REGARDING EDITORIAL OUTRAGE

I am writing to commend your (6/16/99) editorial outrage regarding the
leniency shown to a Burlington resident responsible for transporting
large quantities of cocaine.

By questioning the actions of those in authority, you have taken first
step to understanding what the drug war is about. Cocaine is a
dangerous drug with very high abuse potential and with minimal
beneficial use. Unfortunately, the drug policies of the federal
government continue to send the wrong message to the American citizenry.

The greatly reduced sentence handed out in this case was the third
instance this year where a significant cocaine dealer was given
virtually no punishment by Judge Sessions at the request of Federal
Prosecutors due to "cooperation". In otherwords, the authorities don't
care what you have done, as long as you have no integrity and are
willing to become their rat. In contrast, Billy Greer and Steve
Hutchins will spend the rest of their lives in federal prison for
dealing cannabis products that, as the recent federal study has shown,
bring relief for numerous ailments, to millions of Americans. Since
the drug war began, the price of both cocaine and heroin has dropped
dramatically. In contrast, the price of marihuana has increased many
fold.Government policies have put the wrong people in jail and have
left the wrong ones out. Likewise, these policies have had an
obviously incorrect effect on the price of these drugs.

The national obsession with drugs as a law enforcement issue, instead
of it being seen as a health issue, will continue to harm families,
kids and perhaps most tragically the sick.

Bob Melamede