Topic: Drug Policy

The discussion focuses on George Soros's career and his alleged ties to major British financiers and the Rothschild family. Soros is criticized for using his Drug Policy Institute to manufacture a belief that the War on Drugs is a waste of money. The hosts also claim that Soros and USAID have supported drug cartels in Latin America to destabilize nationalist governments, citing a photo of a New York Stock Exchange head with a FARC leader.

A listener request prompts a discussion on Senator Barbara Boxer's appearance on Bill Maher's show, where she claimed marijuana legalization leads to increased automobile fatalities. The hosts suggest Boxer is using commissioned reports to support her long-standing opposition to drug legalization despite a shifting political landscape.

The Miss Universe pageant is criticized for tailoring questions to national stereotypes, such as asking Miss Colombia about drug society and Miss Australia about marijuana legalization. The hosts argue that these specific inquiries are reductive and poorly handled by the host.

President Obama commuted the sentences of eight drug offenders to address the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing. However, it is noted that many of his recent pardons were granted to individuals who had already completed their sentences, leading to criticism that the move was largely symbolic.

Attorney General Eric Holder addressed the American Bar Association in San Francisco to announce a Justice Department policy shift regarding mandatory minimum sentences. The new directive instructs federal prosecutors to avoid charging low-level, non-violent drug offenders with offenses that trigger draconian mandatory minimums. Holder cited the fact that the U.S. holds 25% of the world's prisoners despite having only 5% of the global population as a primary reason for the recalibration.

The hosts posit that the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia was a media distraction to avoid discussing drug legalization at the Summit of the Americas. Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske introduces the 2012 National Drug Control Strategy, which he calls a "third way" between legalization and a law-enforcement-only approach.

The "gateway drug" theory is debated, with the hosts citing scientific studies that have debunked the concept for decades. They compare marijuana criminalization to the failed era of alcohol prohibition and advocate for a regulated market to undermine criminal gangs.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), backed by George Soros and Paul Volcker, is a primary supporter of marijuana legalization. It is theorized that the true goal of the movement is the centralized regulation and patenting of industrial hemp, a trillion-dollar industry. The DPA's website and podcast are criticized for being outdated and poorly maintained.

The Netherlands is reportedly tightening regulations on the marijuana trade in Amsterdam. The hosts review news indicating a shift in Dutch drug policy that could impact the famous coffee shop culture. This discussion is linked to broader global trends in drug enforcement and propaganda.

A new synthetic drug called Mephedrone, or "meow-meow," is reportedly causing deaths among youth in the United Kingdom. The drug is currently legal and sold online, providing a high similar to ecstasy or amphetamines.

Reports from patients at Kaiser Permanente suggest that doctors are refusing to issue Tamiflu prescriptions for prophylactic use. Some medical staff have claimed that all Tamiflu distributions must now be cleared through the CDC, though this is suspected to be a cost-saving measure by the healthcare provider rather than a formal federal mandate. The high cost of the antiviral drug is cited as a likely reason for the restricted access.

During the first White House virtual town hall, President Obama laughed off a highly-voted question regarding the legalization of marijuana to boost the economy. The hosts criticize this response as insulting to the online audience, noting that DEA raids on medical marijuana clinics continued on the same day.

California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has proposed legalizing and taxing marijuana to help close the state's budget gap. Proponents argue it could generate $1 billion in tax revenue and reduce incarceration costs. Opponents on the right wing remain concerned about the social implications, while the hosts suggest the federal government may oppose it to protect existing drug trafficking interests.

Despite campaign promises to end federal interference in states with legal medical marijuana, DEA agents conducted raids on California dispensaries. The hosts discuss Attorney General Eric Holder's role and a letter from Congress urging him to allow the University of Massachusetts to grow marijuana for research. They argue that the administration is failing to deliver on promised drug policy reforms.