New Drug Czar
Uelmen’s perceptions are right on the money. He cites how politicians have ignored the 1972 Shafer reports in favor of an aggressive Prohibition. Unfortunately, we can add another, more recent document that has fallen upon deaf ears.
For 20 years now, the state of California has wisely appointed a staff of professionals to head a research advisory panel to study drug abuse and potential solutions. Their latest recommendation, however, obviously did not sit well with Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp. So he did what any public-minded official would do; stick his head in the sand, refuse publication and pretend it doesn’t exist.
The people are entitled to access to the conclusions of this panel. Just like Prohibition, censorship rarely serves an honorable purpose in a free nation.
JIM EDWARDS
La Crescenta
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
