REP. CRAFTS’ BILL WOULD MAKE MAINE THE MAGNET FOR DRUGGIES ACROSS USA
by Mary Lou Daxland
Broadside Columnist
Editorial Advisory Board Member
Democrat Representative Lydia Crafts has just put Maine into the column of states that have total left-wing idiots who are trying to pass legislation that makes NO common sense. LD 1975, sponsored by Rep. Crafts, is titled “An Act to implement a Statewide Public Health Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws Governing Scheduled Drugs.” If this passes, Maine will be ranked with Oregon and Washington as a liberal state of no laws that protect the community.
LD 1975 would legalize all recreational drugs, even cocaine and heroin. This would give Maine citizens a higher chance of overdosing on fentanyl, a drug that has killed so many in the state in the past few years. If this law passes, Maine will see people from all over New England coming to the state to buy and use drugs. Many will never return back to their own state, having used the drugs they purchased and will die in Maine. Our medical response teams will become overwhelmed as the death rate from drugs will skyrocket. Other medical emergency response units will be left behind and we will see the death rate climb from heart attacks and strokes. This due to the lack of response team availability because all others are on call dealing with drug overdoses.
Representative Lydia Crafts represents House District 46: the towns of Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and Monhegan Island. Voters in those towns need to understand how their way of life will be drastically changed if this bill passes. Every child in these communities will be subject to drug addiction that will destroy their lives.
Picture children in grammar school being offered gummy bears with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in them. High school students, operating as drug dealers. Students arriving at school so high they have no clue where they are. Maine public school students’ test scores are dropping and they will drop even more if LD 1975 passes. Children will not be able to concentrate on learning. Their minds will be thinking of only when they can get their next drug fix.
Rep. Reagan Paul (R) from Winterport who spoke against it, said, “There are strategies that we all can support to create a comprehensive and effective drug control policy.” She went on to say, “This requires investments in education and prevention, access to treatment, support and recovery services and enforcement.”
Rep. Paul concluded by saying, “We must build a system that has help in place for those willing to accept it and work toward recovery, but we should not enable people to continue dangerous behaviors and are harmful to them and all society.”
Town of Brewer Chief of Police Christopher Martin also testified against LD 1975. “Enforcement alone cannot get it done. Removal of consequences and solely focusing on a public health care response will not get it done.” ♦
Gordon Smith, the Mills administration’s director of opioid response, spoke against LD 1975 as well. Smith stated, “the removal of these provisions from Maine law at this time when the street drugs are the most lethal they have ever been, is not a proposal the administration can support at this time.”
Voters in District 46 need to contact Rep. Lydia Crafts, email Lydia.Crafts.@Legislature.maine.gov or work telephone 207-593-2664. Tell Rep. Crafts that you are against LD 1975. Ask her, “What motivated you to author this bill?” And tell her you cannot support her. ♦
