Al Gore III was arrested on July 4, 2007 at 2:30 am carrying marijuana, Xanax, Vicodin, Valium, and Adderall, none of which he had a prescription for. This isn’t the first time he’s been in trouble with the law involving his car and drugs. In 2003, he was arrested when he was pulled over for not having his headlights on and police discovered marijuana in his car. In 2002, he was arrested for drunk driving near a military base in Virginia. And in 2000, after being clocked at 94 mph, he was ticketed for reckless driving in North Carolina.
Now, after this past arrest he has been offered what appears to be Prop. 36 - the option to attend a drug rehab in order to avoid jail and formal charges. It is rumored that he has signed himself into a drug rehab for 90 days and is completely dedicated to the rehab program. Although it is my sincere hope that he is dedicated to recovery this time, he has done this before. After his arrest in 2003 for marijuana possession, he attended a drug rehab program, 12 weeks of urinalysis testing, and community service. Here we are 4 years later with a far more serious charge than just marijuana possession. As a first time felony drug offense, I see it as only fair that he is offered Prop. 36 and allowed to attend a drug rehab program instead of instant jail time.
I just hope he makes a real effort this time and truly understands the severity of his offense, and the reality of addiction, with the importance drug rehab but only time will tell. Drug rehab programs do a lot of good for people completely under the grip of addiction as well as those who are just beginning to walk the line. Drug rehab can work as a preventative measure just as effectively as it can a recovery measure.
