THIS IS OHIO ON DRUGS

I always wondered whatever happened to the kids in junior high who sniffed
airplane glue and paint thinner. Now I know. They went into politics and
drafted Issue 1 on the Ohio Ballot this year.

Just take a look at the language of this state constitutional amendment to
coddle crackheads and dope addicts, and you have to wonder if the people
who dreamed it up have been working far too closely to uncapped bottles of
White-Out.

The first thing you notice is that it would cost taxpayers about $250
million over seven years to pay for treatment of drug offenders. Let me get
this straight: A state that can't even afford a real Democratic Party is
being asked to give $250 million to coke-snorters, smack-shooters and potheads?

It gets worse.

If it passes, repeat drug offenders with records as long as the chow line
at Lucasville Prison could suddenly be magically reformed into "first-time
offenders," eligible to dodge prison and take treatment.

That means prosecutors will lose their leverage to obtain plea bargains and
get street hustlers to roll over on the big dealers who poison our cities
and neighborhoods with drugs.

No drug testing is required to make sure they quit using drugs during
treatment.

And once they are "treated," they can have all their criminal records
sealed. What a deal. As the opponents point out, "School bus drivers, day
care workers, airline pilots, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, teachers or
construction workers would be able to conceal their drug offenses from
current and future employers."

There's even a poke in the bloodshot-eye for boozers. If Issue 1 passes, a
person busted for an alcohol-related crime could go to jail, while a junkie
who does the same crime on drugs would skip the slammer and be sent to
detention with a social worker.

The backers of Issue 1 say it would save $355 million in prison costs in
six years. But opponents say drug offenders account for only about 3
percent of prison inmates. Even if some money is saved after costs are
subtracted, it's a steep price to pay for a liberal "feel-good" policy.

In Cincinnati, drug pushers are taking over quiet family neighborhoods and
brazenly opening their "drug stores" in broad daylight. If Issue 1 passes,
busting their customers would be a waste of time.

Issue 1 is not decriminalization of "soft" drugs such as pot. It's a "Just
Say Yes" green light for traffic in hard drugs.

It gives criminals who thrive on the toxic drug culture a free pass. And
once it is approved, it cannot be changed or repealed without another
Constitutional Amendment.

Meanwhile, treatment spending is guaranteed - it has to be spent even if
Ohio can't afford to run schools and prisons.

Gov. Bob Taft is adamantly against Issue 1. His Democratic opponent, Tim
Hagen, is in favor.

It looks like Gov. Taft was doing his homework while other guys in junior
high were sniffing glue.