News (Media Awareness Project) - US NY: Pub LTE: Drug War, A View |
| Title: | US NY: Pub LTE: Drug War, A View |
| Published On: | 1999-11-15 |
| Source: | Ogdensburg Advance News (NY) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 15:40:15 |
DRUG WAR: A VIEW
To the Editor:
When is the Ogdensburg Journal going to listen to what is being said. Its
time to realize its not Pro-Drug, its Anti-Drug War. (Legislators
Ignoring Sheriff, Ogdensburg Advance News, Sunday October 31, 1999.) Why
must anyone assume that a change to current drug policy is an endorsement
of irresponsible behavior? We all want drugs less available to our kids,
not more! Lets control them, Prohibition makes them more available.
I dont think the legislature is getting any pressure from anti-drug war
people, They are reading it from all the publications that are coming out
(almost weekly).
Two forums in November with Gov. Gary Johnson on the failed drug war policy.
Forums in November in Washington D.C. with college student unions on the
failed drug war policies. They dont understand why a student arrested for
marijuana , loses grants and some one out of prison after armed robbery or
rape can get grants!
The National Association of Public Health Policy (NAPHP), October 21,1999,
Drug War $150 Billion Failure.
May 1999, poll conducted by Zogby International, New Yorkers wouldnt
consider a politician soft on crime for voting to reform drug sentencing
laws, by a 2-1 ratio. 64% would back legislators, 31% would not, 5% undecided
October 10,1999 Seattle, Washington Gov. George W. Bush, I back a states
right to decide whether to allow medical use of marijuana. Maine just
passed medical marijuana.
Could the Drug War be trumped up in St.Lawrence County? I refer to the
article of Sunday, September 19,1999; Pot Harvest Hits $40 Million In
Seized marijuana plants So For This Year. It states that 40,000 marijuana
plants were seized . Sept. 19 is the 39th week of the year. That would
mean 1,000 plants seized per week. If you look up the seizures that made
the papers, they only totals about 800 plants, Why would 39,000 plants get
seized and not get coverage in the papers? 200 plants gets coverage on TV
news as well as coverage in local papers, with pictures.
Go back to Tuesday, January 14, 1997, reported 105,000 marijuana plants
seized for the year 1996. that is 2,000 per week all year . Seems to me
that would be headline news every week. If the seizures were just during
summer months that would mean 6,000 per week!
Now 1995 it get very confusing! In June, the drug task force states it has
seized 50,000 plants so far that year. Then in September they claim 40,000
plants. 10,000 less 3 months later? These reports all appear at budget
increase meetings.
The Ogdensburg Journal Tues. 21 Sept. 1999. (Sheriff: County Jail
Population going Up). In that article it states "there is a declining
overall crime rate in the county."
I dont think the legislators need any pressure from anybody or any group,
they can read! The drug war has been used for 27 years for budget
increases and votes, not facts.
Lawrence W. Seguin
Lisbon, New York
To the Editor:
When is the Ogdensburg Journal going to listen to what is being said. Its
time to realize its not Pro-Drug, its Anti-Drug War. (Legislators
Ignoring Sheriff, Ogdensburg Advance News, Sunday October 31, 1999.) Why
must anyone assume that a change to current drug policy is an endorsement
of irresponsible behavior? We all want drugs less available to our kids,
not more! Lets control them, Prohibition makes them more available.
I dont think the legislature is getting any pressure from anti-drug war
people, They are reading it from all the publications that are coming out
(almost weekly).
Two forums in November with Gov. Gary Johnson on the failed drug war policy.
Forums in November in Washington D.C. with college student unions on the
failed drug war policies. They dont understand why a student arrested for
marijuana , loses grants and some one out of prison after armed robbery or
rape can get grants!
The National Association of Public Health Policy (NAPHP), October 21,1999,
Drug War $150 Billion Failure.
May 1999, poll conducted by Zogby International, New Yorkers wouldnt
consider a politician soft on crime for voting to reform drug sentencing
laws, by a 2-1 ratio. 64% would back legislators, 31% would not, 5% undecided
October 10,1999 Seattle, Washington Gov. George W. Bush, I back a states
right to decide whether to allow medical use of marijuana. Maine just
passed medical marijuana.
Could the Drug War be trumped up in St.Lawrence County? I refer to the
article of Sunday, September 19,1999; Pot Harvest Hits $40 Million In
Seized marijuana plants So For This Year. It states that 40,000 marijuana
plants were seized . Sept. 19 is the 39th week of the year. That would
mean 1,000 plants seized per week. If you look up the seizures that made
the papers, they only totals about 800 plants, Why would 39,000 plants get
seized and not get coverage in the papers? 200 plants gets coverage on TV
news as well as coverage in local papers, with pictures.
Go back to Tuesday, January 14, 1997, reported 105,000 marijuana plants
seized for the year 1996. that is 2,000 per week all year . Seems to me
that would be headline news every week. If the seizures were just during
summer months that would mean 6,000 per week!
Now 1995 it get very confusing! In June, the drug task force states it has
seized 50,000 plants so far that year. Then in September they claim 40,000
plants. 10,000 less 3 months later? These reports all appear at budget
increase meetings.
The Ogdensburg Journal Tues. 21 Sept. 1999. (Sheriff: County Jail
Population going Up). In that article it states "there is a declining
overall crime rate in the county."
I dont think the legislators need any pressure from anybody or any group,
they can read! The drug war has been used for 27 years for budget
increases and votes, not facts.
Lawrence W. Seguin
Lisbon, New York
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