|
|
| Nation Takes Drug Abuse Seriously |
|
Posted by FoM on February 16, 2002 at 13:54:16 PT By August Gribbin, The Washington Times Source: Washington Times 
The nation is uniformly upset about drug abuse and its consequences, but divided about what to do with drug pushers and users, a first-of-its-kind study says. Although states constitute the front lines in the war on drugs, the study shows their laws differ wildly, as does the seriousness with which they regard drug dealing and substance abuse. The report by a prominent team of substance-abuse specialists also points out that, contrary to common belief, states commonly ignore federal anti-drug approaches for dealing with such substances as cocaine, methamphetamine and the hugely popular "club drugs" such as Ecstasy. "The report is the only comprehensive, standardized assessment of laws across the nation," said Dr. J. Michael McGinnis, a senior vice president at the Johnson Foundation. He said it is significant "because it provides a tool that will help in determining for the first time what works and what fails in dealing with substance abuse." The 140-page report is titled "Illicit Drug Policies: Selected Laws From the 50 States." It was produced by a team of economists, psychologists, sociologists, lawyers, epidemiologists and others as part of a continuing anti-drug program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and run by the University of Ilinois at Chicago. The document explains that each state establishes a "schedule," meaning a comparative evaluation of the various drugs' perceived danger and medical value. Each state also has statutes that set penalties for the sale and possession of banned substances. And importantly, state officials prosecute the vast majority of drug-related crimes. The study points out that: "The maximum statutory penalty for the sale of a standard retail amount of cocaine, methamphetamine, or Ecstasy ranges from one year of imprisonment to life in prison." For instance, a drug offender hauled before a North Carolina court and charged with selling 1 gram of cocaine would face a maximum sentence of a year in prison. The same offender on trial for the same offense in Montana could be fined $50,000 and jailed for life. In Minnesota, a person caught holding 10 grams of methamphetamine would be looking at the possibility of a $500,000 fine and a 25-year prison sentence. The same person standing before a Virginia court for the identical offense could expect a maximum sentence of $1,000 and six months in the lockup. Federal law declares marijuana is an illicit substance and makes no exception for its use as a medicine. However, 24 states and the District have enacted a provision that skirts the ban, and some states have enacted more than one exception to the law. Fourteen states permit Therapeutic Research Programs, in effect allowing patients enrolled in a research program to use the drug. Three states make marijana a legal medication, 11 allow doctors to prescribe the drug and seven allow patients accused of abusing the drug to plead medical necessity. In recent years the drug called Ecstasy or "E" has grown immensely in popularity despite increasingly dire medical warnings of its dangerous effects. It is commonly used by youngsters at "raves," or all-night dances, and even by grade-school children. However, drug-study researchers revealed yesterday at a news conference that 11 states have not banned the substance, which is said to have no medical uses and which has been banned by the federal government. Among states that do ban the drug, penalties for possession of a single pill range from $5,000 to $1 million and anywhere from a year to life in jail, said Rosalie Pacula, a Rand researcher and co-author of the study. Additionally, federal law makes a giant distinction between cocaine powder, which is typically sniffed or snorted and more dangerous crack, the street name given to cocaine that has been specially processed for smoking. Only 11 states have created separate penalties for possessing or selling crack and cocaine powder. Such differences matter for many reasons, said Miss Pacula, and not least is that they show "offenders processed for similar crimes in different state courts are subject to different standards." Newshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch II Related Articles & Web Site: Robert Woods Foundation Bush's $19 Billion Antidrug Plan Ecstasy Overdose Kills Ad Campaign Targets Notions of Love Drug Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
|
Comment #6 posted by Dan B on February 18, 2002 at 10:47:36 PT:
|
| Hi. Things here are going well. Liberty Belle is cute as can be (and will turn one-year-old this St. Patricks Day). She has a degenerative disease in her femurs that causes hip dysplasia, and she will have to have surgery at some point in the future (they'll lop off the ball of the femur that goes into the hip socket, which seems to work well for small dogs). But for now we have her taking baby aspirin (she's about 18 pounds now, so regular aspirin would be too much for her) and something that helps to build the cartilege (sp?)in on hipbone. She's bouncing around as always, but we now have to carry her up and down the steps to avoid any further erosion of her hip cartilege. I understand that this disease is common for pugs, and she should be fine in the long run. It sounds like your dog could eat my dog for lunch if he wanted to! I'm looking for employment at a university, junior college or community college somewhere on the East coast or northwest of Texas. I have 8 applications out and will soon send out four more (at least). We'll see what happens. I hope all is well for you and yours, too. Take care. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 17, 2002 at 14:22:29 PT |
| I haven't said hello in a long time so hello. Hope you are fine. How is Texas Belle? My dog is very big. He is around 140 pounds and is 15 months old. He is very tall too. He must be close to 30 inches at the back. I'm very glad he is gentle. He really seems more like a small pony. Just kidding but seriously I hope you and your family are doing well. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Dan B on February 17, 2002 at 14:13:02 PT |
| Sorry, that should have said "the bottom line." Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #3 posted by Dan B on February 17, 2002 at 14:10:27 PT:
|
| The nation is uniformly upset about drug abuse and its consequences, but divided about what to do with drug pushers and users, a first-of-its-kind study says. According to this article, this study says absolutely nothing about what the nation thinks, feels, or believes regarding drug abuse. In fact, what this study says is that the "economists, psychologists, sociologists, lawyers, epidemiologists and others" hand-picked by the rabidly prohibitionist Robert Wood Johnson Foundation came up with a pro-drug-war opinion based on drug laws alone. You cannot gauge the opinion of the nation by examining laws forced upon the majority by a minority that lives outside those laws. But then, this article was published by the rabid-prohibitionist Moonies at the Washington Times, so we should expect it. In reality, this "study" is not worth reporting. It was not even a study--more of a think-tank session to see how they can twist their logic to say that the majority agree with a drug war that 74% of the population has already declared a failure (in an actual scientific study released by the Pew Foundation). I could go on--this article is loaded with tripe. The botton line, though, is that it is pure propaganda. Who buys the Washington Times, anyway? Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on February 16, 2002 at 16:27:58 PT:
|
| from: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n271/a01.html?397 COLUMBIA ( AP ) -- Heavy sentences for crack cocaine possession and dealing would be lightened to match penalties for cocaine offenses under a bill adopted by the Senate on Thursday. It was part of an intricate compromise on a House truth-in-sentencing bill that finally won support of black senators who had tried to delay action on the legislation. A first offense for possession of less than a gram of crack cocaine is considered a felony and brings up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The bill the Senate approved lessens that to a misdemeanor with no more than two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on February 16, 2002 at 15:17:19 PT:
|
| ...importantly, state officials prosecute the vast majority of drug-related crimes.
If all drugs were legal, drug-related crimes would be known as "crimes," and drug war would be prosecuted as treason. [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |