#237 Let The Voters Decide

Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002
Subject: # 237 Let The Voters Decide

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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #237 Mar 14, 2002

LET THE VOTERS DECIDE

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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #237 Mar 14 2002

As many readers already know, the triumvirate of Peter Lewis, George
Soros and John Sperling have extended their plans for helping Right To
Treatment ballot initiatives. They are targeting Nov 2002 for voters
in Ohio, Michigan and Florida to vote on their proposal, a similar
version of which has already passed in California and Arizona.

As the petition signature drive heats up with less than eight months
remaining before Election Day, the opponents of the trio’s proposal
are speaking up, and their make-up is predictable.

Police officers, district attorneys and governor appointed Drug Czars
are all bemoaning that allowing the initiatives to pass will ‘de-facto
legalize all drug use’. Further they suggest that it tantamount to a
‘free pass’ through the justice system while ignoring the fact that
the accused will be required to complete a court supervised treatment
program with the threat of jail constantly in play.

The Columbus Dispatch had a lengthy piece this past Sunday that
featured quotes from both sides with a clear lean to opponent’s
quotes. Further they ignored the already proven revelations from last
fall that demonstrate direct and illegal tactics being taken by Gov
Taft in Ohio, such as using government offices and resources to
directly oppose a constitutional amendment proposal.

Thanks for your effort and support.

WRITE A LETTER TODAY

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

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CONTACT INFO
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2002 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact: letters@dispatch.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
US OH: Supporters Ready To Press Plan For Drug Offenders
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n444/a11.html
Newshawk: Mary Jane Borden
Pubdate: Sun, 10 Mar 2002
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2002 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact: letters@dispatch.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Alan Johnson
Cited: Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicyalliance.org/
Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies http://www.drugreform.org/ohio
Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association http://www.iwaynet.net/~opaa/

SUPPORTERS READY TO PRESS PLAN FOR DRUG OFFENDERS

They Are Rich Beyond Imagination, Mega-Philanthropists With A Bagful Of
Eccentricities.

Although Peter B. Lewis, George Soros and John G. Sperling don’t share
political or personal philosophies, they are united on one front: They
passionately oppose the war on drugs — “a grave injustice in American
society.”

Since 1996, the well-heeled trio have used their deep pockets to fund
a national crusade to reform drug laws. Using 19 ballot issues in 11
states from California to Maine, the three have fought drug laws —
and won 17 times.

Now their campaign — this time in the form of a proposal to
substitute treatment for jail time for nonviolent, first- and
second-time drug offenders — has come to the heartland. The issue,
which would appropriate $38 million in state money annually for drug
treatment, is likely to be on the Nov. 5 ballot as a proposed
amendment to the Ohio Constitution.

The campaign is expected to gain visibility this week as supporters
seek backing from minority lawmakers and leaders.

Advocates of the proposal contend that Ohio taxpayers would save $85
million annually by diverting more than 4,600 people to treatment
programs instead of jail.

Voters in Florida, Michigan and Washington, D.C., might see similar
ballot issues this fall.

The Ohio proposal could turn into a donnybrook because Gov. Bob Taft,
most of Ohio’s political establishment and the law-enforcement
community vigorously oppose it.

“It’s just not necessary,” said Taft, labeling the proposal “de-facto
legalization, not just of marijuana but a whole range of other drugs
— crack and cocaine and LSD.”

(SNIP) The remainder of this article can be viewed by clicking the
URL above.

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SAMPLE LETTER (SENT)

NOTE: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it at
least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of
the same letter and so that the original author receives credit for
his/her work.

To the editors of Columbus Dispatch:

Here in Florida we watch with interest the attempt by Ohio citizens to
change current drug policy to one that favors health care alternatives
over strict criminal sanctions. This over the overt and also covert
opposition of Governor Taft.

In our own state, Governor Jeb Bush raises similar complaints though
refusing to speak publicly on the matter since his daughter’s arrest
in January on felony drug charges and her subsequent direct routing
into drug treatment rather than jail. As in Ohio, Bush and Florida
Drug Czar Jim McDonough make the astounding suggestion that this is
simply a ‘ploy’ which will lead ‘to the full legalization of ALL drugs”

Hyperbole at best, deliberate falsehoods at worst. Statements like
these are patently absurd since they imply there are a majority of
citizens and/or legislators who favor full legalization. If this is so
then current legislators are even more out of the loop regarding
public sentiment than initially suggested.

Quite simply what Peter Lewis and his associates are doing is forcing
the legislatures of both states to hear exactly what the voting public
thinks. And those who might complain about the out-of-state funding
can take solace in knowing that the White House Drug Czar’s office has
an annual advertising budget that is literally 60 times the size of
the initiative’s backers,, and it’s theme is to keep laws just the way
they are now.

It’s time to let the voters examine both sides and make their own
choice.

Respectfully submitted,

Stephen Heath Drug Policy Forum of Florida Clearwater FL
http://www.drugsense.org/dpffl/

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Prepared by Stephen Heath DrugSense FOCUS Alert Specialist