COMMITTEE COMBATS DRUG EFFORTS

Boise Mayor Brent Coles and a committee made up mostly of law enforcement
officials challenged Idaho city leaders Wednesday to work to stop efforts
to legalize marijuana before they become legislative or election issues.

The committee, which Coles said has no official name, has been preparing to
launch the "Don't Sign On" anti-marijuana law reform for about 18 months,
Coles said.

Coles and law enforcement officials made their pitch at a seminar during
the annual Association of Idaho Cities conference now under way at the
Nampa Civic Center.

"We know we are the next target," Idaho State Police Deputy Director Glenn
Ford told about 60 assembled city officials.

He pointed to recent successful campaigns in other western states --
Oregon, California, Colorado and Nevada among them -- to legalize at least
some element of marijuana consumption or cultivation.

"We want to fire the first shot," Ford said.

It will be difficult for some to resist putting legalization of
recreational, industrial or medical uses of cannabis sativa -- including
the far-less-potent variety know as hemp -- up for a vote of the people,
because having such a vote would seem to be the American way, said Suzanne
Burton, Coles' administrative assistant.

"Be politically incorrect," Burton said.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency representative Larry Hedberg presented video
and statistical evidence of how marijuana law reform organizers and
financiers have come out on the winning side of popular votes in Arizona
and California.

Their tactics have included what he called "very expensive, prime-time
media blitzes" that bowl over ill-prepared opposition with "half-truths."

"You're it, ladies and gentlemen," Coles told seminar participants. "You
have to get this started in your community."

An anti-drug legalization video and a book of related data to refute
legalization arguments were handed out to seminar participants.

"You'll notice this material is not copyrighted," ISP Maj. Dan Charboneau
said. "Copy it, distribute it, talk about it in your home town."

Middleton City Councilman Clair Tepfer said he intends to do just that.

"I worked hard on the 'Enough is Enough' (anti-drug) campaign," Tepfer
said. "It seems this is at least as important."

The Idaho Statesman For more information:

Additional information about the "Don't Sign On" anti-marijuana campaign is
available through Boise Mayor Brent Coles' office, 150 N. Capitol Blvd., or
by calling 384-4422; and from the Association of Idaho Cities, 3314 Grace
St., Boise, or by calling 344-8594.

Note: Boise's Coles, others don't want reform of marijuana laws.