Gil Kerlikowske is a Damned Liar

I swear, it is like grade school with these big important federal guys, it's like they haven't learned a thing in spite of what the society is very clearly telling them.

(SALEM, Ore.) - What does a government do, when law enforcement sees itself as an institution above the law? How does a career cop know more about medicine than doctors and more about science than... well you get the idea.

The new "Drug Czar", which is a stupid term if there ever was, Gil Kerlikowske, is a dinosaur in this day and age, along with groups like the California Narcotic Officer's Association. Together, they are working to undermine state laws that clearly have accepted marijuana's medical applications.

Stamper urged Kerlikowske to play it smart and he was respectful, and helpful. But Czar Gil threw the fish back. Along with equally pathetic professional liars to the American public like Asa Hutchinson, he is willing to say or do anything to demonize this simple harmless plant, that was categorized with meth and heroin.

I honestly don't think this highly paid man with a Russian title means any of it, he can't be that out of it. If you could, you would simply follow the money trail. In this case it is probably smoothed over with leaves so the best tracker couldn't trace it, but it is there.

It inevitably leads to the big pharmaceutical companies. It leads to the private prisons industry. No matter what, it leads to anti-American politicians who want to lock up Americans for something that is nobody's business in the first place.

The wasteful, needless and sometimes comedic campaign against pot will some day be the butt of jokes, but right now the jokes still have the stage and are in office.

These characters with their silly titles are nothing more than paid mouthpieces who are willing to go down with their ship when it is clear, exceedingly clear, that their narrow views are greatly and even overwhelmingly rejected by the American public at large.

I swear, it is like grade school with these big important federal guys, it's like they haven't learned a thing in spite of what the society is very clearly telling them.

Pot has never killed anybody and it is used by millions and millions of people. It doesn't necessarily make those who use it good or bad, but it carries few drawbacks when compared to alcohol and of course an endless list of legal pharmaceutical drugs - things that can kill you deader than a doornail if you take them wrong, or too many, etc.

And all those deadly prescription drugs, along with alcohol, which has ruined more lives than can ever be tallied, are OK with people like Hutchinson and Kerlikowske.

And pot is the big demon, in spite of all the proof that it helps so many people. Our writer, Dr. Phil Leveque, is one of the world's leading authorities on medical marijuana. For a very long collection of stories relating to this subject, visit this link: Articles by Dr. Phil Leveque

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor.
Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), the first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several other awards including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators.
You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Welcome Home, Tom

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WTF October 6, 2009 7:30 am (Pacific time)

That crazy

Sebastian Melmoth August 8, 2009 9:40 am (Pacific time)

Enough! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!!! Enough of the lies Mr. Kerlikowske. You're an intelligent man and you see the research yet you still deceive the American people. Please justify in this forum your own employeers research and patent # 6,630,507 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1andSect2=HITOFFandd=PALLandp=1andu=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htmandr=1andf=Gandl=50ands1=6630507.PN.andOS=PN/6630507andRS=PN/6630507 and your statement that cannabis has no medical benefit. You're wrong, Mr. Kerliowske, you're wrong and you owe it to the American people to admit it. Mr. Obama says to let science be the guide in this issue, so let's have it. What does our own governments' research say about the medical benefits? It says that you're incorrect! Since time began humans have considered cannabis to be medicinal and modern research supports that. It's only been the last 70 years that this medicine has been falsly demonized. Please stop the deception! You look foolish to the American public when you make statements like this that can be contradicted by by documents like this very patent. Please stand up and BE HONEST! Sebastian Melmoth

Bob August 4, 2009 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

This is an interesting article but lacks a tightness of editing. One particular sentence struck me as far too generalized, "Pot has never killed anybody...". Do we have proof of this sweeping statement? When I see the word, "never", red flags rise and I sense a definite purpose of defined agenda. As for "what the society is very clearly telling them." -- what is this message so clearly said, exactly? I think you'll find the majority of society (i.e. the part would be clearly telling someone something) doesn't really care if pot is legalized or not and is, in fact, greatly mum upon the subject -- this is nearly always the case with most issues facing society. It is the extremes of an issue that tout the benefits versus horrors (and visa versa) - it's not daily life conversation for the drudged masses. I, for one, would be quite happy to see pot legalized because the revenue stream from taxation thereof could be quite lucrative. Of course, then 50 years down the road, we'd probably have lawsuits against the pot companies and large settlements, but that's American life....eh?

Cherokee.Fred.Jesus August 3, 2009 8:07 pm (Pacific time)

We should insist our employees tell the truth and not spread corporate propaganda. It should be on the list of qualifications when we hire them....Whats up with that Mr President our leader Obama. The one I help elect and supported until you appointed a drug war Nazi vice president and now this guy who get up and lies to us... CFJ

Strayarts August 3, 2009 7:27 pm (Pacific time)

INCARCERATING PEOPLE "FOR PROFIT" IS IN A WORD....WRONG! Even if one does not ask or pretends not to see the rope and the flashing red flag draped around the philosophical question standing solemnly at attention in the middle of the room, it remains apparent that the mere presence of a private “for profit” driven prison business in our country undermines the U.S Constitution and subsequently the credibility of the American criminal justice system. In fact, until all private prisons in America have been abolished and outlawed, “the promise” of fairness and justice at every level of this country’s judicial system will remain unattainable. We must restore the principles and the vacant promise of our judicial system. Our government cannot continue to "job-out" its obligation and neglect its duty to the individuals confined in the correctional and rehabilitation facilities throughout this nation, nor can it ignore the will of the people that it was designed to serve and protect. There is urgent need for the good people of this country to emerge from the shadows of indifference, apathy, cynicism, fear, and those other dark places that we migrate to when we are overwhelmed by frustration and the loss of hope. My hope is that you will support the National Public Service Council to Abolish Private Prisons (NPSCTAPP) with a show of solidarity by signing "The Single Voice Petition" http://www.petitiononline.com/gufree2/petition.html Please visit our website for further information: http://www.npsctapp.blogspot.com –Ahma Daeus "Practicing Humanity Without A License"…

EXPAT August 3, 2009 10:52 am (Pacific time)

I hold the people of the USA accountable for continuing to believe what the Government tells them. No matter how much information presents itself to suggest that the "official" position is not only incorrect but detrimental to society at large, the people consistently hand over the reigns of their minds to government propaganda. This chicanery perpetrated by the government serves only to enlarge the power of Government over the power of the PEOPLE!. This kind of insanity is impossible to comprehend happening to a people who propose freedom and justice for the people, by the people, of the people. I, for one, appreciate you efforts, Tim, thanks ever so much!!

Storm Crow August 3, 2009 10:27 am (Pacific time)

THANK YOU, TIM!

michael boop August 3, 2009 9:28 am (Pacific time)

Gil Lies...Just 1 year ago he was a HUGE SUPPORTER of the medical cannabis programs in the USA!!

Henry Ruark August 3, 2009 8:55 am (Pacific time)

To all: Editor Tim's strong story here illustrates extremely well the notable difference between "distortion" and "perversion". See story for strikingly clear statement of what that difference is...and how it is hidden for public information purposes clearly exposing the motivations and machinations demonstrably following same. We CHOOSE whom we allow to act for us in the public domain. That choice has a way of removing those who fail to follow the essential shaping principle of all democracy: Majority rules --with recall as weapon when demanded. WE can shape that majority, too, by intense, continuing insistence and even more intense public demonstration and action when denied. We learned allathat early on from our Founding Fathers. WHY do we now NOT USE what we hold in our own hands and still control ?

les lowen August 3, 2009 8:12 am (Pacific time)

you tell it like it is Tim.

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