Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2006, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: David Montero
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)

DRUG CZAR: COUNTRY MUST TACKLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND

The Bush Administration rolled out its 2006 anti-drug campaign in
Denver today, highlighting an approach targeting both increased law
enforcement and treatment.

To the latter end, John Walters, director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy, chose the Synergy Youth Drug Treatment Center to
talk about the 40-page national drug control strategy. He met with
recovering addicts at the center before speaking in broad terms about
the plan, including touting recent successes that included a dip of
illicit drug use among high schoolers by 19 percent since 2001.

"We must have a balanced strategy," Walters said. "This is a supply
and demand problem. This is a problem that requires us to do a mixed
number of things and to do them together to optimize results."

Flanked by Gov. Bill Owens, Attorney General John Suthers and Denver
District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, Walters denied choosing Denver to
unveil the plan because it passed a city ordinance to legalize
marijuana in November.

He blamed billionaire Democratic financier George Soros for pushing
that piece of the marijuana legalization issue, as well as a statewide
ballot measure that seeks to lift similar restrictions.

Not true, said Mason Tvert, campaign director of SAFER  the Safer
Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation.

"We spent less than $30,000 in the entire Denver campaign," Tvert
said. "There is absolutely no money from George Soros.

In fact, its money from concerned people around Colorado and the rest
of the country who are fed up with this war against marijuana."