Pubdate: Sun, 31 Jul 2005
Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
Copyright: 2005 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1192/a04.html

FOCUS ON METH, NOT MARIJUANA

Your July 27 editorial, "Out of touch on meth," was right on target. While 
local governments are struggling with a methamphetamine epidemic, the 
Office of National Drug Control Policy is spending millions on a 
reefer-madness-revisited ad campaign.

This reflects a bizarre sense of priorities.

A National Association of Counties survey found that the vast majority of 
county officials report that meth is the biggest drug problem. Local law 
enforcement is where the rubber meets the road. These are the public safety 
professionals who deal with drug offenses on a daily basis.

And it's not marijuana that concerns them, but meth.

Meanwhile, an out-of-touch federal government continues to be obsessed with 
marijuana, even going so far as to prosecute terminally ill patients who 
use medical marijuana for relief.

The tax dollars wasted on the Office of National Drug Control Policy's 
misleading anti-marijuana campaign would be better spent on treatment for 
meth addicts.

ROBERT SHARPE

Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C 
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MAP posted-by: Beth