Pubdate: Sun, 04 Feb 2001
Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2001 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp
Address: P.O. Box 409, Ogdensburg, New York 13669
Website: http://www.ogd.com/
Author:  Joanne Monnet
Note: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone#

DRUG WAR - ZERO-TOLERANCE NOT AN EFFECTIVE STANCE

To The Editor;

I have a hard time understanding the true meaning of this drug war against 
the people. How can President Clinton pardon his own brother Roger Clinton 
from a convicted felony drug charge.

Yet, he will send 1.3 billion of our tax paying dollars to eradicate the 
coca leaf from Columbia as a civil war is slowly developing. I find it 
sends a mixed message and its hypocritical.

There are a lot of people out there who feel this drug war is a failure. 
Just to name a few; Governor Gary Johnson (R) New Mexico, Ethan Nadelman, 
Director of the Lindesmith Institute, and Dr. Gene Tenelli, Addiction 
Psychiatrist, SUNY.

These people make a lot of sense when it comes to the realization of this 
war, the one of many things they share in common is that it's time for a 
change. Our Government has fought this never ending war for years with many 
lives taken and much money spent.

I am afraid of what changes our new President has in store for us. I hope 
President Bush, Congress, and all other politicians whether local or 
national take the time to listen to the growing movement of people 
questioning the direction of the Drug War.

Joanne Monnet  Ogdensburg, NY
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