Dear Editor,

A recent article ("Face Off: Should Marijuana be Legalized? No," Sept. 19) examining marijuana legalization failed to consider the reality of the current situation, which is that despite 70 years of government propaganda and billions of taxpayer dollars wasted this year alone combating conduct that millions of Americans engage in, we are losing the war on marijuana.

Notwithstanding Mr. McLaurine's reliance on arguments such as the gateway theory, a supposition that has been repeatedly debunked by scientific studies in recent years, to make his point, he does leave readers with some good advice: Do your own research on the issue and come to your own conclusions.

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We have all heard the arguments: God made marijuana, man made alcohol - who are you going to trust? Who has ever heard of anyone overdosing on marijuana? It doesn't have any adverse affects on society.

I would argue that these statements are sheer ignorance, in its purest form. Overall the legalization of marijuana (for public use) is something that should not be entertained. Marijuana is a drug. It is a substance that alters the inhibitions of an individual on a level different than alcohol.

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Only one Bullitt County high school student tested positive for drugs last school year, though nearly 550 tests were given.

"It's great news," said Jaime Goldsmith, the district's director of safe and drug-free schools. "It dispels some of those rumors that it's running rampant."

Last year was the first for Bullitt's random drug-testing program. Athletes from Bullitt Central and Bullitt East high school were randomly selected to participate.

The urine tests screen for marijuana, amphetamines, steroids, ecstasy, hydrosol, PCP, methadone, barbiturates, benzodiaphine (such as Xanax), opiates, cocaine, propoxyphene (in painkillers such as Darvon) and alcohol.

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More potent weed puts today's kids at greater risk for health and social problems

If you're a baby boomer, don't lull yourself into thinking that marijuana is a fading fad that represents a modest threat to today's youth.

You'd be wrong.

Nearly half of today's teenagers try marijuana before graduating from high school, and by their senior year more than 20 percent are regular users, Science Daily reported in May.

More teens use marijuana than all other illegal drugs combined, and they are at greater risk than teens who smoked pot a couple of decades ago.

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It was a celebration of newness of life for three Rowan County Drug Court Graduates June 13.

"If it wasn't for drug court my baby wouldn't be here," said Drug Court Graduate Anthony Barnette.

Carl Prust was happy he graduated from Drug Court and is pursuing one of his life goals.

"I'm trying to start a motorcycle shop," Prust said. "Things are wonderful."

"All three graduates have worked very hard in the program," said Circuit Judge William Mains. "We call this a graduation. In fact, we talked about rephrasing it as a celebration of life. This is not the end but a beginning."

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Products Intended to Foil Positive Drug Tests

NEWPORT - Federal authorities on Wednesday stormed the Monmouth Street offices of a company that makes shampoos, sports drinks and synthetic urine used to help people cheat on drug tests.

The execution of the sealed search warrants was part of a nationwide investigation originating out of Pittsburgh, Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Rich Isaacson said. Officials declined to say what was sought in the raid.

The lawyer representing the Newport company, Spectrum Laboratories, said a competitor of her client had a facility raided the same day in Union Township, Clermont County. An FBI spokesman confirmed a Clermont County raid in connection to the Newport investigation but said he could not elaborate, because the search warrant was sealed.

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On April 7, The News-Enterprise reported that a 21-year-old woman had been charged with a felony for possessing marijuana seeds and growing equipment.

In Kentucky, a felony conviction can result in the revocation or suspension of a professional license, strip students of financial aid for life, make it impossible for a capable and loving adult to adopt a child, and prevent a citizen from voting, serving on a jury, owning a firearm, securing public housing and obtaining food stamps.

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New Drug Testing Data Show Effects Of Supply Crunch

John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, highlighted new data showing significant reductions in meth and cocaine positivity rates in the American workforce, as well as continued disruptions in the supply of both drugs.

According to data released today by Quest Diagnostics' Drug Testing Index (DTI), results from workplace drug screenings conducted in 2007 show a more than 50 percent decline in the percentage of positive tests for methamphetamine over two years, from 28 of every 10,000 people testing positive for meth in 2005 to 14 of every 10,000 testing positive for meth in 2007.

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Committee Wants to Change Penal Code, Create Alternative Sentences for Nonviolent Offenders

The Kentucky Justice and Safety Cabinet is working to alter the state's penal code to reduce prison and jail populations. But a reduction in jail population might actually be a financial blow to the Warren County Regional Jail.

A state committee has been set up - incorporating law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders and others - to review the code and recommend changes.

The first meeting of the committee was Monday, and it went extremely well, Kentucky Public Advocate Ernie Lewis said.

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Drug dogs patrolled the halls of three county school buildings Monday morning.

The county high school, middle school and the Butler Area Youth Development Center were canvassed by K-9 teams from the Owensboro Police Department, the Daviess County Sheriff's Department and the McLean County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Stan Hudson said charges had been brought against one high school student as a result. The juvenile was charged with marijuana possession.

Another student may face a charge of possession of a controlled substance as a result of a separate investigation.

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My column last week, in which I discussed how important the selection of a new superintendent was to the future of our community, struck a chord with a lot of people. I have received numerous e-mails and have been approached on the street by people who agreed with my assessment, as well as my hope that our new superintendent would be focused like a laser beam on academic achievement and excellence.

Sometime before the end of this school year, the Scott County Board of Education will sequester itself in a room and make a decision that will have a profound impact on our community for years to come. However, that will not be the only important decision our school board will be making this year. In fact, it could be argued that, while selecting a new superintendent is certainly the most important personnel decision the board will make, it may not be the most important decision that directly affects our kids' lives.

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The work of the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force is no doubt well-intended, but ultimately counterproductive. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs, while demand remains constant, only increases the profitability of drug trafficking.

For addictive drugs like methamphetamine, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin.

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All Hope Not Lost

Hopes of obtaining funding to branch the Operation UNITE program into Madison County in the immediate future are looking dim, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-6th District, confirmed Friday.

But all hope for the initiative is not lost.

UNITE is an acronym for Unlawful Narcotics Investigative, Treatment and Education. The program "works to rid communities of illegal drug use through undercover narcotics investigations, coordinating treatment for substance abusers, providing support to families and friends of substance abusers and educating the public about the dangers of using drugs," the program's Web site states.

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Should the doors to the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force close sometime this year, it would be a serious blow locally to the drug scourge police agencies are trying to combat.

Funds for programs like this one have been dwindling for many years, but a recent announcement that the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant program was facing a cut of about 67 percent -- from $520 million to $170 million -- could prove fatal to the local program.

The Byrne fund's program allotment here amounts to about $185,000, roughly 65 percent of the agency's annual budget. The federal money pays the salary of the director, Wayne Edwards, the salaries of a bookkeeper and secretary, and leases on vehicles used by task force agents.

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Isn't it nice to see Kentucky potentially be the vanguard of a national movement instead of its hind end? Right now, Kansas is the only state in the U.S. (that I am aware of at least) that has established a system of registration for convicted dope dealers and manufacturers. Kentucky could join Kansas if House Bill 96, sponsored by Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, passes this year's General Assembly.

Kentucky has had a sex offender registration system for years now, but am I alone in seeing in the papers many more arrests for meth labs and crack pushers than for rapists and pedophiles? Surely no Kentucky family has not been touched by the harm of illegal drugs and those who make and sell them. I urge all the mothers out there to call their legislators and ask them to support this important bill to keep the eye of the law on those who have endangered the public safety and health.

Louisville

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Members of a Lyon County teen committee are leading the push to implement a random student drug testing policy in the county's school system.

The "Engaging Youth Serving Communities" Committee (EYSC) made their presentation at a lunch meeting of the Lyon County Chamber of Commerce Thursday.

The group of approximately 15 Lyon County High School students is sponsored by Lyon County Champions for a Drug-Free Kentucky and Lyon County 4-H.

"We think that as a group of individuals we can accomplish a lot more than just one individual could," said member Julie Robertson.

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A downward trend in local meth lab activity will not translate into a reduction of activities for a group formed to protect children exposed to such harmful drug environments.

The Caldwell County Drug-Endangered Children Coalition (DEC) held a noon meeting Tuesday to update members on DEC activities and plans for the future.

The local DEC group was first formed in the summer of 2005 to develop a community network and protocols for caring for children who are required to be removed from homes where drugs are being manufactured or other hazardous situations.

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A task force that has arrested more than 2,400 drug suspects in Eastern Kentucky the past five years and provided money for drug treatment and education has laid off employees because of reductions in its federal funding, and could face a cut in a counseling program if it doesn't come up with more money.

Operation UNITE laid off 10 police officers and two other employees. The task force had earlier left positions open in anticipation of a cut in federal funding, said Karen Engle, UNITE president and CEO, so the initiative now has 23 police officers, down from 40 officers at its peak.

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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.

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Not a day goes by that I don't read the Daily News and every day there are numerous people with their names listed in it because they committed various drug offenses.

My question to all the drug war proponents is what good has the drug war really done?

It has managed to cost the taxpayers billions of dollars of hard-earned money with no real benefit.

If the drug war ended today, we would see a drastic drop in crime, from theft by drug addicts who no longer would have to pay a small fortune to obtain their drugs to murders that only happened because of a drug deal gone bad.

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