For many years there has been a "war on drugs" in this country. The phrase was itself a piece of propaganda authored by John Ehrlichman, President Richard Nixon's assistant on domestic affairs. Integral to this "war" has been an extensive and expensive assault on a substantial portion of American society people who use marijuana. Not only has it been wrong; it is a terrible failure. My opinion, shared by a growing number of conservative, liberal and libertarian thinkers did not arise out of thin air. [continues 329 words]
FORT WAYNE -- With the help of a friend, a woman came into the Butler Police Department's lobby one day last summer gasping for breath. Her friend immediately placed her on the floor and frantically asked officers to call an ambulance. The woman, described by Butler police as in her early to mid-20s, wheezed as she said it felt as if an elephant were sitting on her chest. Later, medics and police learned she had been smoking synthetic marijuana - a substance becoming popular among those who want to get high legally and resistant to state lawmakers' attempts to eradicate its sale, distribution and use. [continues 1101 words]
The General Assembly's attempt at comprehensive sentencing reform crashed and burned in the last session. So prospects for any effort to reduce criminal penalties look like a long shot. But a targeted attempt at addressing marijuana laws could fare better, provided the bill receives a good public discussion before the full legislature considers it. Financially, Indiana needs marijuana sentencing reform. The legislature's Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee heard last week that reducing or eliminating penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana could save up to $200 million a year in law enforcement and corrections costs. [continues 450 words]
FORT WAYNE - The Allen County commissioners could ban the sale of synthetic marijuana this week, but possession of the substance would still be legal in the county. The commissioners on Monday briefly discussed banning the product, commonly sold as incense under names such as K2 or Spice. Authorities say most buyers smoke it to get a marijuana-like high. Commissioner Nelson Peters said a countywide ban would at least be discussed this week and a vote is possible. Fort Wayne and New Haven councils banned sales and possession of the product last week. [continues 236 words]
FORT WAYNE - Residents will have their chance next week to offer input and opinions on whether a marijuana substitute should be banned in Fort Wayne. The City Council will conduct an informal public hearing Tuesday regarding its proposed ban of substances sold as incense under such brand names as K2 and Pep. The products are being smoked as a marijuana substitute. Councilman Mitch Harper, R-4th, said he will present a short history of the substance and its nature, as well as efforts to legislate it in other communities. [continues 268 words]
Every day on the news we hear again that there just isn't enough money for "government" to do its job. There is such a simple solution to the problem, but politicians just don't have the courage to tackle it. Unfortunately, simple idealism stands in the way of that solution. The current national attitude toward drugs is nothing if not idealistic. It's not effective at all, but it is indeed idealistic. Of course, no one should abuse drugs, but laws against it do not prevent drug abuse. Nearly every schoolchild can tell you drugs are readily available. Oddly enough, for all its idealism, the United States offers the biggest market for illegal drugs in the world. [continues 283 words]
WASHINGTON - Students will turn to Uncle Sam, not private lenders, for loans to pay for their college educations, the House voted Thursday. The legislation is a blow to major banks and student loan giant Sallie Mae, which will be cut out of a large part of the $92 billion business. The bill also eases restrictions on students who are convicted of drug possession, erasing a 10-year-old provision authored by Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, that limits their access to federally guaranteed student loans. [continues 495 words]
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's Parade magazine article "Why we must fix our prisons" (March 29) has an important local angle. Webb laid out statistic after statistic showing the terrible stupidity of America's incarceration policies, especially when it comes to marijuana. One of the most powerful opponents of reforming marijuana laws has been northeast Indiana's Congressman Mark Souder, R-3rd. At least Souder's party is out of power now. I hope the Democrats will have the courage to establish the commission sought by Sen. Webb and give the American people sound alternatives to our destructive incarceration policies. An important step in that direction would be to stop filling prisons with pot smokers. Evan Davis Fort Wayne [end]
County Directs Warrants Officers To Be Vigilant For Illegal Substances Mark Reed smelled it from the front porch Tuesday. Banging on the door of a red house in the 400 block of DeWald Street, the Allen County police warrants officer was looking for a sex offender wanted for a parole violation. Several of Reed's fellow officers surrounded the home, peeked into windows and talked to neighbors. The last time they came to the home, months before, they arrested the man asleep on a couch inside. This time, they struck out. Nobody was there, but … [continues 951 words]
WASHINGTON - The White House drug czar said in a warning to parents Friday that depressed teens are medicating themselves with marijuana, running risks of even deeper depression. A report by the Office National Drug Control Policy said that frequent marijuana ingestion doubles a teen's risk of depression and anxiety, based on data compiled from published studies. The report, timed for release during Mental Health Awareness Month, cited a study that marijuana use increases the risk of developing mental disorders later in life by 40 percent. [continues 99 words]
If you knew nothing about Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama other than that Clinton is a 60-year-old white woman and Obama is a 46-year-old black man, you could still calculate the odds that each was in prison. It won't come as any surprise that someone like Obama is, in this crude comparison, more likely to be found behind bars than someone like Clinton. What should shock people is how much more likely we are to incarcerate a 46-year-old black man than a 60-year-old white woman. [continues 339 words]
