Pubdate: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA) Email: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ Address: PO Box 1171, Pittsfield, MA 01202 Fax: (413) 499-3419 Copyright: 2006 New England Newspapers, Inc.) Author: Katherine Osborn Dinicola Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06.n318.a02.html BLAME KIDS, NOT DISTRICT ATTORNEY To the Editor of THE EAGLE: In regard to Laurie Sawin's letter of March 11 ("Give kids, families their lives back"), it is amazing to me how Ms. Sawin's version of the drug deals that took place in Great Barrington differs so dramatically from that of the district attorney's office. Ms. Sawin tries to downplay the role of these teenagers as if their offense was as minor as stealing a candy bar from the local convenience store. I believe that, according to the records in some of these cases, scales were used to measure the drugs before the drug deals were made. Use of scales to measure out drugs for a drug deal is something that serious drug dealers do, not something done by a "first time" petty marijuana seller. Just because they have only been caught selling drugs one time does not mean it is the first time they have ever sold drugs. These kids knew exactly what they were doing and they got caught. And now they are crying for sympathy from the public. How dare they. If we just slap them on the wrist like their parents want, what is next? Do we do the same for the first-time driver who gets stopped for driving under the influence who is just the tiniest bit over the legal limit? Why not, they're not a real drunk. They were only just a little drunk. To blame the D.A. for the turmoil that this has caused these families is utterly ridiculous! These kids and their families are responsible for their own actions. You can't blame the D.A. for upholding the law just because it directly affects your family in a way that you don't like. This is going to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Too bad. It should. Maybe this will be a wake-up call for all the other "petty" marijuana sellers out there. Ms. Sawin can spin this any way she wants, but the bottom line is that they broke the law, were caught in the act and now must face the consequences. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman