Last updated on: 4/1/2014 | Author: ProCon.org

Gil Kerlikowske, MA Biography

Title:
Former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Position:
Con to the question "Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"
Reasoning:

“Legalization is not in the president’s vocabulary, and it’s not in mine. Marijuana is dangerous and has no medicinal benefit.”

Press conference following $1.2 billion marijuana raid in Fresno, CA, as quoted in “Drug Czar: Feds Won’t Support Legalized Pot,” by Marc Benjamin of the Fresno Bee, July 22, 2009

[Editor’s Note: Kerlikowske was the Police Chief of Seattle, Washington, where medical marijuana has been legal since 1998. We were unable to find a position statement from him during this period or any time prior to July 22, 2009]

Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Commissioner, US Customs and Border Protection, Mar. 7, 2014-present
  • Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), “Drug Czar,” May 7, 2009-Mar. 7, 2014
  • Chief of Police, Seattle Police Department, July 2000-Feb. 2009
  • Recipient, Leadership Award, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), 2006
  • Deputy Director, US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 1998-2000
  • President, PERF, 1996-1998
  • Police Commissioner of Buffalo, New York, 1994-1998
  • Chief of Police, Fort Pierce, Florida, 1990-1994
  • Recipient, Gary Hayes National Memorial Award for Innovation in Policing, PERF, 1990
  • Chief of Police, Port St. Lucie, Florida, 1987-1990
  • Police officer, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1972-1985
  • US Army Military Police, 1970-1972
  • Former President, Major Cities Chiefs Association
  • Former Chairman, Board of Directors of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
  • Former Member, Seattle/King County Advisory Board of the Salvation Army
  • Former Adjunct Professor, law enforcement courses, Seattle University
  • Recipient, Presidential Service Badge
    • Education:
  • Graduated, National Executive Institute at the Federal Bureau of Investigations Academy in Quantico, Virginia, 1984
  • MA, Criminal Justice, University of South Florida at Tampa, 1978
  • BA, Criminal Justice, University of South Florida at Tampa, 1975
    • Other:
  • Legal name is Richard Gil Kerlikowske.
  • Born on Nov. 23, 1949.
  • Married with two children from his previous marriage.