Patriot Act passage deals drug policy reform a blow

The good for nothing Senate passed the Patriot Act today "The renewal package would make 14 of 16 temporary provisions permanent and set four-year expirations on the others." They don't say which ones but considering Bush's statement, I'm betting at least some have to do with snaring drug defendants without the bother of probable cause.

This bill will allow our law enforcement officials to continue to use the same tools against terrorists that are already used against drug dealers and other criminals, while safeguarding the civil liberties of the American people," Bush said in a statement from India.

...The renewal includes several measures not directly related to terrorism. One would make it harder for illicit labs to obtain ingredients for methamphetamine by requiring pharmacies to sell nonprescription cold medicines only from behind the counter.

Call me cynical but it looks to me like the drug war thugs pushed through the civil liberties violations they couldn't pass on the floor via the back door of amendments. This is why I've been working in the broader realm of politics for the last couple of years. We would have had reform by now if not for these underhanded systemic machinations.