War on Drugs

     Political morons and justice department bureaucrats in our federal government are implementing a new phase of the war on drugs. They intend to prosecute "to the full extent of the law" legal medicinal marijuana store proprietors in California and other states.
     The difficult lessons of history and a recent documentary by Ken Burns clearly demonstrate that prohibition doesn't work. But political morons and bureaucrats don't understand the lessons of history. Or they just don't care.
     Are they looking for headlines to take the heat off failed policies on drug interception at the borders of this country?
     It appears that the "war on drugs" has brought us war in Mexico and Columbia, and war on our city streets and in our homes. Children are often the victims. Drug territory is protected by drug gangs.
     William Buckley, a conservative Republican, recommended legalization of marijuana in the years before his death. President Obama, a liberal Democrat, has authorized prosecution of marijuana sellers and users.
     It does seem confusing.
     In June, 2011, two unlikely Congressional allies, Reps. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced H.R. 2306, a bill to repeal federal penalities for production, distribution, and possession of marijuana, leaving the states complete jurisdiction as they see fit. The federal government's role, under this bill, would be limited to preventing importation of marijuana into states that continue to ban it. The bill is modeled after the repeal of the 18th Amendment, which allowed states to establish their own rules governing alcohol.
Click on these links for more information on the federal crackdown:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/14/crackdown-medical-marijuana-california_n_1011780.html
http://news.yahoo.com/feds-raid-washington-state-medical-marijuana-dispensaries-044120807.html
Click on this link for a quick and entertaining short story by O. Henry, which describes a 1906 pharmacy in operation before the Harrison Act of 1914:  http://www.literaturepage.com/read/thefourmillion-75.html
Click on this link for a short summary of Drug Prohibition:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_of_drugs
Click on this link for a surprise endorsement to legalize pot: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/pat-robertson-backs-legalizing-marijuana.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general