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San Diego County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter

What do you think about drugs in society?

By Edward J. "Ed" Peckham

Candidate for Superior Court Judge; County of San Diego; Office 24

This information is provided by the candidate
Illicit drugs destroy the fabric of our society.
Illicit drugs are evil. Pure and simply put, drugs destroy lives quicker and more effectively than most of us can imagine. In my 24 years of law practice, especially in criminal law, I have personally witnessed the effects of drugs on hapless victims. I can safely say that in 90% of all the criminal cases that I have handled, drugs were somehow involved. Most people who are convicted of crimes relating to drugs will tell you that it is simply not worth it. No amount of money, pleasure, being high or any thing they feel from the affects of drugs is worth the harm they cause to their bodies or the trouble they get into. No lack of effort should be made in the discouragement of people and kids from ever experimenting with drugs. I am not so naive as to think that there is only one way to combat drug use. We need to treat those who are treatable and recognize that some will never be so. As a judge, I would seek ways to help those who need to be treated and not be deceived by those who show a continuous pattern of abuse. Too often I have seen persons who are willing to deal with their drug problem only after they have gotten into trouble or are facing a long prison sentence. It is just as important to identify persons who are not willing to address their drug habit as to provide help to those who do. I believe that I have acquired the experience to know the difference and I will bring that experience to the bench.

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ca/sd Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 1, 2004 11:40
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