Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jun 2008
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2008 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: Bruce Todd
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n557/a04.html

DRUG CAMPAIGNS HIDE MOTIVES

The Press editorial board saw fit to side with the Drug  Policy 
Alliance's support for medical marijuana and  penalty reduction for 
drug users. ("Time to snuff out  reefer madness," June 2, and "Let 
the judges decide,"  May 31.)

If the newspaper had done its homework, it would find  these efforts 
are part of a nationally organized  campaign. The Drug Policy 
Alliance's Web site makes it  clear these initiatives are a smoke 
screen for an  agenda to legalize all illegal drugs. These groups 
have worked to legalize global trade and the use of all  illegal 
drugs for more than 20 years.

The alliance's medical marijuana campaign exploits  people's natures 
to help others but distorts medical  research or manufactures bogus 
research to reach their  ends of getting bills passed.

I doubt if any of us could find a neighbor or family  member who has 
not been affected by the drug war. While  we would hope no child 
starts using any type of drug,  it is up to responsible adults, 
educators, law  enforcement and public officials to ensure youth and 
adults live in a way that does not endanger themselves  or the public.

Judges do not send first-time offenders to jail. They  rely on 
pretrial intervention or treatment to give  offenders "blinders," 
like on a horse, in the hope it  will narrow their focus to better, 
long-term  self-interest.

Hard-core offenders involved in other anti-social and  criminal 
activity must be controlled. International  drug cartels threaten to 
take over countries such as  Mexico and the institutions that launder money.

Who would still support it knowing the real goal is to  put their 
"foot in the door" to ultimately legalize all  drug use?

Bruce Todd

WARETOWN
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