I'm very proud of the good work that all of you have done, the fine and very courageous stands that the Members of the House and Senate have taken.

It's a great pleasure for me to come in now and to take at least partial credit for the fine work that all of you around me have done for so long.

I am advised by the Department of Justice that this aspect of Section 706 is unconstitutional.

I think that this provides us a basis on which we can make improvements on the bill in years to come.

We must set realistic objectives, giving our foremost attention domestically to those drugs that pose the greatest threat to health.

My goals are to discourage all drug abuse in America.

The estimated cost of drug abuse in America exceeds 15 billion dollars each year.

Its success will depend on active participation by members of Congress, the Federal departments and agencies, State, local and regional officials, interested groups, and individual citizens.

This situation has led to difficulties in managing resources and safeguarding the environment; waste of time and money; confusion to the public; and ineffective coordination of geophysical and environmental research and technology.

I strongly support the work of the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control (UNFDAC).

Close cooperation among the regional and field offices of your agencies is essential if your efforts are to succeed.

I congratulate you on taking this step toward a better regulatory system.

Drug addiction can be cured; but we must not only treat the immediate effects of the drugs, we must also provide adequate rehabilitation.

We must work closely with other governments to assist them in their efforts to eradicate the cultivation of drugs.

Drug research and treatment programs will also be improved to lessen the adverse effect of drugs on the lives of our people.

I'm ordering the Attorney General to concentrate on breaking the links between organized crime and drug traffic.

Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself.

I do not condone any drug abuse, and we'll do everything possible to reduce the serious threat to our society.