Pubdate: Sun, 05 May 2002
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Stephen Heath
Note: The writer is with Drug Policy Forum of Florida.

DRUG POLICY

Gov. Jeb Bush put on a nice, weepy stage job while speaking to attendees at 
the Florida Drug Policy Summit. Though we may empathize with the pain of 
having a family member who has drug problems, we find it difficult to 
muster sympathy for Bush's plight.

While Noelle is whisked from a Tallahassee jail to a posh treatment 
facility within hours of her arrest, we observe tens of thousands of 
Floridians who will be arrested this year on nonviolent drug-possession 
charges. These unfortunates will be shoved into the county jail and state 
prison system.

Bush and his drug czar, James McDonough, have stated that more than 80 
percent of prison inmates are in need of drug treatment, yet the governor 
had no qualms about eliminating next year's in-prison drug treatment 
funding this past January. The governor and his czar have stated for the 
past three years that treatment funding is much smarter than continuing to 
feed the insatiable jail and prison industry, and then they wage a 12-month 
war against a proposed ballot initiative that would allow all Floridians 
the right to drug treatment like Bush's daughter is now enjoying.

Being a male who enjoys smoking marijuana, I realize changing my name to 
Noelle might be silly. However, I am giving serious consideration to having 
the court make me a Bush. In case of future arrest, perhaps then I would 
merit tears from the governor as well.

Stephen Heath, Clearwater
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