I Had to Quash the Debate in Order to Save It

A few weeks ago, I noted that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) had introduced an amendment that would prohibit the National Criminal Justice Commission proposed by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) from considering changes to the drug laws. The amendment (PDF) says "the Commission shall have no authority to make findings related to current Federal, State, and local criminal justice policies and practices or reform recommendations that involve, support, or otherwise discuss the decriminalization of any offense under the Controlled Substances Act or the legalization of any controlled substance." Facing criticism back home for his closed-mindedness, Grassley recently explained in a Des Moines Register op-ed piece that "I filed this amendment in an effort to start a debate on this important issue."

[via Drug WarRant]