosinski, who discovered the abuse, and discovered that Cindy McCain was using his name to get the drugs, so he went to the DEA, and John McCain used his office to call in political favors to get the US Attorney to go after him.
While it is clear that Gosinski is no fan of the McCains, they got an investigation ginned up claiming that he had tried to extort them after he had been talking with the DEA for months, the picture that he is painting, both of McCain and of his family is unbelievably grim
Well, he’s now releasing his journals to the public, and among other things, there are allegations that the McCains medicated their kids unecessarily.
Gosinski details a conversation with Jeri Johnson, Cindy McCain’s aunt, regarding Cindy’s nanny, Diane, in a July 28, 1992 entry.
Diane voice concerns regarding Cindy’s use of drugs and the effect it is having on the kids. Diane told Jeri that Meghan recently told her to “f$#@ off” after trying to discipline her. She also told Jeri that she is concerned that Cindy is giving the kids drugs which unnecessarily sedate them. I hope that is not happening.
Concerns that Cindy McCain is unnecessarily drugging her children appear again in a July 31 entry — “Cari (Cindy’s adopted daughter) told the three that she fears Cindy gives the kids prescription drugs they do not need,” Gosinski wrote.
Republican family values, my ass.
What more, it appears that the Washington Post had an article about this recently, but it was scrubbed from the web site.
The Final Word on Drinking Age
Care of Atrios:
Perhaps they should consider my cunning plan to let 18 year olds have a drinking license or a driver’s license but not both, which would have the added benefit of helping my plot to make everyone move to Manhattan increasing the appeal of less car dependent locations.
(emphasis mine)
I’m Matthew Saroff, and I approve of this message.
Draft Beer Not People
I began my drinking college career before the universal 21-year-old drinking age, it was 20 in Massachusetts, and it did not interfere with my drinking at all, so I approve of the efforts by over 100 college presidents to lower the drinking age to 18 (the Amethyst Initiative).
They believe that the current regime leads to unsafe habits and binge drinking, and I agree.
My observation, and I was at college through the transition, is that the change in the law did not make for safer drinking, or a reduction in drinking and driving.
Lawmaker Gets Constituent High-Fives for Accidentally Supporting Marijuana Legalization
When William “Lacy” Clay, Jr. (D – MO), signed off on Barney Franks’s (D-MA) bill to decriminalize marijuana, he thought that he was supporting medical marijuana, which he has supported for years.
It turned out that Frank’s bill actually decriminalized posession of all pot in amounts less than 100g (a bit less than ¼ pound).
The response of his constituents surprised him. They were overwhelmingly supportive of decriminalizing marijuana:
Clay was worried about the reaction. Supporting the liberalization of marijuana laws is not often seen as a political winner, especially in Midwestern cities like St. Louis.
But instead of stoner jokes, derision and righteous indignation, Clay was surprised to start getting praise from complete strangers.
“People are coming up to me saying this is a common-sense, sensible way to deal with the issue of personal use,” Clay said.
So far, he said, his calls, mail and contacts are running 80-20 in favor of the bill. He was impressed enough that he decided to go ahead and step before the cameras last week with Frank and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) at a news conference touting the bill.
The only people who support throwing people in jail for a couple of joints are the business interests in the iron triangle that is the US Law Enforcement/Industrial/Prison system.
Not surprisingly, Ron Paul, who is consistent about such things, was the only Republican co-sponsor of the bill.
Congress Looks to Decriminalize Pot
The proposed legislation would remove federal penalties for possession of less than 100g of marijuana.
Reps. Barney Frank and Ron Paul are sponsoring HR 5843.
I’m Matthew Saroff, and I approve this legislation.
Drug Warrior Call For War On Drugs in Afghanstan, Damn the Consequences
Thomas Schweich, the former enior counternarcotics official in the United States Embassy in Kabul, is claiming that the Afghan government is hopelessly corrupt and that Afghanistan is nearly a narco-state.
The allegations as reported are alarming, but when you read his essay on the his experiences there, it becomes far less concerning.
It’s clear that this guy is a hard core drug warrior. He opposes payments in lieu of growing poppies, supports aerial spraying of defoliants, military operations for poppy eradication, etc.
This is precisely the sort of crap that pushes peasants to the Taliban, but he sees everything through the lens of “drugs bad”, and ignores secondary effects, so he’s now writing a tell-all.
It is this myopic view that created the disaster of prohibition, and is fostering the disastrous ‘war on drugs” now.
Iran Is an Odd Place
They still enforce a death penalty for homosexuality, but they are one of the most transsexual friendly governments in the world, and now I find that Iran’s policy towards drugs and addiction is geared to a remarkable degree towards treatment, rather than punishment:
In a country where the discussion of some social and cultural issues, like homosexuality, can be all but taboo, drug addiction has been widely acknowledged as a serious problem. It is talked about openly in schools and on television. Posters have encouraged people to think of addiction as a disease and to seek treatment.
Iran’s theocratic government has encouraged and financed a vast expansion in the number of drug treatment centers to help users confront their addictions and to combat the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, through shared needles.
…..
Iran’s government, trying to curb addiction’s huge social costs, has been more supportive of drug treatment than any other government in the Islamic world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
…..
But two decades later, it recognized that this approach had failed. A sharp increase in the crime rate and the number of people infected with HIV, both directly linked to a surge in narcotics use, persuaded the government to shift strategies.
….
…. After a 25 percent surge in HIV cases, the government began distributing free needles in prisons in 2000.
….
“There are so many options that no addict can claim that there is nowhere to go for help,” said Dr. Mohammad-Reza Haddadi, a physician and researcher at the National Center for Addiction Studies. “It is much cheaper and healthier for them to go to these centers for methadone than to drug dealers.”
They realized that a war on drugs wasn’t working, and they changed.
The fact that the Iranians are more sane on drug policy than either mainstream party should be an embarrassment to Americans.
Agreed
The folks at The Talent Show note that the right wing slime machine is gearing up to go after Michelle Obama.
They suggest that that be our response:
I wholeheartedly agree.
Full story on stealing dope for her fix is here.