Pubdate: Mon, 18 Oct 2004
Source: Frontiersman, The (Wasilla, AK)
Column: Being Frank
Copyright: 2004 Wick Communications
Contact:  http://www.frontiersman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1532
Author: Frank Ameduri
Note: Frank Ameduri is a big fan of Twinkies, but it's not what you think.
Cited: Proposition 2 http://www.yeson2alaska.com
Cited: The DrugSense War on Drugs Clock http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

LET'S FOCUS ON REAL CRIMINALS

The deputy drug czar was in Alaska last week speaking out against the evils 
of Proposition 2, the most recent attempt to legalize marijuana in Alaska. 
Many of us were shocked to discover the deputy drug czar had such strong 
feelings about pot. I remember saying, "Boy, that deputy drug czar really 
doesn't like drugs, does he?"

I should also make one quick aside to announce that from this day forward I 
wish to be identified as Valley News Czar. I prefer the C-Z-A-R spelling to 
the T-Z-A-R or T-S-A-R versions, but any will work in a pinch.

Now let's get one thing straight before you read this. The Valley News Czar 
is not a pot head. Let that suffice. With that behind us, let's have a 
little pow-wow about marijuana and the war on drugs.

All known politicians share one thing in common. They want to continue 
being politicians. In fact, the only politicians who ever vote in favor of 
term limits are ones who are absolutely sure the vote has no way of 
passing. Any politician who wishes to continue living on the taxpayers' 
dime will never appear to be soft on drugs. Therefore, no politician will 
ever sing the praises of marijuana -- even if the politician's cousin Merle 
has a grow operation in the basement. Of course no politician will ever 
turn down a generous donation from the tobacco industry, but that's for 
another column.

The second bit of information is that, according to drugsense.org, the 
federal government has spent more than $15 billion in the war on drugs so 
far this year. State governments have combined to spend nearly $16 billion. 
The deputy drug czar tells us that half our high school kids are sparking 
up. If that sounds like money well-spent, I'd like to sell you a 
promotional video for $30,000.

Nearly 600,000 people have been arrested nationwide for cannabis-related 
offenses so far this year; nearly 200,000 of those have been incarcerated. 
We hear that there are not enough police on the streets to combat crime, 
not enough resources in district attorneys' offices to prosecute criminals, 
and not enough room in prisons to house criminals. We know that many 
criminals are allowed to plead to lesser offenses for reduced sentences for 
those reasons. We expend a great deal of energy, money and resources to 
combat marijuana, and then we allow more serious criminals to serve reduced 
sentences because the system is clogged.

I'm not advocating marijuana use. I also won't advocate for alcohol or 
tobacco use, and I won't encourage you to eat a high-fat diet. I don't 
drive around with my seat belt off, and I also don't ask my doctor to 
prescribe feel-good drugs I really don't need, but I won't tell you that 
you can't do it. None of that is any of my business. During prohibition, 
alcohol drinkers were put in jail following raids. Organized crime took 
over the alcohol importing and sales businesses and turned them into 
highly-profitable enterprises. Unfortunately, the involvement of organized 
crime also led to increased violence and other peripheral crimes associated 
with illicit alcohol use. Alcohol still creates many problems in our 
society, but many of the worst problems disappeared with the repeal of the 
18th amendment. It's no secret that prohibition never succeeded in stemming 
the use of alcohol, and it has fared no better in the battle against 
marijuana use.

And besides, how do marijuana users compare to other criminals? We're 
talking about people who value the benefits of a good nap. Their biggest 
social flaw is that they consume large quantities of chips, cheese puffs, 
frozen burritos and Twinkies. We've all had an experience with an angry 
drunk. Sure, marijuana users get a little moody sometimes, but they simply 
don't have the energy to get genuinely angry. Are we really safer with 
these folks behind bars? I guess I don't know what the answer is, but I 
know the current answer isn't working. The least we can do is agree upon that. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake