Re: When a positive is a negative, Oct. 2 Citrus Times. The Citrus County School Board should think twice before it institutes random student drug testing. While seemingly based on good intentions, drug testing young people can oftentimes have counterproductive results. The only federally commissioned review examining the effectiveness of student drug testing programs found the policy to have no discernible impact on youth drug use. Districts that tested students had no lower rates of use than districts that did not. [continues 140 words]
Most Floridians know we are in a recession now. What most Floridians aren't aware of is that, even during this economic downturn, our Legislature continues to spend tax dollars enforcing what many of us consider to be misguided marijuana policies. The Florida Legislature recently passed House Bill 1401, re-establishing the controversial "three strikes" laws. Most of the law's language is identical to the 1999 three-strikes law, which the Florida Supreme Court found unconstitutional. Not much is different in this new bill except for a change in the marijuana law - in which the Legislature has cut in half the amount needed to receive three-year, mandatory minimum sentencing for "trafficking" cannabis. [continues 618 words]
