A Chicago-area official apologized after saying former President Ronald Reagan deserves a “special place in hell” for his part in stepping up the war on drugs.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, a Democrat, said her language Tuesday was “inflammatory,“ but stood by her criticism about the ”failure of the war on drugs to end illegal drug use or sales in this country.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, Preckwinkle was defending the city of Chicago’s recent move to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, allowing police officers to write tickets instead of make arrests. She said drug treatment should be part of the health care system, not criminal justice and said Reagan deserves a “special place in hell” for his role in “making drugs political.” Reagan, who died in 2004, was born in Illinois.
Preckwinkle’s remarks prompted gasps from the audience, the newspaper reported.
“What? You didn’t like that?” she responded.
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U.S. Constitutional Free Press 