Tom Marino Expected to be Appointed as “Drug Czar”
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After a great deal of speculation and calumny, President Donald Trump is expected to choose Pennsylvania Congressman Thomas Anthony Marino as the nation’s so-called “drug czar.” Marino is expected to step down from his third term serving on the seat as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district. He is expected to be nominated as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
The ONDCP advises the White House on drug-control issues and organizes ways to combat drug abuse. He was asked about legalizing cannabis on a national level when he was up for re-election. “If it does help people one way or another, then produce it in pill form . . . You can’t smoke it for this, but you take a pill,” Marino stated. “But don’t make an excuse because you want to smoke marijuana. Look what’s happening to states and cities who are legalizing it. They are running into a lot of problems.”
Marino was an early vocal supporter for President Donald Trump. Marino has indicated that he supports states’ rights, however, NORML gives Marino a “D” grade for his positions on cannabis in the state of Pennsylvania. Marino voted against allowing the Department of Veteran Affairs to recommend cannabis for veterans suffering from PTSD. Marino also voted against the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment which blocked the Department of Justice from wasting federal funds on cracking down medical cannabis operations in states where it’s legal.
Marino authored the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act to crack down on drug trafficking across the border. The controversial drug enforcement bill connects prescription drug distributors with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Marino’s bill was quietly signed by former President Obama, but the bill has been slammed as a way to slow the DEA’s ability to punish corporate prescription drug makers.
Meanwhile, Trump has tapped New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to chair a new commission to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will oversee the federal commission. In reality, the “drug czar” has little impact on actual drug policy.
