VOTERS REJECT PIPE DREAM

Sunday's Forum column "Marijuana policy reform crossroads"
(Commentary) should have been headlined "Marijuana policy reform dead
end." Rob Kampia (chairman of the Marijuana Policy Project), Peter
Lewis (the millionaire founder of Progressive Auto Insurance who
bankrolled the Nevada legalization effort) and their band of drug
legalizers met the ultimate obstacle in Nevada: public education.

After parents, grandparents and law enforcement members networked to
help the public understand the dangers of marijuana use and began
carrying around 3-ounce containers of parsley to show what 3 ounces of
marijuana would look like (3 ounces of parsley fills a 1-gallon Ziploc
bag), the legalizers' initiative took a dive.

White House Drug Policy Director John Walters responded to the call
for help and went to Nevada to do what the charter of his office
directs - make every effort to stop illegal drugs. The stature of his
office brought needed media attention to help educate and protect the
state's residents.

Mr. Kampia brags that his side won 39 percent of the vote. We prefer
to say they lost by a 61 percent majority. Mr. Kampia's side spent an
estimated $2 million for its loss. Those opposing the bill scraped
together about one-tenth that amount. The legalizers use smoke and
mirrors to mislead the public by saying, "Hundreds of thousands are
arrested for simple possession annually." Statistics in Florida
indicate that of 74,000 inmates in the Florida prison system, 107 were
charged with "possession." Each one of those 107 was plea-bargained
down from a more serious charge.

Mr. Kampia's group claims AIDS patients need marijuana. The facts are
that marijuana is harmful to the immune system and AIDS is a disease
of that system. The National Institutes of Health states: "People with
AIDS and other diseases of the immune system should avoid marijuana
use" (NIH publication No. 98-4036). The Supreme Court ruled
unanimously, "There is no medical necessity defense for marijuana use."

This time legalizers' lies backfired, and the voters let them know
it.

It is outrageous that drugs are so rampant in our country that
schoolchildren are forced to pass through metal detectors and endure
searches by drug-detecting dogs. Additionally, Congress recently
passed a law allowing random drug testing of every student who
participates in extracurricular activities. The Supreme Court already
has ruled that testing is allowed.

I am not angry because these protective measures are being used. They
are vital to students' safety. The reason for my outrage is that I
have watched for 25 years as the drug-legalization movement repeatedly
has told young people, "There is no evidence that even those few young
people who smoke a great deal of marijuana necessarily hurt themselves
- - academically or otherwise." They have held marijuana smoke-ins at
which children as young as 12 have been filmed being taught how to
roll marijuana cigarettes. Now armed with lots of cash, these same
legalizers are marching from state to state to weaken all kinds of
drug laws.

Nonpunitive student drug testing may be the most positive anti-drug
legislation we have seen. Parents, grandparents, principals and
superintendents should begin cooperating to get it started. Nonusing
students deserve to be educated in a drug-free environment, and those
already using drugs can be pulled back into the mainstream.

Parents who have lost children to drugs regularly tell us, "Because
lying is a major part of drug use, my child was using for over two
years before we figured out what was happening."

JOYCE NALEPKA
President
Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge
Washington