Pubdate: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 Source: Taos News, The (NM) Copyright: The Taos News 2007 Contact: http://www.taosnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3001 Author: Mike Jones CHANGE IN FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES A long overdue change in federal sentencing guidelines has finally and recently been made. For too long there has been a huge disparity between the sentences for powdered cocaine, aka "the white man's drug," and crack cocaine, aka "the black man's drug." The difference in federal sentences was so large that it became common practice in Florida for the federal prosecutor to adopt cases made by local agencies under Florida statutes in order for the offender to receive sentences of at least 15 years as opposed to the five or so under state statutes in the mid-1980s. Such a practice was obviously racist in nature although it was widely proclaimed that it was a "new tool" in the war on drugs. Similar in nature to a sledge hammer but the only success achieved was increased revenues for the prison industry. Did drugs become harder to buy, more costly, or less potent? No, just the opposite occurred and our government continued to wage war on citizens of our country. Some may think this move too little too late, but I think it is a move, albeit long past due, in the right direction. But the right move in the right direction is legalization of all drugs with control and distribution mechanisms, and taxation to provide for treatment and use prevention programs. Mike Jones Ranchos de Taos - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake