FRISCOITE FORMS DRUG POLICY FORUM

When Frisco resident Frank Smith first came to Colorado from Texas, he
wanted to get involved in our state Drug Policy Forum. When he found out
Colorado did not have a Drug Forum, he decided to start one.

"I have been involved in the Drug Policy Forum in Texas for about three
years," Smith said. "But, my children all grew up in the 60s and because
marijuana was illegal, they were kicked out of school and sent to jail - it
just caused a lot of problems."

When marijuana became illegal in 1937, Smith did not even know what
marijuana was. In 1999, he feels the drug is too readily available.

"I have heard high school students say that marijuana is easier to get than
alcohol," Smith said.

The objective of the organization is to regulate marijuana; to change drug
policy so marijuana will he handled similar to the way alcohol and
cigarettes are regulated.

Capt. Derek Woodman of the Summit County Drug Task Force thinks differently,
he said, "Alcohol is the most widely abused drug in the U.S. It is very
regulated and very taxed and has been taken out of the hands of
bootleggers."

It is difficult to estimate the number of pushers, as well as the number of
people over 21 years of age who will contribute to minors- and many people
have different theories.

"We do not want to make marijuana available to young kids, but if the drug
is regulated, it will be out of the hands of pushers, and less available to
kids," Smith said. "We are all working toward the same end - to keep
children from getting addicted to drugs. So we are going to try to change
drug policy in America;" Smith said.

There are about 20 states in America that have active Drug Policy Forum
groups; who are trying to change the drug policies.

"We do not believe in the gateway, stepping stone theory," Smith said. "If
marijuana was legal and handled, pushers would not give it to young people.
It is held through illegal channels and when kids go through pushers, the
pushers say, 'I have something better."'

Smith believes that the policy on illegal drugs is not the only policy that
is corrupt. He said, "Marijuana has been around for thousands of years for
medicinal purposes and it is crazy that physicians will not provide
marijuana for medical reasons, but they can provide morphine."