US Drug Enforcement Administration

[iamnotacop]

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7642

July 3, 2008 - Washington, DC, USA

 

Washington, DC: The United State’s top federal anti-drug agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), turned 35-years-old this week, according to US Department of Justice press release.

 

“The Drug Enforcement Administration was created 35 years ago on [July 1] by President Richard Nixon, who through an Executive Order established a single unified command to combat ‘an all-out global war on the drug menace,’” the DOJ release states. “At its outset, the DEA had 1,470 Special Agents, a budget of less than $75 million, and a presence in 31 countries. Today, the DEA has 5,235 Special Agents, a budget of more than $2.4 billion and 87 foreign offices in 63 countries.”

 

Commenting on the agency’s anniversary, NORML podcast host Russ Belville noted that illicit drug use, production, potency, availability, and drug-related overdose deaths have all increased sharply over the past three decades.

 

“Bigger budgets, more drugs. More arrests, more deaths. More seizures, more potency. More agents, more users. For their thirty-fifth anniversary, perhaps they should change their name to the Drug Encouragement Administration,” he said.

 

Belville has posted a critical review of the federal agency online at: http://stash.norml.org/2008/06/30/the-dea-turns-35-today/.

 

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500.

 

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Hmm, what else needs to be said. We have been saying for 35 years that it is a futile war.

[nimrod13]

The US government has invested that much money and employs that many people in law enforcement that it will never end its war on drugs.Can you imagine them sacking all those coppers and nark's.Its a vicious circle that feeds off itself.More agents,more funding and then more drugs available?!! Fuck,we need more agents,more funding.......etc,etc

[Bazza]

dont analyze that situation too closely there nimrod or the men in black will be at your door :peace:

[kiloppo]

mmm, i don't think weed should be illegal. or mushrooms. I think it's unfair that they outlaw natural things.

 

however, coke,ice,heroin. im glad i was never exposed to that shit when i was slightly more naive and immature. that other stuff can get you in trouble.

[djbernone]

yea...this is not surprising. drug war stuff is everywhere-at hempfest here in columbus ohio, usa i witnessed some kids smokin kinda near some trees and cops swooping out of the cover of forest like GI Joes, just to give them all $100 tickets. bastards. its sad, the amounts of time they spend on trivial stuff like this. and its only getting worse.