Let's All Move To Maine

As you cross the border into Maine the sign says "Welcome To Maine. The Way Life Should Be."

To some extent, that could be wishful thinking.

For several years now overdose deaths have come close to or exceeded traffic fatalities in Maine.

To be fair, this is a trend in our country, beginning in 2009 so you can't single out Maine as a problem drug state.

Kind of gives you a hint as to what is going with the citizens of our country as well.

And to be honest with you, although I have never OD'd on drugs in Maine, I have overdosed on alcohol.

Many times.

But that is a story for another place and time, and one that must be cloaked in anonymity lest members of my family be incriminated.

Narcan, an overdose antidote drug, attaches to the same receptors in the brain as opiates, and can reverse overdose effects when someone is in respiratory distress.

Federal drug officials recently encouraged more widespread use of Narcan.

Maine Governor (republican) Paul LePage opposes a bill that would make Narcan available to more first responders, as well as relatives of addicts. He vetoed a similar bill last year saying "it would provide a false sense of security to drug abusers."

According to NHPR, LePage recently proposed hiring 14 more drug agents and expanding drug courts; he did not address treatment.

"We must hunt down the dealers and get them off the street. We must protect our citizens from drug- related crimes and violence. We must save our babies from life-long suffering."

The last comment refers to what is described as "drug-affected" babies; babies born to addicted mothers, many of whom are Medicaid recipients. The bill would require Maine's Medicaid program to pay for Narcan prescriptions.

Call me insensitive, but Pauly doesn't sound like the most open minded guy in the world. He's pretty much old school, the war on drugs and all that.

The war on drugs was signed into law on January 28, 1972 by none other than Richard Nixon. When you consider the man's stellar reputation you have to automatically question the concept.

We just celebrated the 42nd anniversary of this "war."

When will those in authority finally recognize that people want drugs and that the war on drugs probably hurts more lives than the drugs do?

More importantly to the powered elite, when will they recognize the income potential of legalizing drugs? Imagine the kick backs and payoffs and graft that could be enjoyed by our reputable politicians in a world with legalized drug trafficking.

Maine is a cool state. Beautiful. I am related to some cool people up there.

What Maine does not need is pig headed officials. The kind who stroke their moose heads every morning for luck.

On my next trip to Maine I am going to organize all the addicts and put together a movement to dethrone Pauly.

We'll have a rally. In Old Orchard Beach.

Join us. It is bound to be one hell of a party.