Drug czar

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Drug czar is an informal name for the person who directs drug-control policies in various areas. The term follows the informal use of the term czar in U.S. politics. The 'drug czar' title first appeared in a 1982 news story by United Press International that reported that, "[United States] Senators ... voted 62–34 to establish a 'drug czar' who would have overall responsibility for U.S. drug policy." [1] Since then, several ad hoc executive positions established in both the United States and United Kingdom have subsequently been referred to in this manner.

Contents

Germany

The Drug Commissioner of the German Federal Government has been called the nation's drug czar by the state media company Deutsche Welle. [2]

United States

Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske speaks with staff and patients at the Covenant House, which helps drug-addicted teenagers and adults. Drug Czar Visits Covenant House (3858774035).jpg
Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske speaks with staff and patients at the Covenant House, which helps drug-addicted teenagers and adults.

The first US Drug czar was Harry J. Anslinger who served as the first Commissioner of the Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics from 1930 to 1962, under the administrations of five presidents: Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. Legislative efforts for marijuana prohibition under Anslinger included a push for all states to adopt similar drug laws, the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act and the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which in effect criminalized the drug and set the stage for marijuana prohibition.

Nixon and Ford administrations

Carter administration

Reagan administration

1988present

Trump administration

State and local authorities

In California, the head of the state Bureau of Medical Cannabis has been called "marijuana czar". [5]

Following statewide medical and recreational legalization, the city of Sacramento, California appointed a director of cannabis policy and enforcement, called a pot czar. [6]

In Washington State, the consultant to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board determining statewide procedures and regulations following legalization was "quickly dubbed 'pot czar'". [7] A similar cannabis regulation staff position in Oregon Liquor Control Commission was also called "marijuana czar". [8]

United Kingdom

In the UK, Keith Hellawell, former Drugs Advisor to the Labour government of Tony Blair, has been referred to as a drug czar.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legal history of cannabis in the United States</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in the United States</span> Legality, use, culture, market and production of cannabis in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Oregon</span> Use of cannabis in Oregon

Cannabis in Oregon is legal for both medical and recreational use. In recent decades, the U.S. state of Oregon has had a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding use of cannabis. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and among the first to authorize its use for medical purposes. An attempt to recriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis was turned down by Oregon voters in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical cannabis in the United States</span> Use of cannabis for medical purposes in the United States

In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 38 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, as of March 2023. Ten other states have more restrictive laws limiting THC content, for the purpose of allowing access to products that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis. There is significant variation in medical cannabis laws from state to state, including how it is produced and distributed, how it can be consumed, and what medical conditions it can be used for.

This is a history of drug prohibition in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span> Historical list in chronological order of U.S. cannabis law

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Massachusetts</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Massachusetts, U.S.

Cannabis in Massachusetts is legal for medical and recreational use. It also relates to the legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. A century after becoming the first U.S. state to criminalize recreational cannabis, Massachusetts voters elected to legalize it in 2016.

Cannabis in Idaho is fully illegal for any use, whether recreational or medical. The laws on cannabis prohibition in Idaho are among the most severe in the United States, with possession of even small amounts of it a misdemeanor crime, and no legality of medical marijuana. As of 2018, support for the legalization of medical cannabis is broadly popular in the state, while legalization of the drug recreationally remains a wedge issue. Both the state's legislature as a whole and its governor, Brad Little, remain staunchly opposed to its legalization for medicinal or recreational purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington (state)</span> Overview of cannabis use and culture in Washington state

Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossary of cannabis terms</span>

Terms related to cannabis include:

The cannabis policy of the Reagan administration involved affirmation of the War on Drugs, government funded anti-cannabis media campaigns, expanded funding for law enforcement, involvement of the U.S. military in interdiction and eradication, reduction in emphasis in drug treatment, and creation of new Federal powers to test employees and seize cannabis-related assets.

References

  1. Anthony H. Gamboa (4 January 2005). "Letter to Hon. John W. Olver & Hon. Henry A. Waxman, subject: Office of National Drug Control Policy" (PDF). csdp.org. U.S. Government Accountability Office. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 4 August 2014. We conclude that ONDCP's prepackaged news stories violate the ban on covert propaganda, but its use of the term "drug czar" to refer to ONDCP's Director does not violate the ban on self-aggrandizement.
  2. German Youths Choose Alcohol Over Cannabis, Drug Czar Says, Deutsche Welle, May 5, 2008
  3. Lewis, Amanda Chicago (23 May 2020). "A Hidden Origin Story of the CBD Craze". New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. Philip Rucker (2021-11-26) [2017-03-29]. "Chris Christie to lead Trump White House drug commission". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. ISSN   0190-8286. OCLC   1330888409.[ please check these dates ]
  5. Patrick McGreevy (April 7, 2016), "Has she smoked weed? What will happen with recreational pot?: A conversation with California's first marijuana czar", The Los Angeles Times
  6. Sacramento 'Pot Czar' preparing for legalization of recreational marijuana sales, KXTV ABC 10 TV News, October 31, 2017, archived from the original on September 20, 2023, retrieved November 11, 2017
  7. Ben Livingston (April 10, 2013), "Don't Call Him the "Pot Czar": Mark Kleiman Is Advising the State on How to Run a Legal Pot Industry", The Stranger
  8. Anna Staver (December 18, 2014), "Oregon's marijuana czar ready to look for answers", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon