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 toxicology in ancient Greece and Rome: “Cannabis given to Australian patients who do not respond to conventional medical treatments resulted in health related improvements: 2-Apr-2025 –…” Apr 3, 19:39
Servetus on Marijuana and toxicology in ancient Greece and Rome: “The Journal of Sex Research: Link” Apr 1, 22:16
Servetus on Marijuana and toxicology in ancient Greece and Rome: “Researchers are investigating psychedelics and sex. Participation in future research is provided through an updated survey available to anyone interested…” Apr 1, 22:11
Servetus on Marijuana and toxicology in ancient Greece and Rome: “I checked out the Filthy Heretic and Socrates versus Freedom. He’s good at heresy and he covers more material than…” Apr 1, 21:02
Shane from Slidell on Marijuana and toxicology in ancient Greece and Rome: “Speaking of Socrates, I wonder if you have seen the video “Socrates versus Freedom” by Filthy Heretic?” Mar 31, 17:02
Servetus on Marijuana’s dopamine boost terrifies prohibitionists: “Dopamine helps baby birds learn to sing: March 25, 2025 — In his home office in Durham, Duke neuroscientist Richard…” Mar 29, 20:38
Servetus on Marijuana’s dopamine boost terrifies prohibitionists: “Dopamine is needed for cognitive flexibility, the more dopamine, the more efficiently tasks are completed: 28-Mar-2025 — For the first…” Mar 29, 20:12
Servetus on Will Pope Francis imitate Pope Innocent VIII?: “Inhibiting the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) protects the gut barrier involving alcohol binge drinking that leads to a condition called…” Mar 19, 19:27
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