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FARLEY RESPONDS TO HIS NATIONAL CRITICS ON DRUGS

For the regular readers of the Observer, it must be apparent that either it has become a national publication or I have become the target of the dope-smoking drug legalizers across the nation.  They are represented by groups like the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Ohio Marijuana Party Political Action Committee and others with Web sites that spew out garbage trying to change the minds and mores of our legislators and the general public.

Quite frankly, I am pleased and somewhat flattered that these people are so concerned about my articles and presentations that they have their minions from places like Northhampton, Ma., Washington D.C., Green Bay, Wisc., Baton Rogue, La., Denton, Texas and other places take the time to write to the Observer to attack me personally and the facts and studies upon which I rely.  One of the recent letters indicated that I have spent my life putting people in jail, neglecting to note that I was a fairly successful criminal defense lawyer for 20 years; they also indicate that I have taken my anti-drug stances because I need to keep my job and make a living, neglecting to note that I left a very lucrative partnership in the largest law firm in the county at the height of my income-producing years, or that I paid more in taxes while in private practice than I made as a prosecutor.

It should not surprise anyone that we don't see these letters coming from the families of drug-addicted individuals who have to live with this problem or, worse, have lost a child to drugs.  Nor do we hear this type of diatribe from the addicts themselves.  In fact, quite to the contrary, we hear them extol the benefits of our actions such as our Drug Court, how it helped them overcome the scourge of addiction to again become productive family members, parents and members of society; all I might add through the coercion of the criminal justice system.

I only hope that those pro-legalization forces continue to direct their venom at me while we work with school authorities, prevention specialists, treatment providers and law enforcement officers in an effort to rid our nation of our drug problems rather than making them incredibly worse through legalization, as they propose.

Terrence P.  Farley

First Assistant Prosecutor

Director, Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force