John P Walters

Federal Drug Czar John P. Walters on Tuesday touted President Bush's initiative to let faith-based drug rehabilitation clinics receive federal funding when he spoke at a ceremony for graduates of a Christian-based drug treatment center in Riverside. "It is an honor to celebrate your miracles," Walters told the 21 men who were recognized during the service at Teen Challenge, a residential treatment center. "I will pray for you as long as, in return, you do the same."

Re "U.S. official criticizes Chavez," Jan. 21 White House drug czar John P. Walters should think twice before criticizing a foreign government for its drug policy, much less holding the United States out as a model. Looking to the United States as a role model for drug control is like looking to apartheid South Africa for how to deal with race. This country leads the world in per-capita incarceration rates, with less than 5% of the world's population but almost 25% of the world's prisoners.

Re "U.S. official criticizes Chavez," Jan. 21 White House drug czar John P. Walters should think twice before criticizing a foreign government for its drug policy, much less holding the United States out as a model. Looking to the United States as a role model for drug control is like looking to apartheid South Africa for how to deal with race. This country leads the world in per-capita incarceration rates, with less than 5% of the world's population but almost 25% of the world's prisoners.

As President Bush fought to keep Congress in Republican hands last year, the White House political director enlisted the nation's drug czar to attend events with vulnerable GOP incumbents, documents made public on Tuesday disclosed. John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, attended 20 programs -- round-table discussions, tours, a town hall meeting and other antidrug events -- with Republican candidates from New Jersey to California.

Re "Baffling Drug Czar Choice," May 15: President Bush, in nominating hard-line conservative John P. Walters to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, tells how he will redirect drug war policy with emphasis toward curbing demand. He mentions increases in treatment, which would certainly seem to be a step toward curbing demand. But let's not neglect reality. The addict takes up a small percentage of the prohibited drugs consumed in this nation. Most prohibited drug use is recreational, without discernible effect on society, certainly significantly less than the legal counterpart, alcohol.

If only America's so-called war on drugs could be recast in the spirit of my chance meeting with President Bush last year in the White House Rose Garden. "Mr. President, my name is William Moyers, I'm from Minnesota and I am a person in recovery," I said. Without batting an eye, the president grasped my hand and replied, "Sounds like we have something in common." I was all but a complete stranger to Bush. But in that moment we connected. And because I told him nothing else about me, I assume it was from the commonality of our experiences of having overcome the desperate condition of drinking too much.

As President Bush fought to keep Congress in Republican hands last year, the White House political director enlisted the nation's drug czar to attend events with vulnerable GOP incumbents, documents made public on Tuesday disclosed. John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, attended 20 programs -- round-table discussions, tours, a town hall meeting and other antidrug events -- with Republican candidates from New Jersey to California.

President Bush ordered a major shift of emphasis in the war on drugs Thursday, vowing an "unprecedented" and "unwavering commitment" to cut drug demand within the United States. Bush's determination to target domestic consumption represents a new strategy--along with treatment and interdiction--in what he called "an all-out effort to reduce drug use in America." "The only human and compassionate response to drug use is a moral refusal to accept it," he said.

A visit Wednesday to the California capital by President Bush's drug czar prompted a placard-waving protest by medical marijuana supporters angry over the federal government's opposition to use of the drug by the ill. The demonstration by about a dozen activists came as John Walters, director of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy, met in a downtown office building with members of law enforcement and leaders of the drug treatment effort to discuss the U.S.

A bill was introduced Tuesday in Canada's Parliament that would eliminate criminal records for possession of small amounts of marijuana while spending millions to spread an anti-pot message. Having up to 15 grams -- about half an ounce -- of marijuana would bring a citation akin to a traffic ticket. Possession of the drug would remain illegal. People younger than 18 could be fined up to $182; adults could be fined $292.

A visit Wednesday to the California capital by President Bush's drug czar prompted a placard-waving protest by medical marijuana supporters angry over the federal government's opposition to use of the drug by the ill. The demonstration by about a dozen activists came as John Walters, director of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy, met in a downtown office building with members of law enforcement and leaders of the drug treatment effort to discuss the U.S.

Federal Drug Czar John P. Walters on Tuesday touted President Bush's initiative to let faith-based drug rehabilitation clinics receive federal funding when he spoke at a ceremony for graduates of a Christian-based drug treatment center in Riverside. "It is an honor to celebrate your miracles," Walters told the 21 men who were recognized during the service at Teen Challenge, a residential treatment center. "I will pray for you as long as, in return, you do the same."

If only America's so-called war on drugs could be recast in the spirit of my chance meeting with President Bush last year in the White House Rose Garden. "Mr. President, my name is William Moyers, I'm from Minnesota and I am a person in recovery," I said. Without batting an eye, the president grasped my hand and replied, "Sounds like we have something in common." I was all but a complete stranger to Bush. But in that moment we connected. And because I told him nothing else about me, I assume it was from the commonality of our experiences of having overcome the desperate condition of drinking too much.

Re "Baffling Drug Czar Choice," May 15: President Bush, in nominating hard-line conservative John P. Walters to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, tells how he will redirect drug war policy with emphasis toward curbing demand. He mentions increases in treatment, which would certainly seem to be a step toward curbing demand. But let's not neglect reality. The addict takes up a small percentage of the prohibited drugs consumed in this nation. Most prohibited drug use is recreational, without discernible effect on society, certainly significantly less than the legal counterpart, alcohol.

President Bush ordered a major shift of emphasis in the war on drugs Thursday, vowing an "unprecedented" and "unwavering commitment" to cut drug demand within the United States. Bush's determination to target domestic consumption represents a new strategy--along with treatment and interdiction--in what he called "an all-out effort to reduce drug use in America." "The only human and compassionate response to drug use is a moral refusal to accept it," he said.

President Bush plans to name a conservative known for his tough approach on drugs to head the White House drug policy office, sources said Friday. John P. Walters is undergoing final background checks and could be named next week to head the Office of National Drug Control Policy, sources familiar with the nomination said. Walters had been the office's deputy director for supply reduction when it was headed by William J. Bennett under President George Bush.

Most Americans have come to view the nation's escalating, $20-billion-a-year drug war as a costly failure that is stuffing prisons while producing few gains. They think our drug policy needs an overhaul and are open-minded to the possibilities. John P. Walters does not sound like one of those Americans.