Judge’s Plea for Legal Drugs Pleases Some, Irks Others

I’m sure that Judge James P. Gray is completely sincere in his belief that the legalization of marijuana, cocaine and heroin would be a way of controlling the problem of drugs in our society and the enormous economic drain it causes. Judge Gray is correct in saying that the present drug laws are an inefficient method of stemming the crime caused by the excessive costs of illegal drugs, costs which would be reduced if the drugs were sold legally.

I am here to tell you that Judge Gray is wrong. As a narcotics officer for six years and the supervisor of the Costa Mesa Police Department Jail for the past five years, I can tell you that the economic cost of drug abuse is only part of the overall cost. I’ve seen, firsthand, the toll that heroin takes on the human body. I’ve watched a blood technician try 40 to 50 times to find a vein on a hype, finally taking blood out of a toe. Judge Gray should take a look at the heroin users in my cells throwing up their guts and wishing they were dead.

And is Judge Gray prepared to fly with pilots who are heroin addicts? Will he trust his life to air traffic controllers and mechanics who use cocaine? Does he feel that we do not have enough drunk drivers on the road and we must add those stoned on marijuana? Does Judge Gray think that limiting the sale of legalized drugs to adults will be effective? If he does, he must never have been to a teen keg party or had one in his neighborhood.

Judge Gray may think he has a good idea, but unless he can round up the drug users and put them all on an island where they cannot harm others and can overdose to their hearts’ content, I’m afraid legalization will just not work in our society. I, for one, am tired of trying to comfort mothers whose sons and daughters have nodded off to the grave with a needle stuck in their arm.

GEORGE J. YEZBICK JR.

Sergeant

Costa Mesa Police Department