OHIO DRUG PLAN ABSURD

http://www.news-register.net/ ^ | 25 August 2002 | Sunday News-Register

[JediGirl]

A proposal likely to be on the November election ballot should be rejected by Ohio voters, because it virtually raises a white flag in the war against drugs.

The measure, set forth as a proposed constitutional amendment as a result of a statewide petition drive, probably will be labeled as State Issue I. It would allow people convicted of using illegal drugs - even repeat offenders - to demand that judges send them to drug treatment programs instead of jail. In such cases, judges would be permitted to order treatment for no more than 18 months, followed by a maximum of 90 days of court supervision.

Adding insult to injury, the ballot initiative would require that Ohio spend $247 million on drug treatment programs through the 2009 fiscal year.

Judges should have the discretion to provide treatment instead of jail for some drug offenders. They should not be required to do so. Ohioans should reject Issue I.

[JediGirl]

Yeah, jail for addicts. That's the perfect cure.

[JediGirl]

bump

[headsonpikes]

What kind of danged honeymoon is this???

Jeez, get a life! LOL! ;^)

[JediGirl]

LOL! I'm not on a honeymoon! We be broke f00!

[robertpaulsen]

Yeah Jedi, when I said I wouldn't pick on you I thought you'd be off the air for a while.

And Ohio might wait until Winter then just burn the $247M to keep warm for all the good it would do as a drug treatment plan.

[Dakmar]

You're right about that. They'll spend 246 million on pot smokers who don't require treatment, but are placed there so politicians can thump their chests and talk about how they are winning the drug war.

[be131]

A proposal likely to be on the November election ballot should be rejected by Ohio voters, because it virtually raises a white flag in the war against drugs.

That's a great reason to support the proposal!

[caisson71]

I agree with you, jail wouldn't do them any good. Repeat offenders should be SHOT!!

[The Other Harry]

And Ohio might wait until Winter then just burn the $247M to keep warm for all the good it would do as a drug treatment plan.

And how much do you suppose it costs to but them in jail?

[CheezyD]

That's a great reason to support the proposal!

Agreed!

[Dakmar]

Does that go for people breaking speed limit laws too, since they are about a trillion times more likely to injure or kill someone than is a person who is smoking pot in their own living room?

[caisson71]

Get real!

[Dakmar]

I am one hundred percent real. Perhaps you should consider relinquishing some part of your drug free utopian police state fantasy.

[willyone]

Why? No one is demanding that repeat drunks be shot. As long as you stay home and do not drive who cares. Prohibition of alcohol did not work. The same with drugs. Doe's not make me happy but the cure is worse than the disease.

[robertpaulsen]

I doubt these offenders were just smoking dope in their living rooms. Ohio has very lenient pot laws:

Possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana is a citable offense only, with a fine of $100. No criminal record is created by such citation. Possession of 100 grams or more is punishable by a fine of up to $250. For possession of 200 grams or more, the penalty increases to a possible sentence of 6 months - one year in jail.

You try to make it sound so innocent. These guys are either repeat offenders or dealers -- lock 'em up.

[steve50]

The main goal of the ballot issue is to do away with the drug courts. Makes it harder for them to let the annointed ones children go to club rehab while those who can't afford it go straight to jail. I favor the issue.

[SkyRat]

You try to make it sound so innocent. These guys are either repeat offenders or dealers -- lock 'em up.

What exactly have they done?

[pops88]

Somebody needs a reality check. After years of working in an inter-city hospital on the edge of a ghetto, there is no way you can convince me that the crack dealers or users are going to benefit from rehab. At least in prison they might learn a useful skill and become employable.

[robertpaulsen]

They have "exactly" broken Ohio laws.

[SkyRat]

At least in prison they might learn a useful skill and become employable.

Do you know how slim that chance is?