A large group of Oklahomans in the law enforcement community came together this week to criticize the recent mailings and television advertising of Yes on 820. “To imply that expanding access to marijuana will make our communities safer would be laughable if it were not so destructive,” said former Director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, State Senator Darrell Weaver.

Oklahomans start voting this week on whether to expand marijuana use in the Sooner state. Early voting begins Thursday, March 2, at county election boards across the state. SQ#820, if approved, would allow recreational use of pot for those over 21. Advocates contend the state is losing millions of dollars in tax revenue by not taxing dopehead use. They say the tax from recreational use could be used to “help the children.” Currently only medical use of weed is legal in Oklahoma. Three observations: First, every sin tax Oklahoma passed in the last 40 years was done to ‘help the children.” Liquor by the drink, parimutuel horse track betting, the state lottery, and casino gambling all were marketed/peddled to Okies as vehicles to provide more money for education. The tax revenue windfall from each was supposed to improve Oklahoma children’s quality of life by making them healthy, wealthy and wise. Never mind the aforementioned did major damage to Oklahoma families by promoting addictive activities. A strategy to smoke, drink and gamble the way to prosperity seems foolhardy, irresponsible, and bad public policy. Most of the time the tax revenue from ‘sin’ tax is a net loss to a community. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, in states where pot has been legalized for recreational use, fatal traffic accidents attributed to DUIs associated with pot have skyrocketed. The only high drivers we need in Oklahoma are those driving up Mt. Scott.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nelson Onaro, age 61, of McAlester, Okla., entered a guilty plea to count six of a superseding information which charged him with six counts of unlawful distribution and dispensing of a controlled substance in violation of Title 21 U.S.C §§ 841(a) (1) and 841(b)(1)(C), punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000,000 or both.

Every person in a nursing home has the right to good care, under the law. The law states that the nursing home must help residents “attain or maintain” their highest level of physical, mental and emotional well-being. In order to provide good care, the staff must assess each resident and plan care to support each resident’s lifelong patterns, and their current interests, strengths and needs. When residents and family members are involved in the care planning process, they can provide the staff with information needed to make sure residents get the good care they deserve.