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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) Aaron Houston, MPP director of government relations 202-905-2009 or ahouston@mpp.org |
Pres. Obama’s Proposed 2011 Budget Bolsters War on Drugs
Obama administration to expand drug war by tilting funds heavily toward law enforcement and away from treatment
WASHINGTON - February 4 - According to 2011 funding "highlights" released this week by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Obama administration is expanding the war on drugs and focusing its funds toward law enforcement over treatment. The budget puts America's drug war spending at $15.5 billion for fiscal year 2011; an increase of 3.5 percent over 2010 and an increase of 5.2 percent in overall enforcement funding ($9.7 billion in FY 2010 to $9.9 billion in FY 2011). Addiction treatment and preventative measures are budgeted to increase from $5.2 billion to $5.6 billion.
Furthermore, President Obama chose to continue
funding the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, which is run by
the drug czar's office and has for years emptied its coffers on absurd
anti-marijuana ads that veer far from the truth. One such ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
"This budget reflects the same Bush-era priorities that led to the total failure of American drug policy during the last decade," said Aaron Houston, MPP director of government relations. "One of the worst examples is $66 million requested for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign when every independent study has called it a failure. The president is throwing good money after bad when what we really need is a new direction."
4 Comments so far
Show AllWas somebody out there busy turning our once promising Democratic President into another George Bush?
It's all so absurd.
The war on drugs is just another scam to siphon off taxpayers money to badge wearing, gun toting lunatics.
No more wars ... period. No more war in Iraq. No more war in Afghanistan. No more war on drugs. So many people have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. For what?
So many lives have been destroyed through this war on drugs. For what?
Just legalize it all and control it just like alcohol and tobacco.
Have you ever heard of anyone speeding or killing someone after toking it up and driving? I haven't. They're either going too slow or not moving at all! Haven't ever heard of anyone getting raped either by someone who was smoking weed. They're usually too busy trying to deal with the munchies or just passed out.
Why is Obama taking up where Bush left off ... intent on killing ... and destroying lives?
Just wondering....if one advocates for the legalization of drugs does that make one an ENEMY COMBATANT in the war on drugs? Does the Constitution still apply for those who defy the will of the DEA? BTW, 35 yrs ago, the DEA was helping the Mexican cops pour coke (or other carbonated drink) down the noses of Americans caught down there getting stoned on pot.... the WAR has been brutal for a long time....
Sad. This is clearly support of the prison-industrial complex. No hope for the many who are addicted to get help. No hope to empty the gulags. The military-industrial complex is putting new bases in Colombia. They claim the main reason is to fight the war on drugs. Of course it is to try and control Venezuela and try and oust Hugo Chavez. Obama is kind of bushy.
Obummer Obomber O'BUllShit
The next thing he'll do is start the draft, raise taxes for the poor, give every person earning over $250,000 a huge tax break cause they have been so helpful, and probably promote shit burgers as health food.
His wife is starting to look like the drugs to keep her stress level down aren't working...Laura-like.
This will be the icing on the cake for some, just the tip of the iceberg for others. Regardless, between the nukes, the Patriot Act, the wars, the military budget, the bail outs, we have been hoodwinked and bamboozled by this man. I am pissed off...really pissed off.