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| Drug Proposal Draws Criticism |
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Posted by FoM on July 20, 2001 at 08:35:46 PT By Cathi Carr, Sun Staff Writer Source: Gainesville Sun 
A proposed state constitutional amendment that would require courts to offer treatment to certain drug offenders has some state officials scrambling. On Thursday, a representative from the Florida Office of Drug Control urged members of a local substance abuse prevention group to join forces in combating the proposal. "We will be opening up the floodgates for the large use of drugs if this passes," said Andy Benard, chief of strategic planning for the state office. "This is a Trojan-horse effort to decriminalize drugs." Benard was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Partners in Prevention of Substance Abuse Coalition, composed of drug treatment providers and officials from law enforcement, school boards, state agencies, the University of Florida and social services agencies from Alachua County and surrounding counties. The treatment proposal is being floated by a group from California and is supported financially by philanthropist George Soros. It would allow anyone charged with or convicted of possessing or purchasing drugs to enter treatment rather than prison. The "right-to-treatment law," as it has been dubbed, would apply to first- and second-time offenders who have no convictions for violent crimes in the past five years. In November, California voters passed a similar law, also backed by Soros. That proposal required the state to spend $120 million a year for the treatment efforts. In an early response to the initiative, which has already gained roughly 20,000 of the nearly 500,000 signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in November 2002, Office of Drug Control Director James McDonough voiced his disapproval. "This amendment will undermine successful treatment by removing any sense of personal responsibility for the individual being treated, and will, in effect, render moot the Florida drug court system by removing strong incentives of the criminal justice system to stay the course to successful completion, as there would be no penalties for failure," McDonough recently wrote to Jim Pearce, chief executive officer of the Corner Drug Store. In Alachua County, nonviolent drug offenders are already offered a similar avenue for treatment through a nearly decade-old program known as Drug Court. The program allows nonviolent drug offenders to escape conviction if they successfully complete an intensive treatment program, including regular drug testing, daily counseling and scheduled court hearings. Alachua County Sheriff Steve Oelrich and other officials oppose the proposed law, saying the law's supporters are pushing an image that the war on drugs has failed, when in reality, progress is being made. "It's a bad idea," Oelrich said. "The image that we're going to have to fight is we have thousands of people languishing in our prison system arrested for an ounce of marijuana when that's not the only charge. They are usually charged with something else on top of the drug offense." Under the California proposal, which began this year, legislative analysts estimated the state would save $100 million to $150 million annually due to lower costs for prison operations. According to a report from the state's Legislative Analyst's Office, "Assuming inmate population growth would have otherwise continued, the state would also be able to delay the construction of additional prison beds for a one-time avoidance of capital outlay costs of between $450 million and $550 million in the long term. Counties would probably experience net savings of about $40 million annually due primarily to a lower jail population." According to a statement by Peter Banys, president of the California Society of Addiction Medicine, Richard Polanco, majority leader of the California state Senate, and Kay McVay, president of the California Nurses Association, "Right now there are 19,300 people in California prisons for this offense (drug possession). We're paying $24,000 per year for each of them. When they get out, many will return to drugs and crime. Treatment costs about $4,000, and while it doesn't help every drug user, it does reduce future crime more effectively than prison." Cathi Carr can be reached at: cathi.carr@gainesvillesun.com Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL) Related Articles & Web Site: Soros Foundation Network Drug Fighters Organize Opposition To Treatment Florida Eyed as 2002 Battleground for Drug Reform Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #10 posted by CongressmanSuet on July 20, 2001 at 21:38:03 PT |
Just when did God become the invisible, supreme leader of this country? Maybe they snuck it by before we had c-span. That wouldnt have mattered anyway. Im all for God,dont get me wrong[as I heard constantly at the mission I lived at for 90 days,"Praise God"], I just dont believe "God" should have an official place in our guviment. Faith-based initiatives? Subsidised religion kinda makes me mad,and thats all that is. Anybody want to give a historical perspective on this? Where has this been done before and what were the results? Uh huh. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by dddd on July 20, 2001 at 20:58:06 PT |
| ,,,..well said.... ..I've thought about that simple math theory before,,and People usually just blindly believe what they read,,after all,, [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by bruce42 on July 20, 2001 at 20:38:27 PT |
| hmmm.... "Alachua County Sheriff Steve Oelrich and other officials oppose the proposed law, saying the law's supporters are pushing an image that the war on drugs has failed, when in reality, progress is being made." Of course progress is being made... there is a finite amount of U.S. citizens on this planet. It's simple math. Consider two flow rates and an initial number of "druggies". One flow rate measures the creation of new druggies. The other measures the flow of druggies being hauled off to prison. If the second flow is greater than the first, then yes- the number of druggies on the street will decrease as time goes on. Of course, they never get around to addressing prison overcrowding and the lack of drug use prevention when they want to talk about "success". If these laws are supposed to deter the abuse or use of drugs, why is it that U.S. prisons are being flooded by thousands of drug offenders? Maybe politicians and law enforcement officials are blind to the fact that treating drug offenders medically and educating youth with facts and not feeding them cock and bull propaganda would curb the use of hard drugs. However, I just can't believe that. I can't simply assume the rich, white men that run the U.S. are that dumb to the truth. I believe that the draconian drug laws and cock and bull propaganda programs exist so that these men can retain control. It's all about power and greed. The system perpetuates three groups: drug users that are forced to live in fear of authority and be in contact with or exist within underground drug society, "God-fearing" citizens [read- misinformed parents, teachers, etc. Where the hell was I when God suddenly became the ultimate authority in the U.S.? Did I miss some swearing in ceremony or something? And why is it always assumed people fear God? Perhaps the fear their own deity(s)?] that fear the drug users [never the drugs- do any of you remember being told the truth about how drugs affect your body and mind? I don't. But, people are more than willing to tell you that drug USERS are bad, and drug USERS are losers, and show you pictures of drug USERS.. but I digress], and the law enforcement officials that are dependant upon drug users for employment. There. All the druggies and the joe-blow public live in fear of one another and the cops are forced to keep evreything running smoothly for fear that they may be sacked if the druggies be allowed to roam free. The rich, white men in power can now sit back, relax, and fill their pockets with "campaign support" from tobacco, alcohol, firearms, chemical, petrol, and forestry lobbiests that want nothing more than the system to keep running smoothly so that useful plants like hemp and soft drugs like marihuana [note the "archaic" spelling- how wonderfully ignorant- gotta love those white dudes!] stay safely in the dark. Land of the free? Sure. Free to live in fear. Free to not have control of my body. Free not to pursue what I consider to be happiness... how's that for life, liberty, and well, you get the rest. whew. that felt good. I should chill out... hmmm... Boy what's this? It appears to be some pot. I would sure hate to leave this lying about. I should "dispose" of it... peace. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by dddd on July 20, 2001 at 17:26:01 PT |
| ...we have to throw out the evidence.....Why did you search the offenders vehicle Officer Asshead?" "Well,your honor,,I did have probable cause to suspect the offender dddd [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by observer on July 20, 2001 at 17:04:54 PT |
| Possesion of Illegal Attitudes There's the biggie ... that's the one that they are gunning for. Officer: "Boy, I think you have a bad attitude." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by dddd on July 20, 2001 at 16:00:14 PT |
| ..........." They are usually charged with something else on top of the drug offense."...... Yup..........charges include .. 1).Conspiracy to use drugs. 2).Illegal purchase of drugs 3).Knowledge of drugs 4).Knowledge of others doing drugs,and not reporting it 5).Possesion of Illegal Attitudes 6).Wrongful and Malicious use of Self 7).Causing bodily injury to self,and then coming within 500 feet of a school 8).Past Use of Drugs that Offender never got busted for
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| Comment #4 posted by mayan on July 20, 2001 at 15:45:18 PT |
| "We will be opening up the floodgates for the large use of drugs if this happens." I hope this idiot keeps babbling. He will help the cause more than Soros himself! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by smokinjoe on July 20, 2001 at 14:41:27 PT:
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| If we smokers pull together and vote we can free the weed....plant a seed visit http://www.smokinjoe.50megs.com visit http://www.anglefire.com/home/smokinjoe [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Doug on July 20, 2001 at 09:26:47 PT |
| "The image that we're going to have to fight is we have thousands of people languishing in our prison system arrested for an ounce of marijuana when that's not the only charge. They are usually charged with something else on top of the drug offense." Well of course they charge them with something else on top of the drug offense -- that's their business. Once you get them in the loop, figure out what else you can charge them with. Dealing is always a favorite, since if they can find a few baggies or perhaps a scale that's all the evidence they need. This article is not surprising: the police and treatment providers always complain when they see that their jobs and livelihood might be threatened. The same forces were against Proposition 36 in Californaia. These people are not in touch with feelings on the ground, but they are hoping that if they can sow enough fear, they can defeat this. What's disgusting is how predictable this all is. These people must really be feeling a wave of fear. They controlled everything for so long and now people are starting to openly question them, and in fact pass referenda that go against them. This must be how the Neanderthals felt when the Cro-Magnons started to displace them. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by observer on July 20, 2001 at 09:19:29 PT |
| "We will be opening up the floodgates for the large use of drugs if this passes," said Andy Benard, chief of strategic planning for the state office. "This is a Trojan-horse effort to decriminalize drugs." The image that we're going to have to fight is we have thousands of people languishing in our prison system arrested for an ounce of marijuana when that's not the only charge. They are usually charged with something else on top of the drug offense." Oh I see ... this must be the same reason you fight tooth and nail to lock up pot smokers and fight to never change the marijuana laws, unless it is to be made more harsh. Because you never lock up pot smokers. (Another lying pig...) Mandatory sentencing guidelines are ruthless. A first offense of simple marijuana possession now carries a five-year federal penalty.234 Escalator clauses take advantage of the repetitive nature of drug use. First-time possession of crack can be punished by five to twenty years if the amount exceeds five grams. A second offense brings the same punishment if the weight exceeds five grams. And a third offense brings the same punishment of the weight exceeds one gram. "Three felony convictions for drug offenses carries mandatory life with no parole, and it is a felony to commit a drug offense within 100 feet of a pinball or video arcade containing more than 10 games."235 Possession of a marijuana cigarette is such a felony. Federal law permits a $10,000 fine for possessing one marijuana cigarette.236 An Oklahoma man received a life sentence for felony possession of marijuana, 0.005644 of an ounce.237
Unless they are holding loose marijuana in their hand, piggies like you will lie (par for the course), and (using double jeopardy, not that you know or care a whit about the Bill fo Rights), bring multiple charges for the same offense. That's why nazi scum like you can lie, and say, "They are usually charged with something else on top of the drug offense." Because you charge them with "paraphenalia" for having a pipe or papers, or "dealing" if the joint is passed, or "dealing to children" if the joint is shared within 5,000 feet of a school, playground, or any place where a child might go. Yes you disguisting liar, your police lies are transparent. To be fair though, there is little to set this police liar apart from others of his vocation in the US. Most US police lie ("testalying") just as easily as you and I breathe air. [ Post Comment ] |
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