LEGALIZING DRUGS: REST OF STORY

Have you ever wondered why there have been so many drug legalization
efforts in various states recently? The answer may be connected to the
efforts of three wealthy individuals according to a research paper
published by the National District Attorneys Association.

The paper, prepared by Teresa P. Miranda, Policy Attorney for the NDAA,
states that propositions, proposals and legislation to legalize or
decriminalize controlled substances have been springing up all over the
country. Three American businessmen have largely bankrolled these efforts.

According to the NDAA, New York financier George Soros, Cleveland Insurance
executive Peter Lewis and John Sperling of Arizona, founder of the
for-profit University of Phoenix, have organized a political machine under
an umbrella group called the Campaign for New Drug Policies.

Prior to last November's elections, the trio had funded 19 initiatives in
states across the country attempting to loosen drug laws, and had only lost
twice. According to the NDAA, the movement is well funded and highly adept
at manipulating the media. In Arizona and California proponents from out of
state sources spent $1.4 million in each state.

The manipulation of the media may have its foundation in the promotion of
various myths about drugs. According to the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, there are several myths about drugs that have been making the rounds.

One myth that has been promoted is that marijuana is harmless. However, the
ONDCP maintains that as a factor in emergency room visits, marijuana has
risen 176 percent since 1994, now surpassing heroin. Its usage leads to
adverse affects on alertness, concentration, perception, coordination, and
reaction time. As much as 45 percent of nonalcohol impaired drivers have
tested positive for alcohol.

The idea that marijuana is not addictive has also been promoted. Yet, a
University of Mississippi study indicated it is much stronger and more
addictive than it was 30 years ago. Another study shows that of those who
try marijuana at least once, nearly one in 10 become dependent.

Proponents argue that marijuana and violence are not linked. However,
research shows a link between frequent marijuana use and increased violent
behavior, and youth who use marijuana weekly are nearly four times more
likely than nonusers to engage in violence.

Prosecutors are criticized with the claim that our prisons are filled with
non-violent, casual marijuana users. This claim ignores that overwhelmingly
drug users, especially marijuana users, are first treated. According to the
Federal Bureau of Prisons, those in state prisons across the country for
drug offenses are overwhelmingly drug dealers, as opposed to casual users.
The average amount of marijuana possessed by federal inmates for marijuana
possession is 90 pounds.

Those favoring marijuana legalization promote the position that marijuana
has medicinal value. However, according to the ONDCP, there is no research
that has demonstrated that smoked marijuana is helpful as medicine, but
that it does contain over 400 chemicals that can increase the risk of
cancer, lung damage and poor pregnancy outcomes.

Sometimes the Dutch are held up as an example of how well legalization of
marijuana can work. But, the ONDCP argues, the Dutch government is now
reconsidering its laws and policies because after coffee shops started
selling marijuana in small quantities, its use nearly tripled among 18-20
year olds. While our nation's cocaine consumption has decreased by 80
percent over the past 15 years, Europe's has increased.

The drug legalization effort may have received a set back from recent
elections. Last November the voters turned down an effort to legalize
possession of marijuana under a certain minimum amount in Nevada, a state
where prostitution and gambling are legal.

The ONDCP warns that no drug matches the threat posed by marijuana because
the addiction to marijuana by our youth exceeds their addiction rates for
alcohol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy and all other illegal
drugs combined. They point out that out of 16 million drug users in
America, about 77 percent use marijuana, and 60 percent of teenagers in
treatment have a primary marijuana diagnosis.

Dan Alsobrooks, NDAA president and a Tennessee prosecutor says, "We know
through overwhelming experience that a majority of the crimes in our
communities are drug related. Moreover, the crimes related to substance
abuse go far beyond mere drug possession -- they range from environmental
pollution to murder; they include gang wars to control drug markets;
methamphetamine manufacturing sites that are a biohazard and deaths caused
by drug-impaired drivers. Our communities are victimized daily by the
scourge of substance abuse."

Substance abuse may be the legacy of the baby-boomers. Coming of age in a
period of dissension, many experimented with illegal drugs. An acceptance
of drug usage has been passed down to subsequent generations, and manifests
itself in the form of lenient jury verdicts or legalization efforts. Now
that we know the rest of the story, what will we do?