James Webb in The Huffington Post


On Drugs: Recommend drug policy to deal with growth of incarceration

Webb introduced a bill to create a commission that would undertake an 18-month study of the criminal justice system. Webb said that everything should be considered. And he means everything. "We want recommendations on how to deal with drug policy in our country," said Webb.

What about legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana? Webb paused. "I think they should do a very careful examination of all aspects of drug policy. I've done a couple of very extensive hearings on this, so we'll wait to see what they say about that," he said. So it's on the table? Webb flashed a wry grin, laughing mischievously. The last government study group to look at drug policy, the 1972 Shafer Commission, recommended that Pres. Nixon decriminalize marijuana. He didn't. This commission will have a broader mandate, said Webb.

Webb cited "the exponential growth of incarceration since 1980," saying that "a huge percentage of that growth has been nonviolent crimes associated with drugs."

Source: Huffington Post on 2016 presidential hopefuls Apr 27, 2009

The above quotations are from Columns and news articles on the Huffington Post blog.
Click here for other excerpts from Columns and news articles on the Huffington Post blog.
Click here for other excerpts by James Webb.
Click here for a profile of James Webb.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Aug 04, 2024