Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Carolyn T. Lease
Page: 26A

A CITY POT TAX OUGHT TO HELP PAY FOR DRUG TREATMENT

Re: "How would city pot taxes be used?" July 14 editorial.

I am extremely concerned that Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's proposal
to the City Council for the distribution of the sales tax revenue from
the sale of recreational marijuana does not include the provision that
significant funding be dedicated to providing drug treatment services
in Denver.

Drug treatment services are inadequately funded in Denver, especially
for low-income people, people who do not have health insurance, and
African-American, Latino and American Indian communities that lack
access to culturally appropriate services.

Treatment works, and the longer people stay in treatment, the greater
the likelihood that recovery will last a lifetime. Although health
care reform will expand Medicaid and health care coverage to more
Denver citizens, substance abuse treatment services are inadequately
reimbursed and mandate the amount of treatment and the length of time
allowed in treatment. Other sources of support for treatment are
critical, and directing revenue from recreational marijuana makes
sense to me.

Carolyn T. Lease, Denver

The writer is executive director of The Empowerment Program, which
provides employment and education service to women involved in the
criminal justice system.
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MAP posted-by: Matt