Pubdate: Tue, 05 Feb 2002
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2002 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Andrew M. Ortiz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/johnson.htm (Johnson, Gary)

LEGISLATORS PUSHING WRONG MESSAGE

I am shocked that we would have legislators who want to legalize drugs. As 
a law enforcement officer, I have worked in narcotics along with street 
patrol and strongly believe in the war on drugs. I have seen the 
devastating effects drugs have on the community up close and personal.

As an undercover officer, I've seen parents smoke marijuana in front of 
newborn and young children. That teaches the children that it is all right 
to smoke marijuana, not go to school and to lead a life like their parents. 
"It is just a marijuana cigarette. It is harmless." I wish marijuana was 
just harmless. Legislators should see first-hand the effects marijuana and 
other drugs have on people and their families.

I have spoken to hundreds of drug addicts, with many knowing I was a law 
enforcement officer and many not knowing that I was one. All said that they 
started by smoking harmless marijuana and climbed up the drug ladder to 
harder and meaner drugs.

Does that mean we should legalize marijuana and hear people say that it 
will only be for adults? Adults and parents buy alcohol for teenagers. They 
will do it with marijuana, too.

There is a TV commercial saying the state has spent $43 million fighting 
the war on drugs and they show a male wanting to know where that money went.

This is not very much when you consider in New Mexico alone the drug trade 
brings in billions of dollars a year and tears apart thousands of lives. 
The commercial says the jails are getting overpopulated with drug 
offenders. They forgot to mention that those offenders are drug traffickers 
trying to sell drugs to children. ...

Legislators who want to legalize drugs should change their efforts to get 
more programs to help the drug user instead of saying it is all right to do it.

There are not enough treatment centers in New Mexico to help these people 
and educate the children. The waiting lists at treatment centers are long 
and take several months. ...

Gov. Gary Johnson needs a reality check in the game of life and should come 
down and look at these addicts; his way of thinking may change.

ANDREW M. ORTIZ

Albuquerque
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