TREATMENT BEST PENALTY

May 8 - The War on Drugs stockpiles prisoners rather than treating the
problem, addiction.

Now a progressive law will open drug courts in three judicial districts,
following the solid success of the Denver Drug Court since 1994.

SB 163, sponsored by Sen. Jim Dyer and Rep. Russ George, was signed by Gov.
Bill Owens last Thursday and inspired by U.S. District Judge John Kane Jr.

Kane, whose crusade against the War on Drugs has gained national attention,
wrote a column for The Denver Post that caught Dyer and George's eye. They
asked to meet with him and soon were convinced something could be done.

Now it will. If the new drug courts are remotely as effective as Denver's,
addicts will be rehabilitated, drug crime will be reduced and prisons won't
be as crowded. Plus, plenty of money will be saved by forgoing prison in
favor of treatment.

"I hope, from this, some lives will be saved," says Dyer. "We'll have some
productive citizens instead of people sitting in a cell."

We're confident he'll be proven correct. At least one district to get a drug
court must be in a rural area, and one must be west of the Divide. Districts
will apply for the courts, and money will come from drug offender
surcharges, not taxpayers.

"Most drug-related problems are an addiction issue," notes George. "If
you'll use the power of the system to help (addicts) save themselves, you
save a soul and you save a whole lot of problems for society." Dyer and
George hope the courts' success will spur expansion statewide.

Kane's influence is expanding nationally. He just won the Drug Policy
Foundation's Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for "working within official
institutions during those times when extremist pressures dominate government
policies." We're thrilled by Colorado's newest policy. We salute Dyer and
George for recognizing a solid solution and having the courage to propel it
into law.