MANY OHIOANS BACK DRUG PROPOSAL

Democrats back plan on sentencings while Republicans oppose it

Ohioans are leaning in favor of State Issue 1, a proposed constitutional
amendment that would provide the option of treatment instead of
incarceration for some nonviolent drug offenders.

The results of the first Dispatch Poll of 2002 show the proposal supported
by 43 percentage points to 37 percentage points.

Dispatch Poll results showed Democrats generally supported the issue, while
Republicans opposed it. Blacks backed the issue more strongly than whites.
And those with the highest income and education levels were most likely to
support the ballot issue.

The mail poll of 1,516 randomly selected registered Ohio voters was
conducted from Aug. 23 through Friday. It has a margin of sampling error of
plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

Several factors could have an impact on poll results, including the fact
that few people know much about the issue. There has been limited publicity
and no advertising by either side.

Further, The Dispatch used a summary of the amendment in conducting the
poll because the final wording that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot was
not available when the poll was prepared.

Finally, issues are notoriously difficult to predict -- and changes in
public opinion are much more fluid -- compared with candidate polling.

Issue 1 would change Ohio's constitution, not just state law, to require
the option of rehabilitation and treatment for first- and second-time,
nonviolent drug offenders who otherwise might be sent to jail. However,
offenders with multiple drug convictions could qualify for treatment
because the two-time limit applies after offenders are in the program and
not before.

If the issues passes, the state would be required to pay $19 million
upfront and $38 million annually for six years for treatment programs.

Three businessmen are the prime backers of the amendment -- George Soros,
an international philanthropist; Peter B. Lewis, head of Progressive
Insurance of Cleveland; and George Sperling, founder of the University of
Phoenix.

The issue is opposed by Gov. Bob Taft, as well as many judges,
law-enforcement personnel and drug and alcohol-treatment agency officials.

Poll respondent Ann Geis, 71, a retired registered nurse from Centerville
south of Dayton, said she opposes the issue based on her experience dealing
with people with drug problems.

"I saw where people came in two and three times for treatment. We'd hear
them talking about 'They needed a vacation,' so they came in for a month,"
Geis said. "We did not see that treatment really helped them. The person
has to be willing to give up their alcohol and drug habit."

Gail Harmon, 56, a retired postal worker from Allen County, said she
supports the issue.

"To me, that amendment is a tiny step in righting the situation," Harmon
said. "They're obsessed with this war on drugs . . . The war on drugs is
not working, just making more problems."

Harmon said legalizing drugs would solve the problem.

But Kenneth Grosser, 65, a retired Army major from North Ridgeville, west
of Cleveland, said drug users "ought to be taken out and shot -- and
barring that, put in the can forever.

"There is enough information in the media that should tell these people
that drugs are a downhill road. If they're stupid enough not to follow
those instructions, I can't believe in the long run they'll be good enough
citizens to help the state and the country"

Daniel Lewis, 73, a retired teacher from Lorain, said that he was
ambivalent about changing the constitution, but said that being arrested
for a small amount of drugs should not send someone to prison.

"There are people who have committed more heinous crimes don't spend that
much time there," Lewis said.

However, Lewis said he would not back treatment instead of jail for
multiple offenders.

Herbert Gross, 71, a retired psychologist from Riverlea, said treatment in
the long run is more effective than prison.

"I think particularly for first-time offenders for possession that is not
exactly what I see as a danger to the community," Gross said. "Jails are
already crowded. I'd rather reserve them for those who sell or are dangerous."