Pubdate: Fri, 06 Feb 2004
Source: Maneater, The (Columbia, MO Edu)
Copyright: 2004 The Maneater
Contact:  http://www.themaneater.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1283
Authors: Rohini Choudhury, and Derek Kravitz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?227 (Cole, Jack)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?233 (LEAP)

EX-COP: REHAB, NOT JAIL

In his career, Jack Cole put more than 1,000 people behind bars on 
drug-related charges. Now he's trying to stop people from going to jail for 
drugs.

Cole, a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police and executive 
director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, spoke to students 
Wednesday at the Law School about his organization's proposal to repeal the 
nation's drug prohibition.

The event, sponsored by MU's and the Law School's American Civil Liberties 
Union chapters as well as MU Student National Organization for the Reform 
of Marijuana Laws, drew more than 30 students to hear Cole's proposal.

"If you give (drug users) hope for the future, they will leave the drugs 
behind them," Cole said.

Cole, a former drug enforcement agent, said over the past 30 years the 
price of drugs such as cocaine and heroin have decreased while their 
potency has increased.

Cole also said the United States has been involved in a 35-year failing 
drug war, spending hundreds of billions of dollars on the problem.

Cole helped found LEAP in 2002, to help spearhead support for drug 
legalization. LEAP now has more than 1,000 members and a national advisory 
board which includes federal judges, a former governor and former police 
chiefs.

Cole came to campus after his meeting with the Missouri Association of 
County Commissioners in Jefferson City on Wednesday afternoon.

Columbia attorney Dan Viets said he was happy about Cole's visit. The event 
was scheduled at the last minute during Cole's week-long Missouri tour.

"We wanted to give people here a unique perspective of drug policy in 
America," Viets said.

Viets said Cole's presentation is an important message for Missourians.

"It's amazing to hear someone say the things that he says," Viets said. 
"You don't hear about a lot of things he points out and he even uses the 
DEA's own Web site in his presentation."

Cole's presentation comes soon after introduction of a bill to the Missouri 
General Assembly that would legalize medicinal marijuana.

"This bill is for people who are ill and suffering and have not been able 
to find any other types of medication that provide relief," Rep. Vicky 
Riback Wilson, D-Columbia, said.

Wilson, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the bill has little chance of 
garnering much support in the General Assembly.

"It's an election year, and it is a controversial issue," Wilson said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom