Saturday, March 12, 2011

How Palin Has Helped Obama Reform Drug Policy

I have argued that the Obama administration has wisely avoided tinkering too much with the Bush administration's national security policies and apparatus. However, one area where I am glad to see the ole hope and change mantra actually come to fruition is in the area of drug policy. The following graph shows a much needed change in how revenue for drug control is used. The percentage of revenue spending on control of demand is beginning to reverse from the past decade of decay. (Note, the graph is a little fuzzy. You can see a much clearer version when you click on the graph)


Then there is this:
President Obama's proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 requests that Congress allot more funds for drug treatment and prevention programs, said Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The proposal would put forth $10 billion to reduce the consumption of drugs in the United States. This includes $9 billion for rehabilitation treatment for drug abusers—a $98.7 million increase from 2010.

“The use of drugs in the United States drives crime, violence, addiction, and instability throughout our nation and this hemisphere,” said Kerlikowske. “Being one of the nations with the highest rates of rug use, we recognize that we have a responsibility to reduce the demand of drugs here in order to protect the health and security of our citizens, and to support the valiant work of President Calderón and our international partners in their grand efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.”

In a town hall discussion in the state of Kentucky, Kerlikowske signaled that the Obama administration strives to take a rehabilitative approach to drug abuse in America. If policies come to reflect the rhetoric, this would constitute a significant policy shift from previous administrations.

"We have been calling it a war on drugs for many years, and we must stop. Calling it a war connotes that this is a war on people. This is not a war on people,” Kerlikowske said in his opening remarks at the forum. “This is a complex discussion about a complex problem." 
Back in late 2008, I remember one of my former professors (who happens to be a leading expert on drug policy) in graduate school relaying to our class that he was skeptical that President Obama would find the political will to accomplish drug policy reform. It turns out that he may have overestimated the political and societal forces at work to prevent an easing of the war on drugs.

Ironically, Sarah Palin should get some credit for Obama's boldness. Seriously, she should. For years, suburbanite parents in Middle America have lived in fear that their little Johnny might grow up smoking pot. Part of the reason why changing the failed drug policies of the United States government has been so difficult is because of the crime enforcement psyche of the kinds of people that would likely find Sarah Palin appealing. Yet, when the former governor of Alaska argues for the decriminalization (not legalization) of marijuana use on Fox News (of all places), her words carry a lot of weight.

It is very easy to characterize Palin as incurious, but her thinking regarding drug policy is a bit more nuanced than most of her Republican colleagues. America's prohibition policies (beginning in 1914 with the Harrison Act and escalating during the Nixon administration with the so called "War on Drugs") have failed, regardless of what measurement is used. Palin is right to argue that we need to focus less resources on jailing potheads. Just like only Nixon could have opened relations with China and perhaps only Obama could have increased troops in Afghanistan, it may be that only someone like Palin can help change attitudes towards drug enforcement in Middle America.

I am not saying that Palin alone has created a favorable environment to drug policy reform. I am saying that she may have contributed to it. I am also saying that she could be a valuable asset in the future for drug policy reformers.

Cross posted at The Cross Culturalist.

8 comments:

BOSMAN said...

Pablo,

I hope you don't mind, but I cleared up your graph for you.

Pablo said...

Bosman, thanks. I just inspected how you did that and learn something new. Thanks, again.

Revolution 2012 said...

I really haven't thought about this issue.

I suppose decriminalizing pot (below a certain amount found on any one person) would be something to consider. I'm just not that INVOLVED IN IT to really care one way or another.

Ann said...

I think small amounts should be decriminalized.

Bill589 said...

Great post Pablo. Except the incurious thing. She has had people regularly teaching her national/world things for well over a year. Very curious and a very quick learner. And she does have a bit of libertarian in her.

Anonymous said...

The answer to drug addiction is to revoke the citizenship of drug users and deport them to Mexico.

Long Island drug rehab said...

A lot of drug addicts often seek help from drug rehab centers to cleanse their body and hope that they can change for good and recover from drug addiction.

Kyle Xanders said...

It just makes sense that the US government spends more money to drug addiction. It is a known fact that drugs is the main cause of crime, violence, and addiction.

drug rehab new york