Pubdate: Wed, 16 May 2001 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Copyright: 2001 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18 Author: Wevley Shea Note: Wev Shea is an Anchorage attorney and former United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. DRUGS ATTACK SOCIETY'S MORAL FIBER Compass The pro-drug legalization movement in Alaska and worldwide received a strong setback on May 10. President George W. Bush nominated John P. Walters to be his Director of National Drug Control Policy. Mr. Walters is a very experienced drug warrior. President Bush and Mr. Walters strongly oppose drug legalization. The moral foundation of our nation is founded on free, independent thinking. The ability to distinguish right from wrong and individual responsibility form the basis for our democratic republic. Drugs destroy the ability to be free and think independently. The drug legalization movement in Alaska is targeting our children. The youth of Alaska need to know drugs are harmful. Alaska, over the past few years, has been a specific target for the drug legalization movement. The leaders of this movement are from outside Alaska and are financed by individuals from outside Alaska. Alaskans are unique, independent free thinkers. Drugs destroy all that Alaskans hold dear. Most specifically, drugs destroy families and the true victims are our children. Drug legalization, if allowed, will destroy democracy as we know it. Alaskans have been misled to believe that the use of marijuana is safe. The dopers argue that marijuana is a "medicine." The dopers want to "smoke marijuana," a weed with more cancer-causing agents than tobacco. This marijuana has no quality-control standards and no quality-control dosages. Quite simply it is street dope. However, the marijuana raised in some of Alaska's quality indoor hydroponic operations is very strong. It is 20 to 50 times stronger that the '60s dope of Haight Ashbury in San Francisco. In 1999 a survey of 134 hospital emergency room departments confirmed the addictive destruction of marijuana. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, marijuana/hashish was the second most frequently mentioned illicit drug addressed in the survey. Marijuana/hashish emergency department cases in San Francisco increased 121% in the first half of 2000. Those individuals treated for marijuana/hashish addressed why they sought emergency treatment: 14,790 were treated for unexpected reactions; 9,072 for overdoses; 7,737 were seeking detoxification and 15,636 confirmed they were dependent on it. This study was of only 134 emergency departments. Imagine the true scope of the problem. Medical examiners in the study confirmed 670 individuals lost their lives due to marijuana in 1999. This is not the picture of marijuana use painted by the doper legalizers. Marijuana is a gateway drug that the legalizers are using in an attempt to legalize other illegal drugs. Marijuana is merely the first step on the path to legalization. The outspoken leadership of President Bush and Mr. Walters is absolutely necessary in combating the effect of illegal drug trafficking in Alaska and worldwide. The basic drug message for our children is quite simple: If we allow our President and national leadership to send a permissive drug message, drug use goes up drastically. We are not losing the Drug War. Setbacks have occurred and lessons learned. Drug legalization should not be tolerated. In 1979, with 25 million drug users, our nation demanded changes. By 1992 the number of drug users was down to 12 million due to the leadership of President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush responding to very concerned citizens. Parents nationwide lead the attack on illicit drug usage. By 1999 the number of drug users had increased to 15 million due to very permissive leadership in Washington. Like World War II, our continuing "War on Drugs" is for the moral fiber of the free world, our nation, and the future of our children. Drug traffickers and dealers are the "Hitlers" of today. These individuals are "one step up from child molesters" and should be condemned. If illegal drugs are allowed to be socially acceptable, future generations of children will never have a chance. Drugs destroy the moral fiber of our society. Our elected officials, local, state and federal law enforcement/prosecutors and each concerned Alaskan should openly oppose illicit drug legalization. - --- MAP posted-by: Andrew