Pubdate: Sun, 19 Feb 2006
Source: Daily News Transcript (Needham, MA)
Copyright: 2006 Daily News Transcript
Contact:  http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3501
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n199/a03.html
Author: Jon  Holmes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm   (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm  (Cannabis)

DRUG LAW HAVOC

Your article ("AG Reilly slams idea to soften penalties," Feb. 15) 
makes it clear that, for him, "politics is not my strong suit." In 
fact, voters in 77 Massachusetts cities and towns have supported the 
decriminalization of marijuana  in public policy questions since 2000.

What precisely is  the message Reilly wants to send? Under current 
law thousands of teens have been  denied Pell grants, college loans 
and scholarships because they have this petty  drug arrest on their records.

Their chance to straighten up and make something  of their lives is 
denied by his retribution. Police and courts  are tied up instead of 
protecting us. A study by Boston University Economist  Jeffrey Miron 
estimates that marijuana possession arrests and court processing 
costs for the state at $24.3 million a year. Reilly seems to  be 
running on "good jobs at good wages," at least for his cronies. But 
even if  he can’t count votes or media reaction, he will have to 
accept fiscal, economic  and moral responsibility for the havoc 
created by our current drug laws.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman