Freyne Land

Not the beach variety, rather the state’s attorney variety. We’re talking Bobby Sand, the state’s top prosecutor in Windsor County. The one who has taken off the rose-colored glasses and publicly admitted the almost 40-year War on Drugs has been an unmitigated failure by any and every measurement. A failure for everyone, that is, - except the private prison industry.

Prosecutor Sand, a Democrat,  is now publicly calling for the legalization of marijuana and a serious examination of the failed policy that treats heroin addicts like criminals, instead of like addicts.

What does Republican Gov. Jim Douglas think of Sand’s proposal?

"Well, I don’t agree with it. And I think, to be perfectly honest, the voters of Windsor County perhaps had a right to know this before he was reelected rather than immediately after that.

"I believe we need to be serious about drugs in our state. We are serious. Our state police, through the heroin enforcement action team, has been very aggressive in rounding up drug dealers and making it very, very clear that we don’t tolerate that.

"So I think that what [State’s Attorney Sand] suggested is the wrong way to go."

Q. Is he fit for the position he holds?

Douglas: "Well , it’s curious, but I hope and assume he’ll be true to his oath of office, which is to uphold the laws of our state.”

Well, what did you expect Jim Douglas to say?

Something along the lines of: I think Prosecutor Sand is demonstrating tremendous courage and his deep, deep concern for the people of Vermont. The War on Drugs has been an unmitigated disaster. "Illegal drugs" are everywhere and we’ve created and we continue to fuel an enormous criminal culture. It’s time for the legislature to listen closely to what this brave law enforcement official is saying.

In the 1970s when he was House GOP leader, yes, Jim Douglas did supportdecriminalizing marijuana and voted accordingly. But that was the 1970s. If anything, JimDouglas is a man of the times - the present times.

But maybe those times are changin'....again?

A lot of folks snowed in today. At least eight barn roofs collapsed, said the Guv. More than 20 cows killed. So will global warming mean more like these?

Driving was a bit hairy, too. Patience was key. Only one accident seen, a two-car smash up around Richmond on the way home.