The War On Drugs

The Colbert Report

The legalization debate is heating up again, now that Bush is gone. Check out the Democracy Now interview below on recent changes to New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws, which set mandatory minimums for even first time, non-violent drug offenders that can be up to 15 years for a simple Class A felony possession charge. Bill Moyers excellent interview with realistic crime-drama creator David Simon, of The Wire, adds another perspective to the argument...

In other news, the draconian U.S drug law which levies the same sentence for possession of 5 grams of crack as it does for 500 grams of cocaine is set to be overturned, due to its obviously discriminatory nature. Even Obama's been forced to comment on the issue recently, though he has said little to support legalization. Still, the push to legalize is stronger now than its been in nearly a decade...

Obama's Slightly Nicer War On Drugs

Alternett......................................... 05.18.09

Obama's toned down the the rhetoric on drugs considerabley, and come out in support of some promising changes—like the examples mentioned above. But will he actually do anything except continue the same war with kinder words. And will he have the politcal balls to stand up to the big private prison operators, who have been the main beneficiaries of the war on drugs—and the war on smoking marijuana that Bush Jr. started a few years ago. This article by Arianna Huffington on Alternet summarizes the administrations position so far and attempts to answer that question...

More On The War & Legalization

› Obama on Drugs his position, so far New

› Inner City Story David Simon, creater of The Wire

› Democracy Now repealing Rockefeller drug laws

› Drop The Rock drug law reform campaign

› Legalize It! seattle's top cop agrees