LEAPing Past the Drug War

Jerry Cameron of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition knows the failures of the drug war from a cop's perspcective

During Reason Weekend, the annual event held by the nonprofit that publishes this website, Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie caught up with Jerry Cameron of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group made up of police, judges, and other guardians of the law who are sick and tired of the massive costs of the drug war. LEAP's members have seen firsthand how the drug war perverts the justice system, corrupts cops, intensifies violent crime, and screws with foreign policy—all without having any real effect on whether people use drugs or not.

Cameron, a former police chief of two "small town departments," is a graduate of the 150th Session of the FBI National Academy, the DEA Basic Drug Enforcement Course, and two DEA Advanced Drug Enforcement Professional Institutes. Gillespie asked Cameron about how LEAP got started, whether it's achieving its aims, what his drug of choice is, and more.

Shot and edited by Roger Richards; approximately 6 minutes.

Go here for an audio podcast version.

Related: Back in 2008, Reason.tv interviewed another LEAP luminary, former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper about his take on the ruinous drug war.