Writing in The Hill, Sen. Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.)
declares that “we must pull back the curtains on the false
debate between legalizing drugs and current drug policy,” because
“the real answer lies in our ability to aggressively reduce the
U.S. demand for illegal drugs.” Why is that the real answer?
Because “illegal drug use” is “fueling violence in drug-producing
and transit countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.” In
Mexico, for instance, “more than 50,000 people have been killed in
drug-related violence over the past five years.” According to
Feinstein (who should know, since she chairs the Senate Caucus on
International Narcotics Control), “Latin-American leaders are
rightly outraged that their citizens continue to suffer because of
America’s drug habits.”

Actually, Latin American leaders increasingly are
complaining about the U.S, government’s disastrous crusade to
suppress America’s drug habits, which is the real source
of so-called drug-related violence. Black markets are violent, and
prohibitionists like Feinstein are determined to keep them black.
“Legalization will not solve this problem,” Feinstein insists,
because “more drug addiction is not the answer.” Neither are non
sequiturs. If prohibition-related violence is the problem,
repealing prohibition will solve it, although
legalization may have other effects that worry Feinstein.

To be honest, though, the senator does not seem all that
concerned about the real-world impact of public policies. Here are
here top two recommendations to “aggressively reduce the U.S.
demand for illegal drugs”:

First, we should once again make anti-drug campaigns a priority.
In the early 1980s, former first lady Nancy Reagan coined the
now-famous slogan “Just say no” as part of her national anti-drug
campaign. 

Although her strategy was criticized, she was able to use the
White House as a national platform to address these
issues. 

Next, Congress should refund the Office of National Drug Control
Policy’s youth media campaign — the only national media campaign
dedicated to reducing youth drug use. Funding for this program was
eliminated last year in spite of the fact that 85 percent of teens
are aware of the advertising campaign. 

This campaign should be provided with the funding it deserves
and expanded to make the connection between U.S. drug use and
violence in Mexico. 

Yeah, why hasn’t the government ever sponsored propaganda accusing
drug users of complicity in violence? Although there is no evidence
that either of these policies accomplished their stated goals,
Nancy Reagan’s mindless mantra is “famous,” and so are
the federal government’s moronic,
demonstrably ineffective anti-drug
ads. As a dedicated drug warrior, Feinstein has to believe in the
power of good intentions.

Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske also sees
“Just Say No” as a model, and his office
agrees with Feinstein that Congress should spend more of
our money to hector us about our drug habits.

[Thanks to Richard Cowan for the tip.]