Bill takes a powder

Hidden within your newspaper was an article on pending federal
legislation intended to reform the cocaine sentencing laws ('Disparity
in prison penalties adds fuel to critics of drug law," Feb. 6). In a
manner similar to that in a Senate-passed bill, the House has stashed
this provision in H.R. 833, the Bankruptcy Reform Act.

Under this bill, Congress would enhance the sentencing for powder
cocaine to bring it more in line with that for crack cocaine. After
all, both forms of this drug produce the same pharmacological effect -
the only notable difference is in the packaging.

I have long been an advocate of changing the disparity in cocaine
laws, which amount to nothing less than race-based sentencing. The
great majority of those convicted for crack possession are Latino or
African American. Although anyone convicted of possessing five grams
of crack is presumed to be a dealer and is subject to a mandatory
minimum of five years in prison, a person would have to possess 500
grams of powdered cocaine for the mandatory sentence to apply.

Whether approved as a part of H.R. 833 or in a different bill, I
cannot sufficiently underscore the importance of bringing parity to
cocaine sentencing laws.