A judge has upheld the sentence of a man who turned down an offer of probation in favor of a jury trial in which he was found guilty. Danny Dale Burress, 49, of 4450 Speck Ridge Road in Campbellsville appeared before Taylor Circuit Court Judge Doughlas M. George last Tuesday for sentencing. George upheld the jury's recommendation of 20 years. In November, Burress faced a jury on charges of second-degree selling hydrocodone, his second offense, and being a second-degree persistent felony offender. [continues 1190 words]
Taylor County Schools are a step closer to requiring students who participate in extracurricular activities or drive to school to take random drug tests. At their regular meeting Tuesday, Taylor County School Board members discussed a drug testing policy presented by Taylor County High teacher Debbie Hinton on behalf of a committee appointed to study the issue. While students at Taylor County Middle School would be included, Hinton said, the testing would focus on the high school. "Students who participate in anything that is a voluntary activity could be tested," Hinton said. [continues 862 words]
Regarding Richard RoBards' thoughtful May 13th column: Perhaps Nelson County teachers are reluctant to agree to random drug tests because they don't want to take part in a divisive culture war that should have ended with the Vietnam War. Organic marijuana is the only drug that stays in the human body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. Synthetic drugs like crystal methamphetamine and prescription narcotics exit the body quickly. This is no secret. Anyone capable of running a search on the Internet can find out how to thwart a drug test. Random drug testing encourages hard drug use. This is one of the reasons the American Academy of Pediatrics opposes student drug testing. The last thing our pill-popping society needs is more incentives to use prescription pharmaceuticals. [continues 136 words]
Taylor County students who participate in extracurricular school activities may soon face random drug tests. At last week's regular meeting of the Taylor County School Board, Debbie Hinton, a Taylor County High School teacher and member of the school culture committee, asked Board members to consider such a policy, which she says will curb drug use. "Research has shown that random drug testing has diminished drug use in middle and high schools - up to 85 percent," she said. In addition, Hinton said, the possibility of being tested gives students an easy way to say "No" to peer pressure. [continues 1113 words]
Adults create credibility issues with their children and other youth unrelated to them. I know I probably did with my children. We can see it in the entertainment industry where bad behavior is glamorized and the offenders are generally rewarded with an even bigger movie or music contract. We tell our children not to do something, saying it isn't good for them ... all the while we're either doing it ourselves or tacitly endorsing similar actions by our friends. Example: The promotion of good choices. We make the claim that our teen sons and daughters need to make good choices, while we may not be providing them with the examples with which they could retrieve a standard. [continues 402 words]
Since 1996, 12 states have enacted laws to allow patients to use medical marijuana, even though federal law continues to ban the drug. Marijuana helps patients with AIDS consume and hold down food. It is a mood elevator to combat the bouts of depression associated with this disease. Scientists say an active ingredient found in marijuana, THC, may help fight lung cancer, the most lethal of all cancers. Prohibition taught us you cannot legislate morality. We need to move forward with licensing guidelines for medical marijuana. Gubernatorial candidate Gatewood Galbraith supports the use of this medicine. How do other candidates feel? Will they avoid the subject? When will Kentucky legalize its use? Danny Pigman Lexington [end]
Pastor Ted Beam's letter (Medical Field Against Legalized Marijuana, Sept. 3, 2006) could more accurately be titled: Pastor Against Legalized Marijuana. Biblically, clergy supporting cannabis prohibition isn't new and is referred to as the "Sin of the Priests" as subtitled in the New American Standard Bible (see Malachi 1:6-14). While dishonorable priests claim "the table of the Lord is to be despised," "the table of the Lord is defiled" and "as for its fruit, its food is to be despised," Our Heavenly Father, says otherwise and does so starting on the first page of the Bible. [continues 84 words]
Concerning the Rev. Dr. Ted Beams' view on the legalization/regulation of marijuana, I would like to say that during Prohibition, when we tried to legislate away alcohol, we instead created huge criminal organizations which benefited from huge profits. Today, we have created a similar situation wherein similar organizations have affected the world even our grandchildren will inherit. Now, we should embark on a strategy against drug prohibition and strengthen education, which proved successful in reducing tobacco use. If we wish to protect our children - a goal that God would certainly support - then we should invest in policies that remove criminals from the equation, something that prohibition has always failed to do. Malcolm Kyle The Hague, Holland [end]
Senior Pastor Dr. Ted Beam should study his Bible more diligently because his denunciation of drug plants made by the Creator insults God. Denying the usefulness of plants such as marijuana, coca, peyote cactus and psilocybe mushrooms shows extreme ignorance and a lack of faith in God. The only prohibition of any plant found in the Bible is at Genesis 2:16: The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; (17) but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." [continues 440 words]
We all agree drug abuse is a problem. Reformers say there is a better way to handle it. Our politicians play on our fears to make us more accepting of their waste of our precious lives and resources. Drug abuse, including alcohol, is a medical problem and we'll do a better job of keeping kids drug free and inebriated folks off the road with compassionate policy offering helpful treatment War creates a booming economy for some on the suffering of many. Drug warriors are so befuddled by the noble idea of preventing drug abuse, they ignore the lessons of history. [continues 227 words]
It seems to me Dr. Ted Beam, senior pastor, should pay a little more attention to the actual wording of scripture. The verses that are being referred to in his letter, "Medical Against legalized Marijuana, Sun. Sept. 3, 2006," are Gen: 1 verses 29-31. It states "GREEN, SEED bearing HERBS," depending on what version of the Bible you are reading. I didn't know poison ivy and many other poisonous plants were seed bearing "herbs." I don't know of an herb that is greener or produces more seeds than the cannabis hemp plant (also known as marijuana). I am surprised that Beam condemns God-created mind-altering substances that he doesn't understand, and condones man created synthetics. Like it or not, God created pot. [continues 329 words]
Even with my busy schedule, I usually make the monthly meetings for the Campbellsville-Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition held at Taylor Regional Hospital. It matters. Removing illegal drugs from the community will help us reach many goals. We want health, prosperity and hope for our community, not despair, hopelessness and poverty. I laughed to myself when I read the recent letter from Colorado stating that marijuana could and would be used in a responsible way by responsible adults if made legal. I just don't believe that. I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I watched nickel and dime bags being passed around at concerts and festivals as the police just watched. I helped friends get home safely after they had indulged themselves in smoking the weed. And then I read that "responsible adults" would handle it properly. [continues 458 words]
Karen Hayes (Letter: "Marijuana is a bigger problem than some think" Aug. 13, 2006), does a disservice to responsible adults who wish to use cannabis (marijuana) instead of alcohol. It does a disservice to truth and rational thinking. And a disservice to Christ God Our Father who indicated he created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good on literally the very first page of the Bible (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30). It is commendable helping youth resist cannabis, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sex and coffee until they are older and responsible for themselves, but caging adults for using cannabis is the wrong way to do it. [continues 55 words]
I applaud Karen Hayes and the Campbellsville/Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition for its efforts in alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention in the community. Karen's recent article regarding marijuana was very appropriate. Yes, it is true, a person probably won't die from smoking a joint. However, marijuana remains a gateway drug for many of our young people. Teens don't usually begin their drug use by using cocaine, methamphetamine or ecstasy. Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are the drugs of choice for our young people. [continues 216 words]
In response to a letter to the editor on Monday, Aug. 14, stating: "I have seen the destructive effects of marijuana on the lives of young people. Marijuana use by teens can lead to a host of health, social, learning and behavioral problems." This is the point of drug reform. Ask any high school kid, "Can you get drugs at your school?" "Yes." "Can you get alcohol?" "No, you have to be 21 to buy alcohol." A light bulb comes on above their head, and they get it. I only wish adults had as much common sense. E. Jay Fleming Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Mohave Valley, Ariz. [end]
I'm puzzled by a recent letter from Karen Hayes, Campbellsville Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition co-chair and Central Kentucky ASAP Local Board coordinator, (Marijuana is a Bigger Problem Than Some Think, Aug. 13). If marijuana use by teenagers is as dangerous as she alleges - and I'm not saying otherwise - why does she want to leave its manufacture, distribution and sales in the hands of criminal gangs? By any objective measure, alcohol and tobacco are the two most dangerous drugs in our society. Combined they kill more than 500,000 Americans every single year. We don't cede control over those dangerous drugs to criminals. Instead, we demand they be distributed only by licensed, legitimate businesses that check ID. Why does Ms. Hayes want to leave marijuana completely unregulated, untaxed and uncontrolled? Tell me again, just how is that supposed to keep children safe? 'Cause it sure isn't working so far. Regulate, tax, control. There is a better way. Greg Francisco Educators for Sensible Drug Policies Paw Paw, Mich. [end]
The things Karen Hayes of the Anti-Drug Coalition says about the dangers of marijuana are not true. They do a good job of keeping people afraid of pot, but they are false. Yes, some people will not tolerate the effects of cannabis well, but most people do. The truth is, cannabis is safer than cigarettes or alcohol, and no one should be caged for choosing the safest alternative. We parents would be glad to teach our children about the harmful substances they will encounter, but we must have honest information before we can. After spending seven years researching cannabis prohibition, I do not appreciate the fact that we are paying $23 million a day to educate falsely and punish millions who have no victims. If you really want to help kids save their brains from destruction, please focus on activities that will actually harm them, such as inhaling household chemicals. I believe we can tell the truth and still teach them how to say no. Melanie Marshall Bellevue, Neb. [end]
Unmentioned in the letter "Marijuana is a Bigger Problem than Some Think" was my reference to the destructive effects of marijuana prohibition; increased potency and availability of illicit drugs, along with windfall pay and profits for gun toting thugs on both sides of the law. Certainly, the neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and palliative effects of pot's active ingredients are not in dispute. Yet no one reasonably prescribed armed home invasions, asset forfeiture and prison time as "treatment" for beer drinkers and cigarette smokers. Indeed, transcripts from Congressional testimony to date on the comparative safety and efficacy of marijuana consistently include false claims and outright perjury. The real problem to solve is: Why should Americans accept a war waged on us? Jose Melendez Communications Director Concerned Citizens Coalition to Criminalize Prohibition DeLand, Fla. [end]
With all the news about the devastating effects of drugs such as ecstasy, heroin and cocaine, it's easy to understand why some kids and even parents believe that marijuana is harmless. I have seen the destructive effects of marijuana on the lives of young people. Marijuana use by teens can lead to a host of health, social, learning and behavioral problems. Parents must take action to help decrease marijuana use by kids in our community. Many parents and adults, based on their own experiences with the drug, still believe that marijuana is benign and not as serious as other drugs such as ecstasy. Some adults may feel there is nothing they can do to stop their kids from experimenting. Research shows that parents are the most powerful influence on children when it comes to drugs. [continues 122 words]
Student involvement in after-school activities like sports has been shown to reduce drug use. They keep kids busy during the hours they are most likely to get into trouble. Forcing students to undergo degrading urine tests as a prerequisite will only discourage participation. Drug testing may also compel marijuana users to switch to harder drugs to avoid testing positive. Despite a short-lived high, marijuana is the only illegal drug that stays in the human body long enough to make urinalysis a deterrent. Marijuana's organic metabolites are fat-soluble and can linger for days. More dangerous synthetic drugs like methamphetamine are water-soluble and exit the body quickly. If you think drug users don't know this, think again. Anyone capable of running an Internet search can find out how to thwart a drug test. [continues 82 words]
