DRUG WAR - ZERO-TOLERANCE NOT AN EFFECTIVE STANCE

To The Editor;

I have a hard time understanding the true meaning of this drug war against
the people. How can President Clinton pardon his own brother Roger Clinton
from a convicted felony drug charge.

Yet, he will send 1.3 billion of our tax paying dollars to eradicate the
coca leaf from Columbia as a civil war is slowly developing. I find it
sends a mixed message and its hypocritical.

There are a lot of people out there who feel this drug war is a failure.
Just to name a few; Governor Gary Johnson (R) New Mexico, Ethan Nadelman,
Director of the Lindesmith Institute, and Dr. Gene Tenelli, Addiction
Psychiatrist, SUNY.

These people make a lot of sense when it comes to the realization of this
war, the one of many things they share in common is that it's time for a
change. Our Government has fought this never ending war for years with many
lives taken and much money spent.

I am afraid of what changes our new President has in store for us. I hope
President Bush, Congress, and all other politicians whether local or
national take the time to listen to the growing movement of people
questioning the direction of the Drug War.

Joanne Monnet Ogdensburg, NY