Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2000
Source: Galveston County Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Galveston Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  PO Box 628, Galveston TX 77553
Fax: (409) 740-342
Feedback: http://www.galvestondailynews.com/letter.html
Website: http://www.galvnews.com/
Forum: http://forums.galvnews.com/
Author: Heber Taylor, The Daily News
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1667/a03.html

DIFFERING VIEWS ON DRUGS SURFACE

I recently suggested that the War on Drugs just wasn't working. I said, in 
a place where I couldn't take it back, that the $4,000 toilet seats the 
Navy occasionally buys are stupid, but the War on Drugs has that topped. I 
heard from folks all over the country.

Some people replied that I was stupid. Other folks said I was horribly 
ill-informed.

One person took issue with my admission that I'm a "moralistic, judgmental 
prude" when it comes to people who use cocaine. This reader thought I was 
being too easy on myself. He said I was guilty of demonizing people and 
encouraging violence against them.

People from across the country tuned in on our online edition, 
www.galvnews.com. Some of their comments appear on this page.

The folks at the Drug Policy Forum of Texas sent me a copy of "Shattered 
Lives: Portraits from America's Drug War" by Mikki Norris, Chris Conrad and 
Virginia Resner.

The book is based on a museum exhibit. There are pictures and stories of 
ordinary people who are in prison for drug offenses.

The book is intriguing. I had a hard time working up much sympathy for most 
of the people in the book. But there were exceptions.

It's hard not to feel sympathy for people who died in drug raids because 
police got the wrong address.

One heartbreaking story tells the tale of a school counselor. She gave her 
wayward son one more chance. He responded to her trust by hiding drug money 
in the house. She's in prison for conspiracy.

But my problem with the War on Drugs is best told by the story of a really 
unsympathetic character.

This fellow blamed other people for his problems. He compared his crimes to 
the misdeeds of people in high office. He didn't seem to see any problem 
with violating laws - especially those he didn't agree with.

Why does this fellow's case bother me? Didn't he get what he deserved? This 
fellow was sentenced to 90 years in prison. He was convicted of growing a 
few marijuana plants.

It costs those of us who pay taxes $23,000 a year to keep people in prison. 
And while this guy might deserve 90 years in prison - assuming he lived 
that long - I'm not sure that taxpayers deserve a $2.07 million bill to 
keep him there.

Is it worth that to protect society from a few marijuana plants? Is that a 
good investment? Is that a good plan for addressing our country's problem 
with drugs?

If you think it is, I hope you'll write.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D