As a former law enforcement officer with many assignments in narcotics enforcement I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Kennedy’s proposals...as long as his program is rolled out with helping the weakest and most needy in mind...the street drug addict
Thank you, MC. It's vital that those with first-hand experience dealing with the problem on the streets are also those leading the charge in fixing these broken policies. Thank you for your service.
If you have ever found yourself in excruciating and debilitating pain, that cannot be controlled by any other means you would know darn well why it is available.
The whole point of ending the war on drugs is that it is not governments responsibility to protect people from themselves.
Kennedy is really coming to the solutions to our long overdue self perpetuating problems. He has the vision that can see where we need to go and is not afraid of the entrenched power structures that want to keep us where we so miserably are
I like this idea. Trump passed some similar legislation. It would be nice to see Robert take it one step further. The legislation gave people forgiveness and a second chance, a win for all involved.
One thing to be aware of are those violent offenders who plead down to a lesser offense to get leniency.
After reading the "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction" by DR GABOR MATE and his book "WHEN THE BODY SAYS NO" its really clear with his experience we have really screwed up the way we have treated addiction and just made if worse and sometimes i am not sure if that is what the governments want as its is a money making endeavor for so many so i welcome becoming a more enlightened society about all addiction. We all have a shadow form of addiction in our lives it needs to be given light to let them go.
Yes. It's ironic that some of the same drugs the CIA deployed for their MK-ULTRA experiments are now the ones that seem to show genuine promise over petrochemical-based pharmaceuticals. In the end, health is much more holistic than many have grown up believing, regardless of your stance on drugs as medicine.
We need to stop teaching children that popping pills is the solution to life's problems. We need to stop all prescribing of antidepressants and stimulants to children.
Thankfully, this discussion has cracked through into the mainstream recently, with the paper on SSRIs and the fallacy of "chemical imbalance" as the primary factor in depression.
Here's an idea: To be sure all those DEA agents will still have a job, and perhaps be even more occupied with useful tasks: Convert the function of the DEA from Drugs to the Department of Environment Enforcement, with the power to prosecute polluters, seize profits made in the process of polluting, seize polluting factories, etc.
No need to introduce new laws and new enforcement agencies - the best first step is to insist law enforcement and the court system actually enforce laws, rather than letting corrupt corporations get away with breaking the law.
Here's an idea: let's NOT have any parts of the executive branch running around seizing things, making up its own rules as it goes along. Let the DEA agents find actual productive work, in the private sector.
Exactly. The resources to prosecute polluting corporations are already there. It's that they're captured entities that need to be thoroughly cleaned out and put back on task, and have them stop weaponizing their authority to go after political opponents.
So you think that Capitalist Transnational Corporations, such as the ones poisoning us daily, are capable of regulating themselves for the good of mankind and the planet?
well there is only one person running who gets it and of course he is being blocked by the DNC so in NH if i vote for him and he gets enough delegate votes those delegates will go to BIDEN they are THAT scared of him and fixing this so failed system of guilt and lies.
Definitely time to imagine a world where Kennedy runs as an independent. I admit, I've been skeptical and even critical of the idea, but I think I've been naive. - Liam
Mr. Kennedy is on the right track but, doesn't go far enough. Only full re-legalization of these plants is required to end the War on (some) Drugs.
What are we talking about, really? The naturally occurring plants of marijuana, cocoa, opium, some mushrooms, peyote and a couple others is what we're talking about. In the Book of Genesis God gave humanity the earth as mankind's dominion. Only one plant, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, was off limits. These plants we now vilify are put here by God for our use. The more people try to restrict them, the more they become distilled and destructive.
By not restricting access to theses plants we open the way for people to find out their healing properties as well as the uses as natural stimulants, depressants and mind-altering substances.
However, not only would this end the Gravy Train for the DEA, it would also destroy the pharmaceutical industries' stranglehold on medicines and end the off-the-books billions of dollars for the CIA and the politicians that support criminalization.
Former CIA chief and president George H.W. Bush's nickname was "Poppie"...I don't think he was labeled such by his grandkids.
"The failure of a militarized approach can be seen in Colombia, which has remained a world leader in coca production despite a billion dollar anti-drug program championed by Biden since the 1990s.. The worst aspect of Plan Colombia was an aerial defoliation program using herbicides banned in the U.S. "
Fun fact - Herbicides used in Plan Columbia are glyphosate based so lands that are unfit for any plant growth will easily convert to growing Monsanto/Bayer Roundup Ready gmo crops specifically engineered to tolerate this next generation toxin by Agent Orange Gang for the win.
Thank you for this helpful and informative article. A gentle tip from an experienced editor would be that excessive (and ungrammatical) use of commas can be distracting to the reader.
For example, the commas around the phrase “who underwent years of treatment” in the following sentence are both unnecessary and ungrammatical: “Kennedy’s mission to end the War on Drugs is rooted, in part, in his own experience as a former addict, who underwent years of treatment, and can empathize with others struggling with addiction.”
Thanks again for the good information, though, and I am a big RFK Jr. supporter.
As a former law enforcement officer with many assignments in narcotics enforcement I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Kennedy’s proposals...as long as his program is rolled out with helping the weakest and most needy in mind...the street drug addict
Thank you, MC. It's vital that those with first-hand experience dealing with the problem on the streets are also those leading the charge in fixing these broken policies. Thank you for your service.
OxyContin, the highly addictive painkiller opioid, is still available in the United States with a prescription. Purdue Pharma. How is it possible?
Dopesick with Michel Keaton playing the doctor.
Dopesick | Official Trailer https://youtu.be/x3Z4NFUPbZ0
Beyond the Script of Hulu's 'Dopesick' and America's Real-Life Opioid Crisis 41:04 min https://youtu.be/x4KDmENOkYM
Thanks for sharing this documentary and accompanying videos, Mario.
My pleasure!
If you have ever found yourself in excruciating and debilitating pain, that cannot be controlled by any other means you would know darn well why it is available.
The whole point of ending the war on drugs is that it is not governments responsibility to protect people from themselves.
Please do it RFK Jr.
Any US Government War on anything including Drugs, Iraq, Afghanistan, Poverty etc. is a DISASTER, MONEY GRAB, AND REALLY ABOUT MORE POWER AND CONTROL!
Amen. "War" as a system is unnecessary, but will take a lifetime to fully eradicate from the human experience. The work must continue.
Kennedy is really coming to the solutions to our long overdue self perpetuating problems. He has the vision that can see where we need to go and is not afraid of the entrenched power structures that want to keep us where we so miserably are
100% agreed
I like this idea. Trump passed some similar legislation. It would be nice to see Robert take it one step further. The legislation gave people forgiveness and a second chance, a win for all involved.
One thing to be aware of are those violent offenders who plead down to a lesser offense to get leniency.
After reading the "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction" by DR GABOR MATE and his book "WHEN THE BODY SAYS NO" its really clear with his experience we have really screwed up the way we have treated addiction and just made if worse and sometimes i am not sure if that is what the governments want as its is a money making endeavor for so many so i welcome becoming a more enlightened society about all addiction. We all have a shadow form of addiction in our lives it needs to be given light to let them go.
Gabor Mate's take on addiction and trauma is brilliant and makes more sense than anything I have ever heard or read about.
Now is the perfect time to challenge establishment big pharma funded medicine in the treatment of mental health disorders.
There's been a lot of studies showing the safety of the mentioned alternative treatments in helping those with PTSD, addictions, and pain management.
The groups that stand in the way have lost a lot of power after their poor performances.
The Oxycontin scandal reminds many that they cannot be fully trusted.
Yes. It's ironic that some of the same drugs the CIA deployed for their MK-ULTRA experiments are now the ones that seem to show genuine promise over petrochemical-based pharmaceuticals. In the end, health is much more holistic than many have grown up believing, regardless of your stance on drugs as medicine.
We need to stop teaching children that popping pills is the solution to life's problems. We need to stop all prescribing of antidepressants and stimulants to children.
Thankfully, this discussion has cracked through into the mainstream recently, with the paper on SSRIs and the fallacy of "chemical imbalance" as the primary factor in depression.
Here's an idea: To be sure all those DEA agents will still have a job, and perhaps be even more occupied with useful tasks: Convert the function of the DEA from Drugs to the Department of Environment Enforcement, with the power to prosecute polluters, seize profits made in the process of polluting, seize polluting factories, etc.
No need to introduce new laws and new enforcement agencies - the best first step is to insist law enforcement and the court system actually enforce laws, rather than letting corrupt corporations get away with breaking the law.
Here's an idea: let's NOT have any parts of the executive branch running around seizing things, making up its own rules as it goes along. Let the DEA agents find actual productive work, in the private sector.
Exactly. The resources to prosecute polluting corporations are already there. It's that they're captured entities that need to be thoroughly cleaned out and put back on task, and have them stop weaponizing their authority to go after political opponents.
So you think that Capitalist Transnational Corporations, such as the ones poisoning us daily, are capable of regulating themselves for the good of mankind and the planet?
Ha! Certainly not.
well there is only one person running who gets it and of course he is being blocked by the DNC so in NH if i vote for him and he gets enough delegate votes those delegates will go to BIDEN they are THAT scared of him and fixing this so failed system of guilt and lies.
Definitely time to imagine a world where Kennedy runs as an independent. I admit, I've been skeptical and even critical of the idea, but I think I've been naive. - Liam
Mr. Kennedy is on the right track but, doesn't go far enough. Only full re-legalization of these plants is required to end the War on (some) Drugs.
What are we talking about, really? The naturally occurring plants of marijuana, cocoa, opium, some mushrooms, peyote and a couple others is what we're talking about. In the Book of Genesis God gave humanity the earth as mankind's dominion. Only one plant, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, was off limits. These plants we now vilify are put here by God for our use. The more people try to restrict them, the more they become distilled and destructive.
By not restricting access to theses plants we open the way for people to find out their healing properties as well as the uses as natural stimulants, depressants and mind-altering substances.
However, not only would this end the Gravy Train for the DEA, it would also destroy the pharmaceutical industries' stranglehold on medicines and end the off-the-books billions of dollars for the CIA and the politicians that support criminalization.
Former CIA chief and president George H.W. Bush's nickname was "Poppie"...I don't think he was labeled such by his grandkids.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mark. Very thought-provoking.
"The failure of a militarized approach can be seen in Colombia, which has remained a world leader in coca production despite a billion dollar anti-drug program championed by Biden since the 1990s.. The worst aspect of Plan Colombia was an aerial defoliation program using herbicides banned in the U.S. "
Fun fact - Herbicides used in Plan Columbia are glyphosate based so lands that are unfit for any plant growth will easily convert to growing Monsanto/Bayer Roundup Ready gmo crops specifically engineered to tolerate this next generation toxin by Agent Orange Gang for the win.
Thank you for this helpful and informative article. A gentle tip from an experienced editor would be that excessive (and ungrammatical) use of commas can be distracting to the reader.
For example, the commas around the phrase “who underwent years of treatment” in the following sentence are both unnecessary and ungrammatical: “Kennedy’s mission to end the War on Drugs is rooted, in part, in his own experience as a former addict, who underwent years of treatment, and can empathize with others struggling with addiction.”
Thanks again for the good information, though, and I am a big RFK Jr. supporter.
Thanks for the feedback, Noël! It's very helpful :)
You are welcome. I appreciate your graciousness, and thank you again for all that you are doing to help us gain clarity.
We're doing our best, and seeking to follow the positive example that RFK Jr. is setting. Thankfully, we're making headway together!
If Hunter Biden's father had an atom of decency, he would pardon everybody serving time in prison for possession of crack cocaine.
Ask the question, what is it about Portugal etc that makes decriminalisation work.
Is it because they don’t get hung up on enforcement of alcohol age restrictions?
How many teenagers rebel?
How many drug dealers care about age restrictions?
How many criminals follow the law?
What a fun and rather obvious fallacy that seems to keep popping up in policy discussions everywhere!
Stay strong and fight the good fight!
You too, bookAnear!