Tag: drug czar
Posted on Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 10:22:09 AM EST
Tags: Gil Kerlikowske, Drug Czar (all tags)
It's official. President Barack Obama, as reported weeks ago, will name Seattle police chief R. Gil Kerlikowski to the position of Drug Czar. But...
The administration will remove the job's Cabinet designation -- reversing an elevation of the office under President George W. Bush -- although one senior official said that Kerlikowske would have "full access and a direct line to the president and the vice president."
And this should be no surprise:
The source also noted that Vice President Biden was instrumental in the creation of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and would continue to be an outspoken advocate on the issue.
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Posted on Thu Feb 12, 2009 at 09:00:56 AM EST
Tags: drug czar (all tags)
Drug Reform groups and others are beginning to react to the reports that President Obama will choose Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske as the new Drug Czar:
- Paul Armentano at NORML
The day the U.S. government finally — and properly — recognizes that drug use is a public health problem and not solely a criminal justice issue will be the day that the President appoints a White House ‘Drug Czar’ who possesses a professional background in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.
But until that day arrives, perhaps the best we reformers can hope for is a cop who appreciates that pot poses less of a danger to the public than alcohol, and who recognizes that from a practical and fiscal standpoint, targeting and arresting adults who engage in the responsible use of cannabis doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense.
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Posted on Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 04:21:00 PM EST
Tags: Gil Kerlikowske, Drug Czar (all tags)
President Barack Obama will name Seattle Police Gil Kerlikowske as the nation's new Drug Czar. He will be director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and it's a cabinet position.
A career cop, here's an interesting tidbit.
He has said he discovered his love for law enforcement in 1965 while fingerprinting criminals at a Florida jail.
Reactions from Drug law reformers:Not an ally by any means but we could have done worse: [More...]
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