POLITICIANS POSTURING ON FAKE POT

I noticed an interesting pair of articles on Thursday's front page.
One of the articles was about K2. K2 is a marijuana-like herbal blend
that contains a synthetic version of the active ingredient of
marijuana. The article states that "police and school officials say
they are concerned about its unknown health risks". It also states
that State Rep. Ward Franz has introduced a bill to add the chemical
compound in K2 to Missouri's list of illegal drugs. He also said
"We've got to do something, because somebody's going to be using this,
driving a vehicle and killing somebody."

The parallels between the application of these quotes to K2 and
alcohol seem to be quite striking.

In the second article Missouri Chief Justice William Ray Price said
"Perhaps the biggest waste of resources in all of state government is
the over-incarceration of non-violent offenders and our mishandling of
drug and alcohol offenders. It is costing us billions of dollars and
it is not making a dent in crime. We may have been tough on crime, but
we have not been smart on crime." It seems like I read a story every
other week about a wreck caused by a previously cited drunk driver.

I am curious to see what Mr. Ward proposes in his bill. Would it be
illegal to drive under the influence? Like alcohol. Would you have to
be a certain age to purchase K2? Like alcohol. Would it be legal to
possess K2? Like alcohol. And finally, would his bill have any teeth
so it would actually do some good (I hope so), or is he just posturing?

Thomas W. Allhoff

Rock Hill