Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Copyright: 2006 Gazette Communications
Contact:  http://www.gazetteonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/887
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)

GRASSLEY WANTS DRUG CZAR FIRED

DES MOINES, IA - Sen. Charles Grassley on Wednesday called for 
President Bush to fire the nation's drug czar, claiming more needs to 
be done to combat methamphetamine abuse.

John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug 
Policy, has been focusing too much on curbing marijuana use, said 
Grassley, R-Iowa.

Grassley said he wrote Walters calling for more action on meth and 
the response he received was "basically, bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo."

"I think the president ought to fire the drug czar," Grassley told 
reporters Wednesday during a conference call.

"Marijuana obviously is a very big drug problem, particularly with 
the more pure marijuana that's out there now. But the mind-altering 
aspects of meth are just tremendous, and the change of personality 
that comes, and the danger of it that comes, particularly when it's 
domestically made."

A spokesman for Walters declined to comment.

Grassley is the chairman of the Senate Caucus on International 
Narcotics Control. According to a recent study, his state has the 
nation's third highest meth treatment rate behind Oregon and Hawaii.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman