cannabisnews.com: Prop. 36: Bad Prescription Prop. 36: Bad Prescription Posted by FoM on November 05, 2000 at 18:23:14 PT By Gregg Bender Source: Bakersfield Californian I have been a police officer for 27 years (12 years in narcotics). During my career, I have dealt with thousands of drug addicts and testified as an expert in state and federal courts. I know addicts must commit crimes on a daily basis to feed their habits. The majority of these crimes, ranging from robbery to petty theft, are never solved. Locally, addicts are responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in property loss. Passage of Proposition 36 will only increase losses to law-abiding citizens. I am not opposed to drug treatment; just the irresponsible approach taken by Proposition 36. A recent letter in The Californian proposed drug treatment for first time offenders who possess drugs for their personal use. The writer was apparently unaware of existing statewide policy. Currently these offenders are, almost without exception, given "drug diversion" -- a treatment program that provides counseling and support. Upon successful completion of drug diversion, criminal charges are dismissed. Under Proposition 36, offenders would have three civil cases before any criminal action could be taken. This would leave addicts on the street, free to re-offend. Even if incarceration does cost more, it seems a worthwhile investment in the safety of our community and our families. Gregg Bender, Bakersfield Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA) Author: Gregg Bender Published: November 5, 2000Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian. Address: PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440Contact: opinion bakersfield.com Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:California Campaign For New Drug Policyhttp://www.drugreform.org/Pass The Ballot, My Friend http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7395.shtmlProposition 36 Would Rehab The Drug War http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7549.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Proposition 36:http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Proposition+36 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Seth on November 06, 2000 at 13:03:13 PT: Prop 36 has changed the scope of debate Obviously, as none of the arguments against the proposition disagree with the basic premise, treatment instead of prison. That's totally different than the drug war party line of even a few years ago. We're winning, and I would like to thank the kind officer who wrote this article for pointing that out, even if he doesn't realize that's what he's done. CHAMP [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on November 06, 2000 at 11:24:27 PT Bad Boys Bad Boys whatchoogonnado? How come Cops is never around when the police raid the wrong house and gun down an innocent civillian? I do remember seeing someone on an episode of Cops once, in the nearly-ubiquitous once-per-episode role of Man With Green Baggie, who, once he realized he was busted, he took the opportunity to inform the cop - and the viewing audience! - how pot is harmless and the "war on drugs" is the real problem. And they let him have his say on national TV! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by dddd on November 06, 2000 at 01:08:39 PT czar-cult brainwash logic Once again,,another law enforcer embarasses himself with ill-informed and arrogant statements. The tragic part is that he seems to think that his own little world of experience,and the people he's busted,,is somehow a balanced view of the facts. It's sad to see such silly statements as; "I know addicts must commit crimes on a daily basis to feed their habits. The majority of thesecrimes, ranging from robbery to petty theft, are never solved. Locally, addicts are responsiblefor hundreds of thousands of dollars in property loss. " If the addicts are out there commiting crimes,but they are never solved,,how does he know the "addicts" commited them? This article is so curiously strange,that I once again smell the likelyhood of the czars office as the source.I hate to think that there are law enforcement personnel that are this logically challenged. In a certain way,the misinformation provided by the czar,is quite paralell to cult brainwashing tactics.They have built a group of highly endoctrinated followers,around one term; "Drugs".From this point,all the propaganda is built around the undefined term,"drugs". It's sorta like the opposite of calling all beers "buds",???(huh?) Anyway,I still think this drug wars' designers,are guilty of conspiracy to cause the worst of hate crime groups within law enforcement,and the general public. TV shows like "COPS",and "Americas wildest police videos",have hosts that portray most of the bad guys as "drug crazed scum".The cops and swat teams are always portrayed as valiant heros battling depraved drug users,(and of course all drug users,are "dealers"). I can only imagine the huge check the czar sends FOX network for each episode of COPS.......dddd [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: