Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jun 2003
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2003 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: William J. Kelly Jr.
Cited: Office of National Drug Control Policy (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov )
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Rosenthal (Rosenthal, Ed)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ashcroft.htm (Ashcroft, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

To the Editor:

In "Federal Persecution" (editorial, May 31), you call for fair play and 
justice in the sentencing of Ed Rosenthal, a medical marijuana advocate, in 
California. I agree. The draconian harshness of our drug laws results in 
too many miscarriages of justice. It is a cruel irony that this country is 
among the world's leaders in the incarceration of its citizens.

I do question, however, the phrasing of your conclusion: "There is 
considerable political pressure on federal judges now not to deviate from 
federal sentencing guidelines." Political pressure brought by whom?

WILLIAM J. KELLY JR.

Stockholm, N.J., May 31, 2003
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom