DEAR ANN LANDERS

Dear Ann Landers: Thank you for your recent words about the inhumanity of
our country's approach to drug use. You are right -- 30 years in prison for
a minor possession makes no sense -- not for the individual who can become
a hardened criminal while in prison, not for his family and not for
society, which must spend huge amounts of money to punish someone for what
is essentially harmless behavior.

I am a graduate student in the department of history at the University
of Massachusetts. I have been researching the war on drugs for a
number of years, and the whole thing strikes me as being tragically
mishandled. It makes me sad to see so many people's lives destroyed
for the sake of the careers of some opportunistic politicians.

Our country must not throw away many of the freedoms we once
considered precious. We must be careful not to go too far and risk
turning ourselves into a police state.

J.G., Amherst, Mass.

Dear Amherst: Your letter is sure to create some controversy among students
on a great many campuses. This space is open to all sorts of opinions, and
I'm pleased to hear from anyone who wishes to express him-or herself.