Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jul 2003
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism)

AN ARGUMENT OF MASS DECEPTION

Methamphetamine is a nasty, vicious drug. It's dangerous to make it. It's a
pollutant. But it is not a chemical weapon of mass destruction.

Prosecutors who pretend it is are twisting the meaning of state law beyond
recognition.

The first to try it is the district attorney of Watauga County, but others
apparently think he's come up with a nifty gimmick and are itching to use it
themselves.

As for Roy Cooper, the state's attorney general, let's just say he has not
yet taken a forthright stand on the issue. He instructed his spokesman to
say merely that Mr. Cooper "supports efforts to use the laws of our state to
protect North Carolinians from potential terrorist activities and dangerous
drug production."

Well, that's a comfort.

But how about using the laws of our state as they were intended to be used?

We have statutes aimed (however futilely) at discouraging the production,
use and sale of illicit drugs. We have statutes aimed at stopping terrorists
from making chemical and nuclear weapons; and appropriately enough, those
laws carry much heavier sentences than those aimed at drugs.

The Watauga D.A., a creative if disingenuous gent, is now arguing that drugs
are chemical weapons so he can seek longer sentences than legislators
intended.

What's next: Indicting people for rolling cigarettes? Nicotine is an
addictive drug, cigarette smoke is lethal and cigarettes start fires. So
aren't they weapons of mass destruction?

Presumably a judge will stop this nonsense eventually. In the meantime, a
few DA's preparing for the next election can strike heroic poses. And Roy
Cooper, also preparing for the next election, can keep trying to hide under
the bed.
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MAP posted-by: Josh