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.
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MAP posted-by: Josh