Newt Gingrich on Drugs Former Republican Representative (GA-6) and Speaker of the House

Marijuana legalization would tear America apart

International drug traders use network for terrorist traffic

Florida should increase funding for additional law enforcement resources to combat gang activities. Florida should pattern its gang elimination program after the successful Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program. GREAT is a curriculum-based program aimed at teaching students skills to help them avoid gangs, violence, and drugs.

Narcotics trafficking funds terrorism and corruption

This Gray World is made even more dangerous by the fact that it can produce income for the terrorist networks. The dramatic increase in heroin production in Afghanistan is a major threat to the pro-Western government in Kabul. In 2004, heroin producers were probably earning as much foreign currency as the Kharzai regime. It is likely over the next few years that Afghan heroin processors will increase their purchasing power and technological reach much faster than the bureaucracy in Kabul. Unchecked, this Gray World could become a major threat to the efforts to create a free, modern Afghanistan.

Increase penalties for illegal drugs

Indicate which principles you support concerning illegal drugs.
• Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs.
• Impose mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
• Impose capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers.
• Strengthen current laws dealing with non-controlled substances.
• Other: “Overhaul Border Patrol, INS, U.S. Customs, & DEA handling of drugs. Use National Guard & triple fencing to seal off the border.”

Drug-free society focuses on both drug supply & demand

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, with its constant efforts at persuasion & education, and Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign had a real effect on drug use between 1984 and 1992. In fact, drug use declined by 2/3 in 8 years. Drug use began to rise again when the educational ad campaigns were dumped by the Clinton Administration. Now we have to launch a full-scale torrent of antidrug education, in schools, in churches, in youth organizations, in after-school programs, and everywhere else that young people hang out.

We must also raise the cost of buying and using drugs. We must find a number of economic and social penalties--not just the threat of prison which we know does not work--that will make drug use socially unacceptable. We must seal off the American border by combining [various agencies] into one focused border agency.

No sympathy for addicts; no legalization

I take the opposite view. I do not believe that a drug addict passively waiting for the next fix is capable of being a free citizen. I do not believe an American that accepts widespread drug use is going to retain the spirit of optimistic individualism that has been our hallmark. Massive drug use may be acceptable in a more passive society, but it is antithetical to a free nation of self-reliant individuals.

The epidemic of poverty, dysfunction, and violence brought on by the drug trade is so much a threat to our children and our society that I believe we should design a thorough effort to destroy it.

We should have no sympathy for addicts and every sympathy for recovering addicts. We should work with every recovery program to develop low-cost detoxification programs.

Admitted to smoking marijuana, coming of age in 1960s

Permissive attitudes lead to considering legalizing drugs

I used marijuana at a party once; it had no effect

Mandatory minimum for drug & gun crimes

Finally, possession or use of a machine gun or other destructive device during the commission of these crimes is punishable for no less than 30 years. Second time offenses are punishable by life in prison.

Replace drug courts with Block Grants

1. hire, train, or employ law enforcement officers
2. pay overtime to police officers
3. purchase equipment and technology directly related to basic law enforcement purposes
4. enhance school security measures (for example, police patrols around school grounds, metal detectors, fences, closed circuit cameras, gun hotlines, etc.)
5. establish citizen neighborhood watch programs; and/or
6. fund programs that advance moral standards and the values of citizenship and involve local law enforcement officials.