cannabisnews.com: Don't Legalize Drugs Don't Legalize Drugs Posted by FoM on August 28, 2000 at 14:03:51 PT By William R. Coonce Source: Arizona Daily Star Hardly a week passes without someone on your editorial staff or a guest author espousing drug legalization - decriminalization. The rationale is: Law enforcement does not work, and drug treatment should be provided in lieu of jail for drug users. Why do we buy into the illogical "red-herring rhetoric," pervading the print media today, that declares drug laws and drug law enforcement as the problem? Drug use and its consequences are the problem, not the laws or incarceration. The vast majority of drug users who are in jail are there for drug-related crimes, such as theft, burglary, forgery, etc. Most are repeat offenders who have previously been offered treatment and probation in lieu of jail and continue to break the law to fund their drug habits. Drug education, treatment and law enforcement make up the "three-legged stool" that addresses the problem of drug use in America today. These efforts must be mutually supported, not only by the professionals who have expertise in these areas, but also by the media and the public. The most effective treatment programs we have in this country today are "sanctions based," i.e., go to jail or enter treatment. This concept is integral to Drug Court here in Pima County. Without the threat of sanctions, most hardcore addicts do not seek treatment. This is a fact. I offer the following on why drug legalization should not be considered: * Drug use and drug addiction in America will increase substantially. Do we want our commercial pilots, heart surgeons, teachers, police officers and legislators to be incapacitated or impaired while carrying out their job duties? If drugs were legalized, workplace drug use restrictions would become moot. * What do parents do when their children announce they have made the personal decision to use drugs? Don't think for a minute that the solution here would be a minimum age restriction. The black market would prevail. * The highway carnage inflicted by drunk drivers will substantially increase by adding drug users into this mix. Additional costs and complications would accrue to our over-burdened criminal justice system. * Drug treatment and education programs would be well-funded, but oxymoronic, in view of a legalized drug environment with no consequences. Our public schools will continue to deteriorate, and high-tech companies will not be able to staff their payrolls with qualified workers. Our military strength and international leadership will be drastically weakened, as well. In an America where drugs are legalized, either the government or private enterprise would supply the drugs - at a dollar cost, of course. Either would be sued for product liability in a manner similar to the tobacco debacle, and more drug users will commit crimes to get money to buy drugs. Please don't suggest the federal government (i.e., taxpayers) provide the drugs free of charge! There is no "sound bite" solution to the drug problem in this country, nor is there any benefit or logic to demonizing law enforcement. We can legitimately debate the amount of money and emphasis that should be spent in each of the three disciplines of education, treatment and enforcement, but all three must be mutually supported. We should be open to "alternative" strategies to add to this arsenal, as long as these proposals are designed to reduce drug use in America, not increase it. In my view, the objective is to give our kids the best possible private or public education we can provide. They need to see and learn principles of integrity and character, which include being responsible and accountable for their actions. I see no place for legalized drug use in this equation. Note: William R. Coonce is deputy director of the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking program.Pubdate: Mon, 28 Aug 2000Source: Arizona Daily Star (AZ)Copyright: 2000 Pulitzer Publishing Co.Contact: letters@azstarnet.com Website: http://www.azstarnet.com/Related Article:Vote No On Ballot Measure 5, 99Hemphttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6817.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by hey on May 24, 2001 at 08:23:51 PT a rhyme don't be an a*$, smoke grass [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Puritan on August 29, 2000 at 14:58:09 PT Additional Comments It would be delightful to have Mr. Coonce respond to these criticisms and have an open debate. Of course, not in our wildest dream will that happen. Prohibitionists do not like or want free and open discussion. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by observer on August 29, 2000 at 10:54:13 PT High-Tech Companies ... ...high-tech companies will not be able to staff their payrolls with qualified workers. ... Scientific data that confound propaganda about drugs in the workplace go beyond income. One study published by the federal government showed illicit drug users at Utah Power & Light having lower health benefit costs than nonusers.24 Another study published by the federal government found that Georgia Power Company employees who tested positive for illicit drugs had higher promotion rates compared to the entire workforce and that marijuana users had absentee rates thirty percent lower than those of other employees 35 According to supervisor evaluations, hospital employees using illicit drugs performed as well as nonusers.26 (These were hospital employees whose urine showed evidence of illicit drug use, not employees who acted intoxicated while on the job. On Monday morning there is no reason to expect an employee to be any more impaired by Friday night's marijuana cigarette than by Friday night's glass of beer, even though evidence of use can be found in Monday's body fluid work-up.) Still another study found "the net productivity effect for all marijuana users (both those who engaged in long-term or on-the-job use and those who did not) was positive."27 If drug use typically caused employees to become unsatisfactory, drug testing would be unnecessary: An incompetent worker can be disciplined or fired regardless of drug use. The purpose of workplace drug-testing is to target satisfactory employees for punishment. The purpose is to identify ordinary people who can be victimized. Urine tests fulfill the same function that the yellow star did for Jews in Nazi Germany, identifying them for ostracism because nothing about their appearance or behavior differed from that of other ordinary people.http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0275950425/Cannabisnews/Drug Warriors & Their Prey, Richard Miller, 1996, pg. 4 [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by shishaldin on August 29, 2000 at 10:11:47 PT "high" tech, indeed! tom's comment regarding high tech workers in the Silicon Alley goes for the Silicon Valley as well. If they piss tested my company, they'd lose a VP (of Engineering, no less) and 80% of the programmers. These are bright, hard-working, and creative people. Looks like Coonce and his ONDCP circle-jerk buddies are trying to prey on ANYBODY'S fears. Next up: Legalizing drugs will make the DOW drop 8,000 points, cause baldness, deplete the ozone layer, AND make gasoline go to $5.00 a gallon. How completely absurd. Your tax dollars at work. It should make all of you pissed off. I am....peace and good health to all,Shishaldin [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by tom on August 29, 2000 at 09:08:15 PT "high" tech "...high-tech companies will not be able to staff their payrolls with qualified workers. "I work for a dot-com company in Silicon Alley in New York City. There were recently rumors of drug tests but I think senior management realized that if they made everyone in our technical department take a pee test, they'd have to fire entire sections and 90% of their best programmers and engineers. This guy's ignorance makes me laugh. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Kanabys on August 29, 2000 at 07:50:26 PT My greatest fear..... has always been that too many voters will believe what idiots like this coonce dude says. I hope I'm wrong. If 51% of the voters were as intelligent as the ones who post here, the WoSD would be mostly over in November. Let's hope my fears are unwarranted. Peace to all [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by dddd on August 29, 2000 at 01:18:37 PT WOW Just returned from out of town,and am astounded by the bunch-o-comments that Willy Coonce inspired. It does seem as if there has been an abundance of anti-drug psycho-babble articles like this lately. I'm quite confident in assuming they are brought to us by the ondcp,and their cohorts,in a desperate counter-attack designed to regain lost ground amongst public opinion. It is significant to note that almost all of these abrasive "info-mercial articles",are authored by desparados who are quite likely compensated handsomely with our tax dollars. If they are compensating magazines,newspapers,television,etc..for nebulous anti-drug propoganda,then I dont see why they would not be able to compensate the authors of this type of rubbish,,once again,with public money. It is truly disturbing to think that our twisted,and dimented government,has somehow become distorted,and deviated to the point of getting away with forcing us to sponsor such abominations........ddddisgusted [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by freedom fighter on August 29, 2000 at 00:24:48 PT Look and see where the insanity comes from! pt,2 Don't Legalize DrugsIt's a three legged "stool" alright"exceptionally rabid prohibitionist bilge"One more thingpropaganda to the maxI'm still hopefulOn a different level(don'cha we sound so poetic?} Best way to end the Drug WarI would but can'tVOTE FOR HARRY BROWNE!!!!!Trust the Government; We're Here to HelpLook who wrote this crapLaw EnforcementWhat planet IS this guy on? (Send the Gen. there!)Sure has been a rash of propaganda lately...Education & PrisonsDon'cha love the internet? :):)\/Peace be with everyone [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Frank on August 28, 2000 at 20:16:08 PT It's a three legged "stool" alright This is the biggest bunch of stool I have ever read. This is the type of stool that you Flush down the toilet. I have no idea where these nuts come from and how do they get into positions of authority? It seems like the government is full stool these days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Sledhead on August 28, 2000 at 19:50:16 PT "exceptionally rabid prohibitionist bilge" It's no coincidence that this occurs. This is an orchestrated media campaign by the ONDCP, McCaf, & his cronies. They planned this at meetings earlier this year & it consists of all the anti-drugs, writing OPED's & LTE's in order to blunt the effect that groups, etc. like Cannabis News & MAP were having on the media.Keep writing the truth & write it often, not just for those who agree with us, but for those who may never have heard the truth about current US drug policy.We wanted a debate, so it's now are never. Give them their debate & make it stick.Write your own letters & OPED's. It works....Keep the faith,SledheadVolunteer, Media Awareness Project [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 28, 2000 at 19:12:59 PT One more thing The old expression the Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence is true! Take the fence down and the Grass won't seem that important. No pun intended! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by howard on August 28, 2000 at 19:10:35 PT: propaganda to the max There definately seems to have been alot of exceptionally rabid prohibitionist bilge in the print media lately (btw-thanks FoM for your tireless efforts in showing how us all how truly insane things really are!) What does it all mean? Is the wacky General up to more tricks? Are the Anti's getting so desperate that they feel they need to REALLY go on the offensive in the newspapers. I think so. They are reacting to the real truth about the failed drug war which can, thankfully, be found on the internet (they haven't been able to censor us....yet!) Also, we are seeing more and more public sentiment slowly turning away from this so called drug war. They are losing ground in the public arena and now must go on the attack. And they are attacking BIG TIME. He is a General who takes pleasure in slaughtering children, after all. Keeping people from learning the truth (which really should be common sense to any reasonably intelligent, freedom loving person) is paramount to continue their evil plan. The truth really is freedom and they know this. Thus, we are beginning to see some truly massive propaganda efforts. The only question is how effective will these efforts be. How much of the sheep-like public will they continue to deceive and how many will blindly follow?PS- Any cannabis lover who votes for either Dubya or Bore should be penalized by being allowed only to smoke the worst schwag shake for a period of at least 4 years. Both of these "men" (lying, hypocritical bastards, that is) will only continue, and even, escalate the war on cannabis and cannabis users. Don't be fooled. As a longtime Democrat, I can tell you that the Dem. party isn't what it used to be. That's why I'm voting for Ralph Nader. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 28, 2000 at 19:07:52 PT I'm still hopeful Just think how much energy we all could put into something else if the drug laws were finally changed. I have always been an activist type and I would move on to something else. We sure don't lack things that need to be done. I would enjoy helping people that wanted off hard drugs to get off them. My own way from my own experience too. I know my way works and their way ( drug testing ) doesn't. Our day will come!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by MikeEEEEE on August 28, 2000 at 18:58:15 PT On a different level freedom fighter, it sure does look like a lot of confusion.No drug war = no confusion.Drug war = confusion.Yes, I get it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by afsdr3fdsc on August 28, 2000 at 18:48:07 PT Best way to end the Drug War The best way to end the Drug War is to challenge the law. The VAST majority of people arrested for drug possession never challenge it. But if people start, judges and juries will quickly become tired. And eventually I believe a court will overturn these ridiculous laws.What we need is a national information campaign to let people know about their rights, that they should demand trial by jury and their rights as jurors (nullification). [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by freedom fighter on August 28, 2000 at 18:29:09 PT Look and see where the insanity comes from! Don't Legalize DrugsI would but can'tVOTE FOR HARRY BROWNE!!!!!Trust the Government; We're Here to HelpLook who wrote this crapLaw EnforcementWhat planet IS this guy on? (Send the Gen. there!)Sure has been a rash of propaganda lately...Education & PrisonsDon'cha love the internet? :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 28, 2000 at 18:15:52 PT I would but can't I wish I could vote for Harry Browne. He has very good ideas. I don't believe we can in our State. We need Campaign Finance Reform. I even hate to say that but to make this fair that's what we need or only those with lots of money will be able to buy air time to get their message to us. The Internet is changing things though!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Libertarian on August 28, 2000 at 18:09:18 PT VOTE FOR HARRY BROWNE!!!!! http://www.harrybrowne2000.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by independentthinker on August 28, 2000 at 17:09:13 PT Trust the Government; We're Here to Help I'll bet Mr. Coonce pines for the good old days when the public blindly ate what the government fed them. A few of his comments, enclosed by quotes, below, my comments after his."Drug education, treatment and law enforcement make up the "three-legged stool" that addresses the problem of drug use in America today. These efforts must be mutually supported, not only by the professionals who have expertise in these areas, but also by the media and the public." comment: I wasn't aware that it's the media's job to 'support' government initiatives. I thought their gig had something more to do with objective reporting."Drug use and drug addiction in America will increase substantially." (if drugs were decriminalized/legalized) comment: "Really? Check the numbers in Amsterdam. This doesn't seem to have happened. "Do we want our commercial pilots, heart surgeons, teachers, police officers and legislators to be incapacitated or impaired while carrying out their job duties? If drugs were legalized, workplace drug use restrictions would become moot." comment: Have alcohol 'use restrictions' become moot in the workplace? Aren't they still firing people for drinking on the job? Does this guy think we're simpletons?"What do parents do when their children announce they have made the personal decision to use drugs? Don't think for a minute that the solution here would be a minimum age restriction. The black market would prevail." comment: The black market already does prevail, Einstein. If kids want drugs, they'll find them, legal or not. "The highway carnage inflicted by drunk drivers will substantially increase by adding drug users into this mix. Additional costs and complications would accrue to our over-burdened criminal justice system." comment: Can you imagine all the stoners sitting on couches all over the place, daydreaming of the day when they'll be able to legally commit vehicular manslaughter, thanks to the decriminalization of dope. Enough said?"Drug treatment and education programs would be well-funded, but oxymoronic, in view of a legalized drug environment with no consequences." comment: Same alcohol paradigm, different verse. Are all alcohol treatment and education programs 'oxymoronic'?"Our public schools will continue to deteriorate, and high-tech companies will not be able to staff their payrolls with qualified workers. Our military strength and international leadership will be drastically weakened, as well." Ahem, well, I'm a network engineer. I think that makes me a qualified worker at a high tech company. Care to guess what my off-hours hobbies include? On the military strength thing, keep it illegal in the military, if you must. Keep doing the random testing that's been done for years. As for the weakening of our international leadership, I have no clue what he's talking about, but I'd like to buy some of the drugs he's on. In an America where drugs are legalized, either the government or private enterprise would supply the drugs... Either would be sued for product liability in a manner similar to the tobacco debacle, and more drug users will commit crimes to get money to buy drugs..." comment: Explain to me how Phillip Morris wouldn't just LOVE to diversify into marketing marijuana. It would be well-worth all the lawyers they could hire for potential lawsuits in exchange for a huge base of pot smokers who have been paying black market prices and would jump at the chance to pay $20 a pack or whatever to corporate America. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by MikeEEEEE on August 28, 2000 at 16:55:48 PT Look who wrote this crap Note: William R. Coonce is deputy director of the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking program.If you learn anything from this it's that this crap is what they brain wash into their own people, of course to justify their actions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by freedom fighter on August 28, 2000 at 15:58:29 PT Law Enforcement nothing more than a slave factory!You used to be a peace officerbut now you are just another slave masterWent to the court todayJudge was explaining that there is a work program that will pay 5 bucks an hour for those who choose the diverision program. A slave factory!My son wanted to plead guilty on the charge of possesion of pot. My son is being sentenced twice! Judge said he cannot get a driver license for 90 days and set the sentencing date for next month. This is the way our justice are treating the pot users. Judge asked if he wanted to go to diverision program and he said no! The judge seemed taken back! He knows!I just am praying my son does come out this and I admit that I am scared of what I might just do.Why do we even pretend there is any justice, freedom, and liberty? If our children are not getting it, how in the world can we stop this insanity? By refuting every stupid fool who think he can step on our faces with his rhetorics?I had enough of this rhetorics. My son smiled @ me when I said he is gonna have to stop smoking. He said when he has to take pee test, he is gonna tell the tester he is dirty. How's that for rhetoric? He is going to follow whatever the slave master tells him and he will come out smoking the herb! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on August 28, 2000 at 14:41:10 PT What planet IS this guy on? (Send the Gen. there!) >Drug education, treatment and law enforcement make up the "three-legged stool" that addresses the problem of drug use in America today.Uhhh, I think your stool is broken, Sir. Or were you referring to a different definition of "stool"?A more accurate definition of the three legs of the stool would be MISINFORMATION, INCARCERATION and TRASHED CIVIL RIGHTS.* Drug use and drug addiction in America will increase substantially. Do we want our commercial pilots, heart surgeons, teachers, police officers and legislators to be incapacitated or impaired while carrying out their job duties? If drugs were legalized, workplace drug use restrictions would become moot.Nonsense, of course. The majority of the users of our currently legal psychoactive drug, alcohol, do not use it in a way that it would impair their job performance. And of course drug use would be restricted at work - the only difference is we wouldn't have to have our bodies and 4th Amendment rights violated by mandatory peeing in a cup.* What do parents do when their children announce they have made the personal decision to use drugs? Don't think for aminute that the solution here would be a minimum age restriction. The black market would prevail.Where is this idiot? Is he even in touch with society or does he just sit in a hut down by the border all year to see if he can arrest some poor Mexican with a bag of cannabis? The black market prevails now!! Only under prohibition could a 9-year-old buy a joint or bag of coke. Drugs belong in a legally regulated market wit adult sales only, just like alcohol.* The highway carnage inflicted by drunk drivers will substantially increase by adding drug users into this mix. Additional costs and complications would accrue to our over-burdened criminal justice system. More prohibitionist scare tactics. And as for over-burdened justice systems, what about all the cases involving people growing or using a simple plant?* Drug treatment and education programs would be well-funded, but oxymoronic, in view of a legalized drug environment with no consequences.Of course drug treatment would still be there for those who need it, and a frank and objective drug education program (which DARE isn't) would let people make their own decisions on what substances they choose to use, IF ANY.He applies typical extremist tactics - if not total prohibition, then complete unregulated sales with "no consequences." Of course, that is not the answer and he knows that full well.>Either would be sued for product liability in a manner similar to the tobacco debacle, and more drug users will commit crimes to get money to buy drugs. Please don't suggest the federal government (i.e., taxpayers) provide the drugs free of charge!If companies do get sued, it's still better than what goes on now (drive-by shootings, kidnappings, gang warfare.) If drugs are regulated, their prices will be far lower, so addicts will not have to commit crimes as they do now.The taxpayers are providing the failed drug war free of charge, so what would be any different about them subsidizing addicts? The latter would reduce the crime rate AND the number of addicts!!>We should be open to "alternative" strategiesto add to this arsenal, as long as these proposals are designed to reduce drug use in America, not increase it. Other than legalization, what alternatives are there? Nuke drug users? Send them to Nazi-style camps where they are brainwashed with Nancy Reagan type slogans? (Actually, I shouldn't give these "humans" any ideas.)>Note: William R. Coonce is deputy director of the Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking program.Ohhh, that's it. We legalize the stuff, he's out looking for a job!!! That makes me the most sick about the whole thing - people are making "honest" livings by ruining the lives of others.These people need to go off to some island and create their own drug-free society (and make Barry Mc their president - errr, Czar!) instead of meddling with our lives. Of course, alcohol and tobacco will be plentiful on their lovely, razor-wire-rimmed police island. Other jack-booted thugs may join them as they please. (can't leave though!!) Then, they can smoke and drink themselves to death! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Dan B on August 28, 2000 at 14:40:32 PT: Sure has been a rash of propaganda lately... William R. Coonce believes that the best way to get people to take responsibility for their actions is to have the government take responsibility for their actions. This is the beginning of the end of his arguments. He provides no evidence to support any of his claims; he just makes claims and expects everyone to believe them. We have evidence to refute all of his assertions:* To say that drug use will increase substantially as a result of legalization is to say that nobody in America has any sense of personal responsibility and, given the opportunity, everyone will use drugs as much as possible. The truth is that in places where drugs have been legalized or decriminalized, abuse of drugs decreases, along with violent crime. * What will parents do? Why should parents have to depend on someone else to force their children to make good decisions? Does this idiot realy believe that all parents are incapable of instructing their children without government intervention?* Marijuana users are safer drivers than those who use no drugs or alcohol at all. I believe that legalizing marijuana will substantially decrease the risk of traffic fatalities because many would choose marijuana over alcohol as their drug of choice (I know I would).* If there are no consequences to using drugs without drug laws in place, why bother to have drug laws in place? Of course their are consequences to abusing drugs, just as there are consequences to excessive gambling or habitual unprotected sex. Education and treatment work in these areas; what makes drug addiction so different?And so on....In short, this doomsday approach to answering the question of legalization is not only moronic, it is totally lacking of any substantive foundation. It is propaganda wrapped in lies, nothing more. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Pancho on August 28, 2000 at 14:39:57 PT Education & Prisons Of course this bufoon doesn't want drugs legalized,because then he would probably lose his job. As for giving our kids the best public or private education;how is that supposed to happen when we build around 7 new prisons for every 1 university?Go back to your doughnuts pal. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: