Students Speak, DEA Sneaks Away

Like any common bully, the DEA routinely uses its power to intimidate and harass the powerless, arresting doctors for practicing medicine, terminal patients for taking medicine and seizing legally acquired property on the slightest pretense. And just like any common schoolyard bully, when confronted, the DEA runs in the same cowardly manner.

Case on point is this incident last week,

..when the UNM chapter of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy organized a drug-policy debate in the Student Union Building. Drug war opponent, Howard Wooldridge, a former police officer and board member for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, was more than happy to debate Finn Selander, demand-reduction coordinator for the DEA. Both sides agreed upon the questions and the debate structure weeks in advance. Everything was set to go.

The debate, though, didn't happen. The whole fiasco went from strange to bizarre. At the last minute, Selander backed out citing some vague unspecified DEA policy that forbids debates.

In an effort to save the event, SSDP rearranged the format to suit the changing requirements of the DEA which included a ban on media coverage. The DEA eventually sent an alternate speaker who would not allow himself to be photographed by anyone, so as "not to compromise his undercover work." It begs the question why the DEA would send an active undercover agent to speak in a public forum, but Agent Stone was not inclined to explain this nor why the DEA does not allow debates.

One might speculate however, that it's because they cannot refute the facts policy reformers proffer to the public with their own deceitful propaganda in such a forum. As Kevin Killough remarks in this excellent op-ed:

Considering the growing controversy surrounding the war on drugs, you would think drug-war supporters would love a public forum to justify America's drug policy and tout its alleged successes. Only in a forum where their claims can't be challenged will drug warriors speak publicly on drug policy. Apparently, the war on drugs is as embarrassing for them as it is for the whole nation.

Meanwhile, should the DEA or any prohibition supporters care to rise to the challenge, the reformers have one on the table.

If there is a group that supports the war on drugs and would like to debate the policy publicly, SSDP and many other reform groups would love to hear from you. You won't have any trouble getting advocates of drug-policy reform to debate. We have only two conditions: any place, any time.

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for the prohibitionists to accept. Like any bully, they never show up for a fair fight.