Would the cultivation of medical marijuana in our community bring additional crime to Frederick County? Some who stand against cultivation of medical marijuana in our county believe so. With all the rhetoric we have been exposed to for these many years during the unsuccessful prosecution of the war on drugs, and the fear-mongering tactics employed by some, it is understandable that people might have concerns over the possibility of more crime. As for the assertion by those who say the cultivation of medical marijuana would attract crime to a community like ours, there is significant credible evidence to disabuse us of that notion. Reliable information that has been gathered since the legalization of medical marijuana, as well as the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, suggests that fears of additional crime are unfounded. [continues 550 words]
When it comes to prescription drug abuse in Frederick County, the issue often falls second to the county's heroin epidemic despite its persistent prevalence, according to officials. The use and abuse of nonprescribed drugs, however, has garnered recent attention after several teens overdosed Wednesday on Ambien and Adderall at Oakdale High School. A 15-year-old student provided the prescription pills to several schoolmates, sending four to the hospital as they experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, vomiting and lack of coordination. The fifth was released into the care of a parent, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. [continues 1225 words]
It is unfortunate that Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith, unlike his colleagues in the New Jersey State Municipal Prosecutors' Association and unlike the thousands of law enforcement officials who have joined Law Enforcement Against Prohibition in order to help end the drug war, refuses to listen to the will of the people and embrace marijuana policy reform. The prohibition of marijuana wastes law enforcement resources, creates profits for organized crime, incentivizes violence, exacerbates racial disparities in the criminal justice system and creates an uncontrolled market in which kids sell to other kids. [continues 69 words]
Narcotics prosecutors across the state are forming a task force to respond to the state's new marijuana decriminalization bill, Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith said. The Maryland State's Attorneys' Association, of which Smith is president of the board, met Thursday to discuss the new legislation, which police and prosecutors say has critical omissions. The bill makes it a civil offense, no longer a crime, to possess or use less than 10 grams of marijuana. But the bill failed to establish rules for drug-free zones, smoking in schools and smoking in public, among other things, Smith said. [continues 69 words]
The war on drugs has failed. This is one of the conclusions we are forced to draw from our in-depth article chronicling drug use in Frederick County schools, which detailed just how easy it is for students to get hold of heroin, LSD, ecstasy and marijuana. One way to hit back is to target the source of the supply line by making marijuana legal, regulating the trade and taxing it. In early February, The News-Post's editorial board hosted two representatives of the movement to legalize marijuana in Maryland -- Neill Franklin, a 33-year veteran officer and executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and Rachelle Yeung, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. We've taken on board and debated what they said, and it's convinced us there's a stronger case for legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana than simply decriminalizing it. [continues 514 words]
Writing as a retired detective, I think it is important that the readers know that all of these arrests for sale or possession were meaningless ("Deputies nab 27 on drug charges," Dec. 24). All arrested dealers are replaced within a matter of days. Worse, felony crime is higher than necessary because the addicts need to steal lots of money to support their addiction. Drug prohibition is supported by the Mexican drug cartels, Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and State's Attorney Charlie Smith. Why? Because they all benefit from the policy. [continues 72 words]
Speaking as a retired detective, I hope and trust my colleague Narco and his handler, Deputy Caliskan ("Surprise, surprise," March 3), were also looking for the drug that kills and injures the most students -- namely alcohol. We in law enforcement know that the use and abuse of alcohol will hurt and kill more high school students than all the prohibited drugs combined. Twenty-three million people in this country have a drug abuse problem. For 19 million, their primary drug of abuse is alcohol. We need to reduce that horrific number. Get 'em, Narco! [end]
Speaking as a retired detective, I hope and trust my colleague Narco and his handler, Deputy Caliskan ("Surprise, surprise," March 3), were also looking for the drug that kills and injures the most students -- namely alcohol. We in law enforcement know that the use and abuse of alcohol will hurt and kill more high school students than all the prohibited drugs combined. Twenty-three million people in this country have a drug abuse problem. For 19 million, their primary drug of abuse is alcohol. We need to reduce that horrific number. Get 'em, Narco! retired detective Adamstown [end]
The state has flaked once again in creating a robust system that would allow medical marijuana users to legally seek relief from sometimes devastating symptoms. Instead, lawmakers changed the law only incrementally so legitimate users can avoid prosecution with a doctor's note. And instead of comprehensive reform, the bill will create a study committee. It's a shame. The legalization of medical marijuana had enormous support this year, and should have passed. Whether lawmakers will muster the same ardor over the next three years to really address this issue remains to be seen. [continues 280 words]
ANNAPOLIS -- Frederick County Sen. David Brinkley may succeed this year in his nine-year quest to reduce criminal penalties for medical marijuana use. Brinkley, a Republican, is one of the lead sponsors of a bill that would allow medical marijuana users to be found not guilty on criminal possession charges and would establish a study at a research university regarding the use of medical marijuana in general. The House of Delegates gave the bill a preliminary OK on Saturday. If the House acts -- as scheduled -- to pass it on Monday, then Brinkley said he thought the bill would become law. [continues 595 words]
ANNAPOLIS -- The Maryland Senate is making major changes to a medical marijuana bill proposed by Frederick County Sen. David Brinkley. The Senate is expected to take up final approval of the measure this week, after giving a preliminary OK on Tuesday to the bill and amendments proposed by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The bill will now allow people charged with use or possession of marijuana to argue before a judge that they did so out of medical necessity. If a judge agrees, the person would be found not guilty of the charge. [continues 408 words]
When you lie down with dogs, often you will get up with fleas. Yet another in my profession (Megan Mattingly) has been tainted by the enforcement of drug prohibition. Add her to the many, many thousands who have been corrupted or killed, or who have committed suicide after being corrupted. And for what? We in law enforcement know that every drug dealer arrested is replaced within days. The nine suspects released (or even if they had gone to prison) are meaningless. [continues 57 words]
Officer First Class Megan Mattingly has been reassigned to administrative duties while authorities investigate allegations she committed perjury. Charges have been dropped against nine defendants in drug cases since allegations surfaced that a Frederick Police Department officer perjured herself on the witness stand during a May 20 preliminary hearing, according to court records. In addition, a 10th case, previously concluded with the sentencing of a defendant, has been reopened so a Frederick woman can try to withdraw her Alford plea of guilt, records state. An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment that had the case proceeded to trial, the state had sufficient evidence to convict. [continues 439 words]
Charlie Smith needs a reality check ("Prosecutor at odds with medical marijuana," March 19). His opposition to Maryland's medical marijuana bill flies in the face of all available scientific evidence and the urging of scores of medical professionals, including the Maryland Board of Pharmacy, Maryland Pharmacists Association, and Maryland Nurses Association, who all endorse the bill. Smith is a law-enforcement official -- not a doctor. He has no professional qualifications to decide whether or not medical marijuana is a "proven drug" for certain conditions, and he has no business broadcasting his ignorance on the topic. [continues 115 words]
ANNAPOLIS -- Frederick County's state's attorney is opposing medical marijuana legislation sponsored by a local state senator. State's Attorney Charlie Smith testified Thursday evening before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. "I'm not going to stand up here and tell you I want people to suffer from cancer, or from AIDS or from ALS, or they shouldn't have drugs to help ease their nausea or help ease their pain," Smith said. "I just firmly believe that marijuana is not one of those proven drugs and there are many many more FDA-approved drugs." [continues 516 words]
As a retired police detective, I heartily agree with Katherine Heerbrandt's Feb. 9 column, "Smoke signals." During my 18 years of service, I was sent to zero calls generated by the use of marijuana. Its prohibition caused several shootings, as dealers shot other dealers for the money and the green stuff. I never handled a call where a beer distributor had a gunfight with a whiskey salesman. The only aspect that was not mentioned was the tremendous reduction in public safety. As officers and deputies in Frederick spend thousands of hours finding and arresting for marijuana, they have less time for the deadly DUI, child predators and other public safety threats. If you have a drug problem one day, see a doctor. The police have much more important tasks. Howard J Wooldridge Frederick [end]
Most Americans seem content to let Olympic star Michael Phelps, President Barack Obama and other high-profile folks off the hook for smoking the whacky weed, whether it was last week or three decades ago. Even that sheriff from South Carolina who wants to bust Phelps isn't getting any support from other law enforcement officials in his state. The standard response when publicly confronted with evidence of pot smoking is "Sorry, I was/am young," accompanied by a sheepish grin and an acknowledgment that millions of Americans can relate. [continues 504 words]
Joining the Frederick Police Department's fight against illegal drugs is just a few keystrokes away. The drug enforcement unit has established an e-mail address for taking residents' tips on drug activity -- even photos or videos, said Sgt. Dwight Sommers, the unit's supervisor. Police aren't looking to identify tipsters, Sommers said. They don't plan to drag them into court. "Not to worry. That's not how this works," he said. "We simply want to elicit information from the community that will give us a start - a location, a tag number. We'll take it from there." [continues 117 words]
A recent front-page story in The Frederick News-Post ("Forum warns of growing gangs," Jan. 14) reported findings presented by a "gang awareness forum." The forum presenters warned that over 400 people in our area are confirmed gang members. While the article (or perhaps the forum presenters) fell short in giving a precise definition of how one qualifies as a gang member, the current widespread presence of gangs should nonetheless be of concern. I am one of many Americans who has come to realize that gang activity is largely a product of the current war on drugs. We know, from studying economics, that any enterprise will continue to function as long as its products are in demand. If prohibited, that enterprise will be relegated to the underground economy, also known as the "black market." In a black market, all transactions occur outside the sphere of contract law. Without a peaceful means to settle disputes, all that is left is violence. In addition, increasingly draconian prison sentences mandated for adult offenders make plying the drug trade much less risky for minors; hence, their recruitment. [continues 88 words]
