I can't stand the drugs any longer. Levine's son, a New York City cop, was murdered by a drug addict who was out on parole for two previous homicides. Levine could be the last man you would expect to contribute to a book critical of America's war on drugs. Other contributors to the book include New Mexico Republican Gov. Gary E. Johnson and Julie Stewart, whose brother, Jeff, was arrested in 1990 for growing marijuana. An outraged Julie Stewart formed Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which opposes draconian federal mandatory minimum sentences in favor of judicial discretion.
Contributors have conflicting views on revamping the drug war.
Gov. Johnson favors not just decriminalizing all drugs, but legalizing and regulating them. A teetotaler, who stays away from drugs, tobacco and candy bars, Johnson is anti-drug. And the same would happen with respect to drug abuse. Take away the legal stigma and more people will use drugs. Levine rejects the Johnson model, except apparently for marijuana and similar drugs.