The Voluntary Committee of Lawyers

[amsterdamage]

Everyone probably knows about the Voluntary Committee of Lawyers (VCL) and how they were instrumental in bringing about an end to the alcohol prohibition: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/alcohol/vcl1.htm

After defeating the prohibition in 1933 they quietly disbanded.


Well now a group of lawyers and judges have resurrected the VCL in order to bring about an end to the drug war. May they meet with the same success that their predecessors did!!

http://www.vcl.org/
http://www.vcl.org/introduc.htm
http://www.vcl.org/Judges/Judges_speak.htm
http://www.vcl.org/Open_letter.htm

Neither drugs nor drug abuse has been eliminated nor appreciably reduced, despite massive spending on interdiction and harsh punishments. Attempts at enforcement have clogged the courts, filled the prisons with non-predatory offenders, corrupted officials at home and abroad, bred disrespect for the law in important communities, imperiled the liberties of the people, burdened the taxpayers, impeded public health efforts to stem the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases, and brought the nation no closer to abstinence. As Congress and state legislatures enact more punitive and costly drug control measures, we conclude with alarm that the war on drugs now causes more harm than drug abuse itself.

Accordingly, we join with our colleagues in calling upon our profession, elected officials, the media and the public to initiate a truly open and honest evaluation of the efficacy and consequences of our drug control laws. Only a public debate guided by mutual respect can yield better drug laws in which fear, prejudice, and punitive prohibitions yield to common sense, science, public health and human rights. As America must never "surrender" to drugs, neither must she surrender to inertia or fear that shuts off debate, suppresses critical analysis, dismisses alternatives to current policies, and vilifies those who express dissenting views.

word!

[Fcat]

Amsterdamage, you continue to educate me with every posting. May you live long and enjoy endless freedom. Just wanted to say thanks.

[TheNightGoes90]

I wasn't familiar. Thanks for the info.