|
Oakland Prosecutor comes out against Drug War, finds that he's not alone |
|
|
|
|
Written by James Anthony
|
|
Thursday, 30 March 2006 |
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:
“Cops say legalize drugs — ask me why,” blared the tee-shirts on a
dozen volunteers as I walked into the Drug Policy Alliance national
conference at the Long Beach Marriot last November. They all looked
like cops too; big burly guys with short hair, except for a few cop
wives and a couple of guy who might have been undercover narks.
I had paid good money from my nonprofit salary for registration, hotel,
car, and airfare from Oakland to learn more about drug policy reform,
and was feeling a little afraid that I was going to get down there and
be surrounded by thousands of old hippies in a big joyous be-in.
Well, I’d just walked in and already I was surrounded by cops —
screamingly open cops, who’d walk right up to you, shake your hand,
look you in the eye, and say, “We should legalize all drugs because
that’s the only way we’re ever going to control them.” Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition (LEAP) was in the house in a very big way.
It became very clear to me. The drug policy reform movement is not just
NORML anymore and it’s not just people who enjoy drugs. It’s also
people who hate drugs (and want to control them effectively), and
people who don’t care about drugs (but care about the $70 billion the
US wastes every year on the socially harmful, but politically
expedient, Drug War).
 MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAID - Photo by Jaime Galindo
The drug policy reform movement is expanding everywhere, and nowhere
more surprisingly — or more rapidly — than among law enforcement
personnel. Started just a few years ago, LEAP now has over 5,000
members, and a goal of 10,000 this year. Its members include not only
police officers, but also drug prosecutors, judges, and prison guards
from all over the country. LEAP has introduced a “friend” category for
its non-law enforcement supporters, with a goal of a million friends
this year.
LEAP’s strategy for ending the Drug War is to use its members’
credibility as speakers in heartland settings such as Rotary Club
meetings. LEAP’s speakers’ bureau is over 100 strong and growing. They
make a convincing presentation that the Drug War has failed to reduce
drug problems, and has actually made things worse and caused untold
harm to individuals, families, communities, minorities, our nation, the
world and to law enforcement itself. They then open the question, if
what we’re doing isn’t working. What to do next? Each speaker has their
own ideas on what detailed shape legalization should take, but all
agree that the American people can come up with a better system once
they see how bad and unworkable the Drug War is.
For more information on LEAP, and to join as a member or friend, see www.leap.cc
* James Anthony is a LEAP speaker and an award-winning former Oakland
civil drug prosecutor, now practicing land use law. He is available for
public speaking engagements and is eager to talk with LEOs who are
interested in adjusting drug policy, and can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
James Anthony |
| About the author: |
| James Anthony, Prosecutor
"When the police department can't put the drug dealers in jail, they ask me to take the grandmother's house."
James Anthony has seen first-hand the destructive impact of the "War on Drugs" on both inner-city neighborhoods and on police officers; and Oakland, CA - where he has spent three years as an award-winning Neighborhood Law Corps attorney - is a ground zero for that damage.
|
| Read More >> | |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 August 2006 )
|
The Men's Wearhouse George Zimmer
