Bob Kelleher on Drugs

Republican challenger

The war on drugs has been lost

Drug use is on the rise in Montana. In 1970 the federal bureau of prisons had less than 21,000 inmates--16% of whom were drug offenders. By last October the number of inmates had jumped almost 600%--to over 120,000. In that time drug sentences jumped 340%. The cost of maintaining a federal prisoner a year will almost pay for a year's tuition at Harvard or Yale!

Half of the drug busts involved marijuana! The war on drugs has been lost--like prohibition against alcohol in the days of gangster Al Capone. Sen. Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, chair of the Drug Study Committee, reported to Gov. Martz and Attorney General McGrath in September after an eight-month study that the war on drugs in Montana is a failure and that we need two more treatment centers in addition to MCDC in Butte. Also lost are the taxes that could have been used for treatment centers or education. Why not ask Montana voters if the want to legalize and tax marijuana?

Source: Bob's Message to Montana Schoolkids (15-min. TV interview) Oct 1, 2002

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*Other candidates on Drugs:*		*Bob Kelleher on other issues:*
*MT Gubernatorial:* Brian Schweitzer *MT Senatorial:* Jon Tester Kirk Bushman Max Baucus *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *Incoming Obama Administration:* Pres.Barack Obama V.P.Joe Biden State:Hillary Clinton HHS:Tom Daschle Staff:Rahm Emanuel DHS:Janet Napolitano DOC:Bill Richardson DoD:Robert Gates A.G.:Eric Holder Treas.:Tim Geithner	*Winners of 2008 Senate Races:* ( * if new to the Senate) AK:Begich over Stevens AL:Sessions AR:Pryor CO:Udall DE:Biden and Kaufman GA:Chambliss v.Martin (Dec. 2 runoff) IA:Harkin ID:Risch IL:Durbin KS:Roberts KY:McConnell LA:Landrieu MA:Kerry ME:Collins MI:Levin MN:Coleman v.Franken (recounting as of Dec.1) MS4:Wicker MS6:Cochran MT:Baucus NC:Hagan over Dole NE:Johanns NH:Shaheen over Sununu NJ:Lautenberg NM:Udall OK:Inhofe OR:Merkley over Smith RI:Reed SC:Graham SD:Johnson TN:Alexander TX:Cornyn VA:*Warner WV:Rockefeller WY4:Barrasso WY6:Enzi	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: Dec 02, 2008