Pubdate: Mon, 14 Feb 2005
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2005 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Kit Bradshaw, Jupiter Jourier
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Loretta+Nall (Loretta Nall)

MARIJUANA ACTIVIST VISITS HIGH SCHOOL HIT IN DRUG BUST

JUPITER - Loretta Nall, the news anchor for Pot-TV.net makes it very
clear: She wants to keep drugs out of the hands of kids, and to do
that, she feels marijuana should be treated like tobacco and alcohol,
by regulating, taxing and controlling it.

The Alabama woman, who said she may run against Judge Roy "Ten
Commandments" Moore in the 2006 gubernatorial election as part of the
Libertarian Party, wants to see marijuana legalized and then
controlled. What she says she doesn't want to see is police posing as
students in schools for drug busts.

"I don't think it is fair. It is completely immoral and downright evil
to put police officers posing as students in high school, then trick
kids into breaking the law and giving them a 15-year sentence," she
said recently, standing along Daniels Way waiting for Jupiter High
School students to leave for the day.

"Youthful experimentation is a human trait," she said, "and we need a
sensible drug policy that deals with the issue from a helpful social
standpoint.

"If we legalized marijuana ... the drug wars as we know it would be
over, because marijuana makes up the bulk of people arrested for any
illicit substance in the United States."

Several Jupiter High School students stopped to talk to Nall, who was
doing interviews and shooting her own video for a Pot-TV Web cast.

Quintin Evans, 18, a senior at Jupiter High School from Riviera Beach,
told Nall he still was worried about the Jan. 27 drug bust by
undercover police. The program targeted Wellington, Forest Hill, John
I. Leonard, William T. Dwyer and Jupiter high schools. Officials said
they would continue the operation for the remainder of the school year.

"I still think there are cops on campus," Evans said. "I have no
trust in anyone since that drug bust, and unless I've gone to school
with someone for several years, I don't think I'll trust them at all."

Marc Falzon, 17, a Jupiter High junior said there have been
repercussions in the school among the students since finding out
undercover police were there for six months.

"I think it had a negative affect on the students," Falzon said,
"because it breeds mistrust. You don't know who you are talking to.

"I think the key to stopping drugs with kids is to educate the little
kids, the younger ones. I don't think the way to fight it is to make
students feel insecure."

Other students disagreed, and said they thought the undercover
operation dubbed Operation Old Schoolhouse was a good idea.

"I don't do drugs, and I think if they can help keep drugs off the
streets by these kind of drug busts then it's a good idea," said
Jupiter High sophomore Ian Berge, 15. "But," he said, " I think that
it will have a small effect on the drugs in school."

Nall, who travels throughout the country for Pot-TV, said she became
an activist for marijuana reform two years ago, after being charged
and convicted of marijuana possession, a charge she denies. She said
the experience led to the creation of the Alabama Marijuana Party, and
there are now 37 chapters throughout the country.

"I travel throughout the country to gather news about activities
related to marijuana, from events to drug busts such as this one,"
said the 30-year-old Nall. "I also speak on college campuses. I've
been invited back to this area next month, where I'll be speaking at
Florida Atlantic University."
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MAP posted-by: Derek