Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ruby the Liberal

(26,312 posts)
Sat Jul 12, 2014, 05:29 PM Jul 2014

OR Rep Blumenauer verbally destroys US Deputy Director of Drug Policy (!!) -- VIDEO

OMG - I have a new favorite House Rep.

Witness Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer shred the US Deputy Director of Drug Policy for our decades long policy of the failed Just Say No campaign telling people that "pot = heroin = equally bad, so just abstain".

Our young people today are way less likely to smoke tobacco or drink, but are experimenting with heroin of all things (!) and in alarming numbers. Allow me to paraphrase his anger/frustration at this equivocation:

The kids know you are full of shit and the parents know you are full of shit - and this is why we are failing.


If a joint is "just as" dangerous as a needle, why not give both a try, right?

Deputy Director tried to justify that he was responding to the concerns of parents who had lost a child to a drug overdose - but that was Representative Blumenauer's point from his opening remarks - our current federal policy equivocates drugs that cannot be OD'd on (cannabis) as being equally dangerous to those that can - so what is deterring them from trying it all?

This video is a keeper for me as a reminder about the criticality of the drug awareness and education messaging that needs to be out there - whether MMJ is legal in the state or not. Dude nailed it.

Bravo Sir, Bravo.

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
OR Rep Blumenauer verbally destroys US Deputy Director of Drug Policy (!!) -- VIDEO (Original Post) Ruby the Liberal Jul 2014 OP
And just because Ruby the Liberal Jul 2014 #1
The Deputy Director's closing argument was also a fail, no one has died from a cannabis overdose, Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #2
Tell those parents their prescription drug use is the issue RainDog Jul 2014 #3
I'm going to steal this quote from you, for future use. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #4
Growing up in the 80's Stryst Jul 2014 #5

Ruby the Liberal

(26,312 posts)
1. And just because
Sat Jul 12, 2014, 06:01 PM
Jul 2014

To respond to the closing remarks - Dear Sir, in the offchance you missed the remarks from the Representative because you were too busy formulating your responses in your head, let me make this clear - the drug issue you describe was CAUSED by YOUR OWN AGENCY and its lack of properly educating the public over the last 4-7 decades (or however long you all have presided over Just Say No). You own this. 'Abstinence education' led to a dramatic rise in abortions before saner policies took root. Learn from that and save our young people the unnecessary trauma.



Uncle Joe

(60,148 posts)
2. The Deputy Director's closing argument was also a fail, no one has died from a cannabis overdose,
Mon Jul 14, 2014, 12:07 AM
Jul 2014

he couldn't even cite any, but at least tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands have died from prescription drug overdoses

The reason the Deputy Director couldn't answer the parents' questions as to why medical marijuana should be legalized with all the damage caused by prescription drugs is because 70+ years with the DEA leading the way, the American People have been lied to and brainwashed with bullshit propaganda.

Thanks for the thread, Ruby The Liberal.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
3. Tell those parents their prescription drug use is the issue
Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:03 AM
Jul 2014

not marijuana.

That's the biggest load of bullshit I have ever heard - using parents who kids abuse medicine the parents get from their doctors and then try to blame marijuana.

That's that stupid cone dipped in stupid with stupid sprinkles on top.

C. Everett Koop knew how to deal with this sort of thing - which is what Blumenauer was getting at with cigarettes - and it's done by ACCURATE, factual information, not the bullshit these agencies have relied upon to pay their salaries all these years.

Taylor Branch wrote about this at one point... I excerpted some in a post about Schmoke - but am not feeling well enough to hunt it down. maybe Ruby can be the google liberal, too.

Uncle Joe

(60,148 posts)
4. I'm going to steal this quote from you, for future use.
Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:11 AM
Jul 2014
"That's that stupid cone dipped in stupid with stupid sprinkles on top."

Stryst

(714 posts)
5. Growing up in the 80's
Thu Jul 17, 2014, 04:06 AM
Jul 2014

My mother told me that pot was just as addictive and dangerous as pot, all while sucking down barbiturates as fast as the doctors would give them to her. In that kind of environment, when you're told that and you try pot and it doesn't kill you or make you instantly addicted, then why not try heroin?

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Drug Policy»OR Rep Blumenauer verball...