Pubdate: Sun, 21 Apr 2002
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Copyright: 2002 Detroit Free Press
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Website: http://www.freep.com/
Author: Scott Ehlers
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n678/a07.html

DRUG LAWS

Thanks for Brian Dickerson's April 8 column on the need to reform Michigan's
failed drug laws ("Sentencing sanity may make a return"). 

The Michigan drug-reform initiative and the two House bills will go far in
saving Michigan taxpayers money and reducing drug-related crime. I was
somewhat surprised that Dickerson said the initiative contains "detailed
prescriptions" that would be "set in constitutional concrete." True, the
initiative is a constitutional amendment, but it would be better described
as fertile soil rather than concrete, because it will allow Michigan's drug
policy to grow and evolve over time. 

One of the "detailed prescriptions" that is in the initiative requires drug
kingpins to serve a mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison. 

Maybe some "constitutional concrete" isn't so bad after all. 

Scott Ehlers, Director of Research Campaign for New Drug Policies

Santa Monica, Calif.
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