Backed by wealthy philanthropists and embracing popular issues like medical marijuana, the drug-reform movement is stronger than it has been in years.
Fox News reported Jan. 27 that groups like the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and the Drug Policy Alliance have backers with deep pockets (billionaires Peter Lewis and George Soros, respectively), and both have succeeded despite taking different tacks on the drug issue. MPP has focused mainly on the medical-marijuana issue, while the Drug Policy Alliance tackles a broader range of issues, including supporting drug treatment over incarceration for drug offenders.

Despite their differences, the two groups have worked well together in recent years. "I think it's a healthy sign in the drug-policy forum that there are different groups coming in with different backgrounds and point of view," said MPP director Bruce Mirken.

Critics say the groups have focused on medical marijuana because most Americans don't agree that pot should be legalized for recreational use. "The fact they've been touting medical-marijuana initiatives shows what a failure they have had in the legalization movement," said Tom Riley, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "The reason why they are still in business is they have these eccentric billionaires funding them. Or else they would dry up and float away."

One group that hasn't shared the recent success in the drug-reform arena is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Once the spearhead of the legalization movement, NORML, launched in 1970, has struggled to get funding and recently lost its founder, Keith Stroup, to retirement. "The challenge we face, and I would have to say is the most frustrating failure, is we were never able to take that public support we know we enjoy and turn it into public policy," said Stroup, 61. "This issue carries with it so much baggage and it would be foolish for us not to recognize that."

Still, NORML will remain a grassroots, consumer-based group representing the interests of marijuana users and legalization sympathizers. "They continue to play an important role in this struggle. NORML remains relevant -- and if they are able to raise additional funds they will be even more relevant," said Drug Policy Alliance head Ethan Nadelmann.

I can't think of a better way for Soros to attack and destroy the USA. Attack from within with tools that destroy.

And to think he's not even Amercian.

So, do we sit by and allow him and his cronies, specifically the Drug Policy Alliance, to continue on this destructive course of action?

Real Amercians need to understand the unprecedented threat he poses to all of us, and how his money is paying for the disintegration of our communities, the family unit, and our core beliefs.

Do we really need to to use all Amercians as guinea pigs for a diabolical experiment in full street drug legalization?

Hey, while Soros is at it, why does'nt he spend a week with a meth user who's been awake for 3 days, and owns a loaded gun. Now, that would be an experiment worth pursuing....... lol.

I wonder if he would come away from it with the same belief that we must allow people their "constitutional right" to put whatever kind of illegal drug they choose into their own bodies. lol.

One Message, One Voice, No Use.

Starting with that "real Americans" stuff again huh?

first of all, all the organizations you cited are for the legalization of marijuana not harder drugs like meth or heroin. Second of all, if you want a conspiracy maybe you should look into why marijuana was made illegal in the first place.
Also I'm very curious as to what harm legalizing marijuana could possibly do the the united states. maybe you should inform yourself and thing before spouting off the ignorant crap you are saying

so what is your answer linda1, eliminate legalization advocacy groups and throw free speech out the window? If legalization comes about through the electoral process, what's the big deal. You are pro-American aren't you?
err, maybe not.

linda1 wrote:

One Message, One Voice, No Use.

One message one voice? Reminds of of the 'Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer' nazi propaganda dogma.

Besides, it isn't MPP or NORML that is responsible for the majority of legalization headway, it's local communities and obscure state representatives that nobody has ever heard of.

Linda you're perfectly entitled to choose not to use drugs, but please let the rest of the American people decide for themselves. Authoritarian presence on this issue is not needed. What's next, criminalize McDonalds' because it's unhealthy?

Linda on that other thread that you posted on, you claimed that it is a falsity the notion that prisons are filled with non-violent drug offenders. Although multiple links were given to show how your statement was completely wrong, wouldn't it be to your advantage to claim that so many drug users are locked up and attribute that to the successes of the war on drugs?
It doesn't look like you're well educated on the things your own side is doing, how are you going to tell us about what the other side is doing?

the ammunition these pro-drugs have is a formidable foe: the war on drugs is a miserable failure. America is sentencing otherwise good, contributing citizens. the casualties are rising and its no longer a matter of "are drugs really bad for you". its now "the war on drugs is even worse"

Linda1 wrote:

I wonder if he would come away from it with the same belief that we must allow people their "constitutional right" to put whatever kind of illegal drug they choose into their own bodies. lol.

Wow, way to point out exactly why drugs should be legalized: because it's your own body. Arbitrarily deeming some drugs too dangerous for humans to be allowed to put into their own bodies is just another way the state asserts the claim that you don't even own your own body. That's why drug legalization will eventually succeed: people will eventually reject the notion that they are too stupid to take care of themselves.

Good to see you, Linda.

You mention that DPA is funded by billionaires Soros and Lewis. You didn't mention who is the largest financial contributor to opposition to drug reform, the ONDCP.

Part of the duties of the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is to oppose drug law reform. Even though we consider ourselves a democracy, part of our government is set up to oppose the movements of some of it's citizens. We pay taxes not just to enforce drug laws, but to defend drug laws. While the DPA gets voluntary donations, the federal government forces all US taxpayers to fund the opposition to those reforms regardless of how we feel about them. (At least it's funded by "real Americans" right?) I choose to give money to the DPA to fund drug reforms. The federal government takes money from me forcefully to oppose those reforms. The ONDCP's budget is huge compared to the DPA's and yet the DPA is able to make progress because attitudes are changing about how to approach the drug problem.

Haven't we learned yet that arresting and imprisoning people does not control drug abuse?

It's not a conspiracy. People should be able to take whatever drugs they want to.

Starting to think Linda1 was a driveby...

First of all, my belief's, like them or not, are mine. I own them. I do not support the legalization of any illegal drug. But, hey, I can take the heat, after all I'm a California girl.

You know the usual course of action would be to test the waters before jumping in. Now that I know what I'm up against, I'm ready for the challenge. Bring it on.

One Message, One Voice, No Use!

Linda1 wrote:

First of all, my belief's, like them or not, are mine. I own them. I do not support the legalization of any illegal drug. But, hey, I can take the heat, after all I'm a California girl. You know the usual course of action would be to test the waters before jumping in. Now that I know what I'm up against, I'm ready for the challenge. Bring it on. One Message, One Voice, No Use!

NOTICE: THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS AN EXAMPLE. I DO NOT IN ANY WAY USE ILLEGAL DRUGS

Why the f**k do you care if I want to do herion? It's not your right to tell me what I can and can not do. If I want to snort coke, I will and you won't stop me.

I really like the use of the Bush quote Linda: "Bring it on"

Its so... so... macho. Or in your case, macha.

But there is no conspiracy, we're just far better at making use of meager resources than the gummint. A few million $ (which most of us never see a penny from, we do it outta love... :D ) against billions of $...

And to be fair, I give you credit Linda. Most rabid prohibitionists (Calvina, Joyce, John Walters...) don't venture outside their fortresses of inaccessibility.

Before the depression mexican immigrants were a much needed work force- cheap labor. During the depression we, meaning the 'real Americans' needed the jobs that migrant workers had been doing. After all, we should take care of our own first, we all agree on that, right?

Provide for our own first.

So maybe our government devised a plan to get rid of immigrant workers, so what.

They were growing marijuana in mexico, and bringing it into our country. So why not kick them out, and devise a plan that would shed light on the marijuana issue while setting the stage for our own to work and provide for their families. Nothing wrong with that.

Anslinger found a way to get the marijuana issue on the agenda, through the National Firearms act. The supreme court upheld the law, and that opened the door for the regulation of marijuana. It was a brilliant idea, you have to admit, and it worked.

Anslinger tried to get states to enforce the marijuana ban, but several states insited that the federal government must regulate it. The southwest and the west left it up to the federal government, so they ran with it.

SO WHAT!

Adults their rights and nothing more, children their rights and nothing less!

I dont give a F*** what any individual does with their own bodies, but the WHOLE PROBLEM IS, drug use does'nt only affect the user, now does it! You will never convince me that any paticular individuals drug use wont affect me. I have seen what meth use produces, and it aint pretty!

Dont take this personally people, I prefer to keep my vehicle in the driveway, and out of the hands of drug users looking for fast money.
I also prefer not to speak with abused children, but thats not the reality of drug use, now is it.

I'll take that as a compliment allen e.

Hey, I dont talk about your friends that way. Learn to respect.

Linda, Say What?!?!

Quote:

Hey, I dont talk about your friends that way.

The hell you say.

You've accused Mal of attacking and frying your computer and said that "legalizers" burned down a house (all w/o providing any verifying info). I merely said that Calvina, Joyce and John are "rabid prohibitionists." That my dear is "word." Heck, I left off Dr Eric "Darth" Voth, Sue Rusche and a few others who are obviously on the extreme end of things.

Linda1 wrote:

Adults their rights and nothing more, children their rights and nothing less! I dont give a F*** what any individual does with their own bodies, but the WHOLE PROBLEM IS, drug use does'nt only affect the user, now does it! You will never convince me that any paticular individuals drug use wont affect me. I have seen what meth use produces, and it aint pretty! Dont take this personally people, I prefer to keep my vehicle in the driveway, and out of the hands of drug users looking for fast money. I also prefer not to speak with abused children, but thats not the reality of drug use, now is it.

I go to school in a tiny little piece of s**t town where most of the student's parents are on meth. I've seen what it produces. Alot of kids there have to raise themselves because their parents are sacrificing there entire lives to score more meth. And you know what? I happily support the parent's right to continue doing so.