ReageraMera

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen!  I want to extend my congratulations to the conveners of this excellent conference. And the terrific speakers who have provided valuable contributions are to be commended. 

It has been very refreshing to see so many of my long-time and my newly found colleagues here participating in this important event.  And it has been great to meet many new people.  It has been a wonderful opportunity to share our experiences and to learn new information.

I think we can all agree that drugs are a problem.  Today we are faced with new and more powerful drugs as well as a society that has, in many countries, become too tolerant of them. 

As David Evans mentioned, In the United States, there is a very large and very well financed movement to normalize and legalize drug use and drug trafficking.  Much of that movement is funded by a name that many of you know - George Soros, a convicted criminal who has publicly labeled himself as an atheist and yet has claimed that he is God... 

Mr. Soros is about power and fame.  His philosophy is to destroy societies that he does not like and then recreate them using his "open society" model.  He destroys by creating chaos.  And what better way to create chaos in society than to have a drug-addicted population that dominates.  To have societies with drug-friendly laws and policies will certainly contribute to creating this chaos.

As in some other countries, Mr. Soros seeks to destroy our political system in the US and to create chaos in our judicial and law enforcement systems and even in our military. 

He has contributed millions to the drug legalization movement as well as bought many of our politicians.  When legislative bills are moving through state legislatures or congressional bills through the US Congress that are pro-drug, anti-treatment, anti-law enforcement, or anti-prevention, we almost always discover that the bills are sponsored by politicians who have taken money from Soros.  This is factual and can be confirmed by checking public records of campaign finance. 

Likewise, when voter initiatives appear on state and local ballots in the US to alter our drug laws towards a more permissive practice, such as legalizing marijuana as a so-called medicine, funding needle giveaway programs, prohibiting judges from sending drug dealers to jail, or legalizing drugs, these initiatives are always funded by Mr. Soros and/or some of his business colleagues.

Just since the beginning of 2008, we have seen an extraordinary increase in drug legalization efforts and activities in the US.  During this short time period, no less than 91 different pieces of pro-legalization voter initiatives and legislation have been filed in 26 states and a number of cities across the nation.  This year, we have also been confronted with two federal bills: one that seeks to legalize marijuana as a so-called medicine throughout the nation and one that seeks to legalize the possession of up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana for non-medical use.  For those of you who do not know - 3.5 ounces will roll somewhere between 210 and 420 joints, depending upon the quality of the marijuana.

The good news is that, thanks to hard work of many committed individuals and much collaborative work, only 6 of the 91 proposed actions ultimately were approved and 4 of those will most likely not be able to be implemented.

This tells me two very important things:  1) it is not the will of the public to have these permissive policies; and 2) when we all work together and push back, we can indeed win.

Clearly, we are under attack.  And this attack is not limited to the borders of the United States as has clearly been demonstrated from the presentations of others here at this conference.  My work at Drug Free America Foundation takes me to many countries.  I have had the honor and privilege of working with colleagues from around the world.  And everywhere I go, the name and evil influence of Soros is known.  His drug legalization blueprint is promoted globally. 

This blueprint has a common theme with specific strategies that we see promoted worldwide:

Harm reduction

Marijuana and other illegal drugs as medicine

Human rights issues

Now no one would argue against reducing the harms of drugs but, this term is greatly misapplied and abused by those seeking to normalize and legalize drugs.  The concept of harm reduction has become associated with needle exchange and so-called safe injection site programs which not only accept drug use without attempting to help people become drug free but, also were established without solid evidence that such programs actually reduce HIV and other blood-borne infections.  The drug legalization proponents who advocate for these programs claim that abstinence is unrealistic and not a desired goal of their strategy.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has issued a very clear statement about harm reduction.  They have said that if ‘harm reduction' is done exclusively, namely without prevention, treatment, and law enforcement, it will make a mockery of any control system, send the wrong message and only perpetuate drug use.

I suggest that the only sure way to prevent drug-related harm is to prevent or to stop drug use.  Any efforts that fail to strive toward this goal should be viewed with skepticism and challenged as "harm promotion" rather than harm reduction.   

Drug policies that embrace harm reduction strategies without a goal of leading the user to abstinence inevitably ignore the harms of the drugs themselves and instead focus solely on the harms caused by their use.  They create the perception that drugs are not dangerous and ok if "safely" or "responsibly" used, a perception that undoubtedly increases drug use.  These strategies undermine prevention messages as they prolong addiction.

The legitimate concept of harm reduction understands minimizing harm within the context of prevention, treatment and law enforcement with a primary focus on prevention - a dramatic difference from sustaining the addiction of individuals and losing sight of their human rights to be drug-free and productive members of society.

Those who advocate for softening our drug laws and normalizing and legalizing drugs continuously raise the human rights issue.  And certainly we all recognize that human rights are precious and should not be violated.  But, these advocates have pushed the envelope too far when they began espousing that it is the "human right" of individuals to use drugs and endanger not only their own lives but the lives of others.  With rights, come responsibilities and that is something that drug users know or care very little about.

I maintain that the harm reduction strategies promoted by the drug legalization advocates are a gross violation of human rights.  Your and my rights who are drug free but would be affected by drug users - and the rights of addicts who are entitled to effective drug policies and treatment that will help them to get well.

And speaking of getting well - let's talk a minute about the fraudulent campaigns to legalize marijuana as a so-called medicine.  This illusion that has been created by the Soros minions that marijuana is a so-called medicine is a huge violation of human rights!  Truly sick people who deserve legitimate medical treatment have been duped into believing that marijuana will help them, while in reality it is hurting them.  All because a special interest group is advancing a hidden agenda to normalize and legalize marijuana use.  The sad thing is that people smoking pot probably do feel better even if they are not getting better but they could also feel better by smoking crack cocaine or injecting heroin.  Will these be the next drugs to legalize as so-called medicine?

The drug legalization movement certainly has more money than we do but, we are on the right side.  We have science and solid data behind us.  History has shown that restrictive drug policies do work.  The very successful restrictive drug policy of Sweden is a perfect example of what works!  On the contrary, history has shown that permissive policies are flawed and do not work, as evidenced with the permissive policies based upon so-called harm reduction rather than the goal of abstinence in countries such as Australia. 

Obviously, our policies should be humane and compassionate but should not tolerate drug use and drug trafficking.  Drug policy should be well balanced with prevention, treatment, and law enforcement and interdiction efforts.

Contrary to what the drug legalization advocates claim, it is not the restrictive drug policies that are harmful, it is the drug itself.  There are no "safe" ways to use drugs.  Policies that condone and prolong drug use should not be tolerated.  Such policies are a travesty and a gross violation of the rights of individuals who suffer from addiction.  These individuals should never be thrown away through programs that take the easy way out by maintaining them on drugs rather than leveraging them toward sobriety.

A great and honorable man once said "The ultimate determinant in the struggle that's now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets, but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, and the ideals to which we are dedicated."  That man was former American President and world leader, Ronald Reagan.  He uttered these words over 2 decades ago but they are even truer today.

My friends, we are at a crossroads in history with drug policy.  It is a struggle like we have never seen in our lifetime.  A struggle in which we cannot surrender.  A struggle we cannot ignore.  A struggle that requires ALL of us to engage and push back with a mighty force.

Former President Ronald Reagan told us Americans long ago "If we continue to accommodate, continue to back up and retreat, eventually we have to face the final demand - the ultimatum."  And I say to you today in this battle that we find ourselves - engaged against the scourge of drugs and against those forces that seek to normalize and legalize drugs by weakening our drug laws and policies, "If we continue to accommodate, continue to back up and retreat, eventually we will indeed have to face the final demand - the ultimatum of a world fueled by drug use, drug trafficking, and all of the social ills associated with such a society.  We absolutely cannot continue to accommodate, back up and retreat on the drug issue.  We must face it head on.  We must stand firm with restrictive, yet compassionate and humane drug policies - for the future of our children and the future of our human race.

When we are born, we are not patted gently on the back and wished well in life.  We are smacked on the rear end and thrown into life with a series of challenges that require us to accept individual responsibility for our personal destiny. Shortly after being born we begin to cry. Some choose to go thru life whining while others take action. In going through life, it is helpful to remember the old saying - "If it is to be, it is up to me."

My fellow colleagues, I suggest that if we are to win this battle it truly is up to me and to YOU.  YOU must get involved and stay involved.  It is a battle worth fighting and it is one that is winnable.

This is why I am endorsing the Declaration put forth from this conference and I encourage you to also take the time to sign on with your endorsement and then not let this conference be the end of your commitment.  Let's all stay connected, take a stand, and fight this fight together because as we say in America, "United we stand, divided we fall!"

At the beginning of this Forum Minister Larsson declared, "Let the Games begin". As this Forum closes I say "Let the Games continue".

I will conclude with my favorite quote from Ronald Reagan - "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.  We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness.  If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here.  We did all that could be done."

Thank you and God bless.