cannabisnews.com: Drug-Treatment Drive Dead This Year 





Drug-Treatment Drive Dead This Year 
Posted by FoM on April 18, 2002 at 14:15:27 PT
By Jackie Hallifax, The Associated Press 
Source: Ledger
Sponsors of a petition drive to let low-level drug offenders avoid jail time by entering treatment programs have decided against trying to make the November ballot.Instead, the Campaign for New Drug Policies has set its sights on the 2004 ballot, its Florida chairman said Wednesday. "We're pulling out," Sydney Smith said from his Miami office. "It's too late." The campaign is awaiting word from the Florida Supreme Court, which decides if citizen initiatives are fairly explained and deal with just one issue.
The state's high court heard oral arguments in December but has not yet ruled.As well as getting the green light from the Supreme Court, petition drive sponsors must collect half a million signatures to make the ballot. Smith said supporters had collected an estimated 300,000 signatures.The measure is called "Right to Treatment for Rehabilitation for Non-Violent Drug Offenses." It would let people charged or convicted of possession or purchases of illegal drugs go into a treatment program and avoid trial or jail.The treatment option would be limited to a first or second offense and people facing felony charges or serious misdemeanors would not be eligible.The idea is modeled after California's Proposition 36, approved by voters last year. A Santa Monica organization called Campaign for New Drug Policies is backing the Florida effort and has given $313,000 toward the petition drive.Dave Fratello, political director of the Campaign for New Drug Policies in Los Angeles, called Florida's initiative process dysfunctional and cumbersome.Bush, who has criticized the initiative, said he was pleased by the development."I am neither surprised nor sorry to see the backers of the 'Right to Treatment' initiative leave Florida," he said in a statement issued by his office.The Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, which represents community-based treatment and prevention providers, called the initiative seriously flawed."The decision by sponsors of the 'Right to Treatment' ballot initiative to withdraw their measure represents a major victory for all Floridians," said John Daigle, executive director of the group.Source: Ledger, The (FL)Author: Jackie Hallifax, The Associated Press Published: Thursday, April 18, 2002Copyright: 2002 The LedgerContact: voice theledger.comWebsite: http://www.theledger.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Campaign for New Drug Policieshttp://www.drugreform.org/florida/Drug Fighters Organize Opposition To Treatment http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10096.shtmlFlorida Eyed as 2002 Battleground for Drug Reform http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10014.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on April 18, 2002 at 18:31:01 PT
All Floridians?
All Floridians? Everyone & their mom knows it would have passed had it got on the ballot. It amazes me that the fascist minority thinks they can speak for the majority! The question is "Will we let them?"
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on April 18, 2002 at 14:58:45 PT
Orwellian
"The decision by sponsors of the 'Right to Treatment' ballot initiative to withdraw their measure represents a major victory for all Floridians," said John Daigle, executive director of the group.Victory? I guess the state was under attack by a ballot initiative. Whew! Saved from Democracy! I was worried there for a while that there might actually be a vote...perish the thought!
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