I’m only here for a couple of days and the conference is packed with such wonderful events, that I hadn’t really dealt in any coherent way with the fact that I’m in our nation’s capital (and I haven’t visited for about 15 years.
Quite frankly, I wasn’t very happy about being here. I’ve had a pretty sour view of politics and our nation’s “leaders.” And my first night here, I ate at a restaurant filled with pissant preppy political popinjays. I sat there quietly and listened to them talk — and to them, Washington was simply a big game of Monopoly, and the country was just a bunch of colored squares. I can’t imagine that they even care about drug war victims, or what mandatory minimums do to a community.
But late tonight I put my cynicism aside and took a little walk. From the hotel, I walked to the Capitol and then through the Mall to the Washington Monument. Past the fountains and the reflecting pool and up the stairs to Abe Lincoln’s Memorial.
I had to block the added security measures and construction from my mind, but very soon I started to feel the beauty and power. There was a presence. And I realized that the idiot politicians in office are ephemeral. They don’t have the power to destroy such historical power and significance.
And there was hope.
- DrugWarRant.com, the longest running single-issue blog devoted to drug policy
Join us on Pete's couch.
Send comments, tips,
and suggestions to: Recent Comments
Servetus on Marijuana and the American drug rehab industry: “Psychedelics promotes new connections in the brain: 4-Aug-2025 — Understanding exactly how psychedelics promote new connections in the brain is…” Aug 7, 21:46
Servetus on Marijuana and the American drug rehab industry: “Fermented fruit resulted in humans developing the genes to quickly metabolize alcohol: 31-Jul-2025 — New research from the University of…” Aug 7, 21:29
Servetus on Marijuana and the American drug rehab industry: “Women who use cannabis instead of alcohol are 50% less likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy: 31-Jul-2025 — A new…” Aug 7, 21:10
Shane from Slidell on Marijuana and the American drug rehab industry: “Looks like Glenn Greenwald is also starting to turn on Trump: https://rumble.com/v6wxwmq-stephen-millers-blatant-lies-debunked.html I don’t know who lies more, him, RFK…” Aug 2, 10:17
Servetus on Tech versus tech in marijuana drug enforcement: “Regular opioid use may increase dementia risk: 21-Jul-2025… regular opioid use is associated with an increased risk of dementia, particularly…” Jul 22, 22:19
Servetus on Tech versus tech in marijuana drug enforcement: “Psilocin delays cellular aging in human and mouse cells: July 22, 2025 — A surprising discovery from Emory University shows…” Jul 22, 21:47
Servetus on Tech versus tech in marijuana drug enforcement: “Nicotine addiction’s high relapse rate is associated with a neural pathway in the brain: 14-Jul-2025–Because unpleasant withdrawal symptoms fuel nicotine…” Jul 14, 23:06
Servetus on Tech versus tech in marijuana drug enforcement: “William J. McNichol, J.D., an adjunct professor at Rutgers University Camden School of Law says tests to detect marijuana consumption…” Jul 1, 21:32
Pages
- About
- Articles
- A Day at the Museum
- A story for Thanksgiving (Isidro and Teresa Aviles)
- Andrea Barthwell, caught red-handed
- Andrea Barthwell, Snake Oil Salesman
- Bong Hits 4 Jesus – Supreme Court Case
- DEA Bad Girl Michele Leonhart
- Deep Thoughts About the Drug War
- Drug War Victims
- Drug War Videos
- Drug WarRant Joins SOPA, PIPA Protest
- Hammer Down, Pop Up
- If I were Contrarian-King of the United States
- Increase in Burger Abuse Seen
- Irvin Rosenfeld and the Compassionate IND — Medical Marijuana Proof and Government Lies
- Karen Tandy and the DEA (Can Congress Get a Clue?)
- Len Bias – the death that ushered in two decades of destruction
- Mother and Son
- Patriot Act, Victory Act, Despot Act
- Petition for Correction under the ONDCP Information Quality Guidelines
- Raich v. Ashcroft
- Rand and American Enterprise Institute Studies – Indictments of Federal Drug Policy
- the Drug Czar is Required by Law to Lie
- Treatment Statistics
- Who’s Who in Drug Prohibition
- Why is Marijuana Illegal?
Archives
Authors