Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2004 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Larry Seguin Note: Best option for printed LTEs, postal mail, signed w/phone# Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04.n830.a07.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) DRUG REFORM To The Editor: I find it disturbing when law enforcement moves from enforcing the law to commanding the law. DAs, Cops Want Say On Drug Reforms, Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News June 7. The Rockefeller drug laws have New York taxpayers paying more for prisons than for education. It has put mothers in prison for life on conspiracy charges. Conspiracy charges mean no drugs were found in their possession. It has made the legislators lazy in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Franklin, and Lewis counties. They depend on prison population to secure census related funding. Look at what the Law Enforcement Coalition Against drug Decriminalization is made up of. All are supported by New York Taxpayers. With crime at a 20 year low, they want to chase low-level non-violent substance users. They say they "are not trying to kill reform". But yet they want to "block the diversion of drug offenders to treatment". Ninety percent of drug crimes are prohibition not drug use. The prohibition of alcohol gave birth to the potent and very dangerous moonshine. The crack down on marijuana ditch weed created hydroponic marijuana. The crack down on cross tops and black beauties gave birth to Methamphetamine. When alcohol was relegalized moonshine became a nonissue. It is time to legalize marijuana. That will be our gateway out of hard drugs. We would no longer need the Rockefeller drug laws. Maybe then the taxpayer can travel without being profiled as a drug user for tinted windows or a burnt out bulb on our vehicles. Larry Seguin Lisbon - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin