[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS SHOULD GO ON

  (Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I realize the election is over, but just 
because an election ended our drug war should not end. The battles 
against illegal drugs should go on. I am very concerned that the 
President of the United States, who had backed away and we put a lot of 
pressure on in the last year and a half and he responded, he appointed 
Barry McCaffrey drug czar.
  General McCaffrey has done an excellent job in speaking out and 
bringing to the attention of America, and through the election, that 
both parties were united against the drug war. What happens when the 
election ends? Now apparently we are going to nominate for an 
ambassador a man who blasted our drug czar for saying he was going to 
enforce the drug laws of the United States over this so-called 
medicinal use of marijuana.
  There is no medicinal use of marijuana. There is a THC component that 
is available in other drugs. It is a backdoor way to legalize drugs in 
America. Why would we send an ambassador to Mexico? Mr. Weld, the 
Governor of Massachusetts, why would we send him to the country that we 
have been trying to send the message that they need to work to crack 
down on drugs coming into America?
  Then the House, where we said we would take the lead against illegal 
drugs, is apparently going to take back the right to certify or 
decertify countries for their drug behavior. How can we as a House 
point our finger at others if we do not lead ourselves? I hope we can 
change this bill before tomorrow.

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