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DEA Speaks Out Against Legalization

Speaking Out Against Legalization coverIn many circles, U.S. drug policy is under attack. It is being criticized primarily by those who favor a legalization agenda. It is also being challenged by those who encourage certain trends in European drug policy, like decriminalization of drug use, “harm reduction” programs, and distinctions between hard and soft drugs.

Proponents of legalization are spending huge amounts of money to encourage a greater tolerance for drug use. A number of states have passed referendums to permit their residents to use drugs for a variety of reasons. The citizens who vote in these referendums too often have to rely on the information—or rather, misinformation— being presented by the sponsors of these expensive campaigns to legalize drugs.

This booklet, Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization, is designed to cut through the fog of misinformation with hard facts. The ten factual assertions, taken together, present an accurate picture of America’s experience with drug use, the current state of the drug problem, and what might happen if America chooses to adopt a more permissive policy on drug abuse.

Click here to read entire publication>>>


Medical Marijuana - It already exists

photo-marinol tabletMedical marijuana already exists for patients who actually need it. It's called Marinol, and it has been tested and approved by the medical community and the FDA. Are those who are calling for Legalizing marijuana really calling for medicine?
More info>>


Marijuana and Crime

According to the ADAM (Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring) provides an overview of 1999 arrestees. The project collects data from more than 30,000 adult male arrestees in 34 sites, 10,000 female arrestees in 32 sites, 2,500 male juvenile detainees in nine sites, and 400 female juvenile detainees in six sites. Marijuana was the more frequent drug detected among adult males, and cocaine was most frequently detected in adult females. Marijuana use was more than six times higher than cocaine use for both juvenile males and females.

20% of ADAM participants who were positive for marijuana drug use, also tested positive for multi-drugs.

Need the facts about Marijuana? Check out the Office of National Drug Control Policy's guide to What Americans Need to Know About Marijuana.


What happens when drugs are legalized?

While many speculate about how drug legalization would affect our nation, the best way to predict possible effects is to examine what happened in places that have tried drug legalization. The realities of relaxed drug policies in practice make a strong argument against legalization.


Confusion in California

marijuana leavesProposition 215 supposedly legalizes marijuana for medical use only. However, the law has created so much confusion about what is and what is not "medical" marijuana that it has opened loopholes allowing anyone to grow, traffic, and smoke marijuana with virtual impunity.
Click here for the facts about medical marijuana in California>>

 


What Are Drug Treatment Courts?

Drug treatment courts are specialized community courts designed to help stop the abuse of drugs, alcohol, and related criminal activity. Non-violent offenders who have been charged with simple possession of drugs are given the option to receive treatment instead of a jail sentence. A judge oversees each case from the beginning and traces progressions and lapses through random drug testing and monitoring attendance to treatment sessions.
More Info>>>


Marijuana and Addiction

Users can become dependent on marijuana to the point they must seek treatment to stop abusing it. In 1999, more than 200,000 Americans entered substance abuse treatment primarily for marijuana abuse and dependence.

chart - Marijuana Treatment Admissions Nationwide have increased steadily over time.
Source: HHS, Office of Applied Studies, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, TEDS.


Voters Say No to Relaxed Drug Laws
Overwhelming Defeat of Initiatives Send Strong Anti-Drug Message

Adequate supply? Three ounces, 
approximately 255 joints of marijuana. 
This is the amount that would have been 
legal if the Nevada initative had passed.Voters in Nevada, Arizona, and Ohio were given the opportunity to legalize drugs during this month's elections. The said no in overwhelming numbers. In Nevada 61% of voters opposed a proposal that would have allowed anyone to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana. In Arizona 57% defeated a plan that would have made state law enforcement the broker form medicinal marijuana. In Ohio 67% opposed a proposal that would have allowed nonviolent drug offenders to seek treatment over incarceration-a program considerable less effective than drug treatment courts. (http://www.dea.gov/ongoing/treatment.html).

Detailed information about each initiative is available at:
Nevada:http://www.dea.gov/ongoing/nevadainitiative.html
Arizona: http://www.dea.gov/ongoing/arizonainitiative.html
Ohio: http://www.dea.gov/ongoing/ohioinitiative.html

 


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