DRUG REFORM WAITS

Proposed Law Could Reverse Cycle For Some

One state lawmaker recently described any bill passing the state House of
Representatives as "Cheez Whiz Lite."

That's because a 49-49 Republican-Democrat split in the House often
requires that a piece of legislation be diluted so both parties will go along.

This makes passage of the controversial Senate Bill 5419 seem tenuous. The
bill would shorten some prison terms for drug offenders in exchange for
mandatory drug treatment.

The bill cleared the Senate last week, with a surprising 31-14 bipartisan
vote. But in the House, a similar bill has been stuck in committee and has
yet to come up for air. Whether SB 5419 will even get a hearing is unknown.
Hope that it does, and urge House leaders to put the bill on the
Legislature's to-do list.

SB 5419 gives legislators a chance to abandon Cheez Whiz Lite for a solid
product.

A losing battle

The war on drugs is a war we seem to be losing, no matter how good the
intentions behind our state's current drug laws or the dedicated and hard
work of police in our communities. Drugs continue to be a problem for two
reasons: money and addiction.

While it makes sense to offer treatment that can take addiction out of the
picture for some drug abusers, treatment is seen by some state legislators
and members of the public as a favor or reward. Even if treatment is a
favor, who cares, so long as it helps society in the long run? Washington
must revisit the primary goal of its war on drugs: Is it to end drug abuse
and drug dealing, or to punish bad guys after they become abusers or
dealers? Incarceration without treatment does little to promote the true goal.

Breaking the cycle of drug addiction can better happen with one part prison
and one part treatment. The Senate bill simply trims about six months from
a current 21- to 27-month minimum sentence for first-time offenders caught
making or delivering cocaine or heroine in exchange for treatment. Under
the plan, the state would save some money on prison housing costs. Each
offender costs taxpayers an average of $21,000 a year to keep in prison.

The Senate bill even drew the support of some of Washington's more
conservative voices, Republican Sens. Harold Hochstatter and Val Stevens.
Holdouts included other conservative voices such as Sen. Pam Roach and
Vancouver's Don Benton.

Both Benton and Roach carried the don't-reward-criminals line in opposing
SB 5419, but don't buy it. Offering a slightly shorter prison sentence to
criminals who are going to be released sooner or later, and replacing that
last stretch of time with treatment, does a favor for children and
communities. If it helps the drug offender in the process, thank heavens.