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Proposition 36 was short on specifics but long enough on emotion to tap the public pulse.  While police, prosecutors, judges and politicians opposed the carrot-for-stick proposal, voters were convinced the drug war had failed and that a little compassion was better - and cheaper - than building more prisons.  Thus it passed overwhelmingly - 61 percent to 39 percent.  Easily lost in the shuffle is the redefinition of drug use inherent in the measure.  It is now more a medical and health issue, less a criminal matter.  Since the statewide program accepts its first clients July 1, efforts are under way to create in barely six months a system where there is now a mere skeleton of the support network needed.  The Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs is to implement Proposition 36 and on Dec.  18 a conference will be held in Sacramento to explore the wide array of state and county issues, legislative proposals and treatment questions.  Many questions remain.  How many and what kind of treatment centers are needed? Where? Who will certify them and what are the criteria? Where in the state's presently bulging pocketbook will the $120 million come from? Will other services or programs be cut or will funds come out of the surplus? Money above and beyond the $120 million a year also may be needed for county probation departments, which could be inundated with new clients, and other local agencies that must deal with the new approach and its fallout.  Judges who oversee existing drug courts say there are too few treatment programs.  Good ones are more rare.  They and other critics fear the short timetable and sudden influx of state money creates ideal conditions for "fly-by-night" operators and "sham" treatment programs.  Proponents say once implemented, Proposition 36 will reduce California's prison population by 11,000, save more than $200 million a year in operating costs and eliminate the need for new prisons.  The math appears simple: California sends about 12,000 people a year to prison for drug possession.  It costs $24,000 a year to incarcerate an addict as opposed to $4,000 for treatment.  And California voters have plainly said that treating simple users as criminals doesn't work.  Voters may not approve of people using heroin, cocaine, or even marijuana, but most don't want offenders thrown in jail for first and second offenses either. 

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