The painfully slow beginnings of the end to Americas Drug War

Holder Slashes Civil Asset Forfeiture

On January 16, 2015, Bill Piper with the DPA (Drug Policy Alliance) wrote this:

"Eric Holder just issued a huge blow to the drug war. This is big.

Today the Justice Department barred local and state police from using federal law to seize a person's property without evidence of a crime.

That might sound odd, since you would assume that it was already illegal in America for police to take your property without due process - but you would be wrong. Originally pushed in the 1980s as a way to combat illegal drugs, civil asset forfeiture has become common throughout the country.

Today people all over America who are simply suspected of drug law violations can have their assets seized without any ability to defend themselves in a court of law. Even if they are never convicted, or even charged with a crime they can have their property, bank accounts, cars, and assets taken from them forever.

If this doesn’t enrage you, I don’t know what will.

Civil asset forfeiture is another ugly aspect of the drug war, and here at the Drug Policy Alliance we are making it a top issue in 2015.

If you stand with us tweet out your support now to end unjust civil asset forfeiture for good.

Today’s actions by Eric Holder are a good first step to ending the unjust enforcement of this program once and for all. But now Congress needs to pass legislation to make this change permanent."

Bill Piper is the director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance.

I was buoyed when I first read this last month, at least now,it appears, ONLY the FEDS can get away with STEALING our assets withOUT due process! Simply on 'suspicion'. Cynical as I remain re our Govt and its Drug War, this latest action by Holder IS a huge step towards justice reform. It remains to be seen if the local law pays any mind, and if there are consequences WHEN (notice I say WHEN not IF) they don't.

“The first casualty when war comes is the truth.” – California Senator Hiram Johnson, 1917