Marijuana Policy Project

He's back, and with all-new material.

The nation's drug czar, John Walters, returned to Nevada last week, talking down a renewed push to legalize up to one ounce of marijuana. Even the draconian penalties for driving under the influence (of anything) and selling marijuana to a minor aren't enough to get this drug warrior's endorsement.

Instead, Nevadans were treated to the usual parade of lies: 60 percent of the 7 million Americans who "need" drug treatment are dependent on marijuana? How can this be, when it's never been proven that marijuana is physically addictive? And aren't a good portion of those who "seek" drug treatment forced to choose between a program and prison?

And we got an extra dose of fascism thrown in for free: Legalization, Walters said, is "not an area for legitimate debate." Did someone tell him he was a Russian czar instead of a federal bureaucrat?

This isn't the first time Walters has waged a campaign--with tax dollars--against the citizens of a sovereign state. Back in 2002--after promising in a meeting with Review-Journal editors that he wouldn't be campaigning--Walters came to town repeatedly to denounce Question 9, which would have legalized up to three ounces of marijuana. That measure failed 61 percent to 39 percent.

The fact is, the objections to legalization--and the lies that are inevitably told about the drug--are easy to defeat. So why not welcome Walters to the table?

Because he's using federal tax dollars to campaign, that's why. And while the rest of the Bush administration stands against publicly financed elections, Walters seems to have no problem going from state to state and using the hard-earned money of legalization supporters to work against their wishes.

If Walters wants to dip into his own pocket to hop a train to Baltimore and catch a Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas, rent a car and a hotel ballroom, call a news conference and screen Reefer Madness, that's fine.

But if he wants to use the government's money--read, your money--to do the same thing, that's not okay.

But don't look for it to stop. After the 2002 campaign, the pro-Question 9 campaign asked Secretary of State Dean Heller to demand an accounting of all the electoral advocacy Walters had been doing at government expense. To his credit, Heller sent a letter to Walters, asking him to account for his spending.

Walters responded by telling Heller to mind his own business, and a subsequent attorney general's opinion said Walters doesn't have to comply with state law.

And just last week, the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, told Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, that it wouldn't look into the factual accuracy of the drug czar's campaigning, since he's charged with fighting legalization. Apparently, by any means necessary.

All of which means Walters is free to use your tax money to lie to you about a political issue in your state.

Just remember that the next time Walters starts talking about the evils of marijuana.