Pubdate: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 Source: Dayton Daily News (OH) Copyright: 2001 Dayton Daily News Contact: http://www.activedayton.com/partners/ddn/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) DRUG LAWS NOT FOR CONSTITUTION Ohio could have a new drug war next year. The Campaign for New Drug Policies wants to put a measure on the ballot that would require treatment for all first- and second-time nonviolent drug offenders. The idea was adopted in California, and there are efforts to put it on the ballot in Michigan and Florida. Meanwhile, supporters are charging that the Taft administration is illegally trying to stymie their efforts. They have a paper trail wherein administration officials discuss how to defeat the measure. The Taft people say the idea is "de facto decriminalization" of drug use. The proposal is a bad idea. As a general rule, a constitution ought to be for big, structural issues, not garden-variety laws. The idea of treatment over incarceration is one many policy-makers largely embrace. They know it's cheaper than putting people in prison. But, really, the problem is not that nonviolent first-time offenders are going to jail; it's that not all of them have access to treatment. This measure calls for up to 18 months of help. Some experts disagree with codifying the notion that offenders get two free bites before facing prison. They argue that the threat of prison is one of the things that keeps people in treatment. They don't want to forfeit that leverage. That's an argument that's tough to overcome. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh