EXPERTS QUESTION JAIL FOR DRUG USERS

Law Enforcement Officials, However, Said Sometimes Arrests Are A Necessary Tool

Imprisoning drug users won't solve all the problems caused by illegal
drugs, experts said Tuesday at a drug policy forum held by Progressive Dane.

Law enforcement officers in the audience agreed but said arresting people
for drug possession is sometimes necessary.

"Just because enforcement alone is not the answer, I don't believe the
solution is to not have enforcement," said Lt. Brian Ackeret, head of the
Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force.

After 18 months of study, Progressive Dane, a liberal political party with
members on the Madison City Council and Dane County Board-- says police
should not arrest people for possessing marijuana on private property, let
medical marijuana users grow some plants, not prosecute those who call 911
for an overdose unless there's foul play and train police on the effects of
a drug conviction.

More than 75 people came to the Madison Municipal Building to hear those
and the party's other recommendations discussed Tuesday at the forum.

Speakers said spending more money on finding drug abusers and dealers and
imprisoning them hasn't decreased drug use.

"I think the drug war can be summed up in these two figures," said
psychologist Richard Althouse, chairman of practice standards of the
American Association for Correctional Psychology. "Currently, the
government spends $17 billion on the drug war and consumers spend $78
billion on those drugs the government doesn't want us to have."

After the forum, Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said police
in Dane County should ticket people who only possess a small amount of
marijuana.

"Effectively, we have decriminalization already," he said.

Madison Police Assistant Chief Noble Wray said marijuana enforcement is a
low priority for the department.

Blanchard said he hopes forum participants will support the county's drug
prevention and treatment efforts such as the drug court, where adults
without a history of violence can get minor drug charges dismissed if they
successfully complete a treatment or education program.

"Addiction itself is not a crime, and we should be able to use a
combination of criminal law and social work techniques to deal with these
people," Blanchard said.