Pot times

Drug Court Will Fail Treating Marijuana

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1085/a08.html
Newshawk: chip

Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jul 2005
Source: Shelby County Reporter (AL)
Copyright: 2005 Shelby County Reporter
Contact: shelbynews@shelbycountyreporter.com
Website: http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2949
Author: Stephen Heath
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1046.a03.html

DRUG COURT WILL FAIL TREATING MARIJUANA

Dear Editor,

It's great to hear of the success to date for your drug court system.  However, problems with adequate funding are assured, given the experience we've had here in Florida, where the drug court system was first introduced.

The system's fatal flaw is the failure to make any distinction between the use and the abuse of any drug, most notably marijuana.  Thus, the well-intentioned drug court model is now jammed with thousands of marijuana 'clients' whose need for drug treatment is no more so than an alcohol user who drinks a six pack on the weekend or enjoys wine with his meals.

Treating the vast majority of marijuana use and in many cases, occasional use of other illegal substances, as something in need of a state-funded 'cure' is a disaster in the making.

Taxpayers are forced to watch millions of dollars go into 'curing' someone who smokes small amounts of pot at home.  Then, as the number of 'clients' rises, drug warriors use that data to perpetuate the myth of marijuana 'addiction'.  It's a neverending rodent-wheel of bullspeak and we the taxpayers are getting the shaft.

Most important, far too many real drug abusers are left waiting for needed help behind otherwise law-abiding citizens whose only crime was possessing small amounts of drugs and being caught by authorities.

Stephen Heath

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater, Fla.