METH, NOT POT, IS REAL DRUG PROBLEM

A survey conducted by the National Association of Counties polled law
enforcement agencies in 500 counties in 45 states. Fifty-eight percent of
those agencies ranked methamphetamine as their worst illegal drug problem.

If a majority of local law enforcement officials say methamphetamine is the
biggest illegal drug problem they face, why is the national drug use
prevention effort focused most on marijuana?

The reason is job security.

Back in the A90s, the Drug Enforcement Agency and Office National Drug
Control Policy got failing grades by the Government Accounting Office
because they were unable to show that they were accomplishing anything. The
White House set a new goal for the ONDCP: reducing (by specific
percentages) the number of illegal drug users in the United States.

Since there are more marijuana users than users of all other illicit drugs
combined, the ONDCP focused their resources on pot smokers in order to
inflate their numbers and keep their $11 billion a year budget intact.

This is a classic case of "let's look like we're doing something" when in
reality, nothing is being done.They don't want to actually solve the drug
problem because, let's face it, if they reached their stated objectives
they would be out of a job.

Maybe it is time for states to craft their own drug policies. Let's lead
the way in Alabama by taxing, regulating and controlling marijuana so our
cops will be able to focus their very limited resources on real problems.

Loretta Nall

Alabama Marijuana Party

Montgomery 36109