WAR ON DRUGS IS WAGED UNFAIRLY AND IS UNWINNABLE
Copyright (c) 1997, The Buffalo News

How refreshing to read the views expressed by federal
Judge John T. Curtin on the status of the " War on Drugs.
" The analogy made to the Vietnam War is apropos; it is not
winnable.

The suggestion that the judge makes as to considering
the decriminalization of marijuana seems like a logical
starting point. The public, in general, would be surprised
(or not surprised) to know how many working, productive
citizens in professional occupations such as law, medicine,
social work and even law enforcement have experimented with
and, in many cases, regularly use marijuana with no ill
effects. I challenge anyone to document any lethal cases of
marijuana overdosing.

To fill prisons with marijuana offenders is ludicrous.
Mandatoryminimum sentencing guidelines under federal
statutes that imprison otherwise lawabiding, nonviolent
persons convicted of marijuana offenses force judges to
sentence those convicted to outrageous prison terms.

My brother and his wife both of whom have worked
since their teens and contributed much to society are
facing the possibility of life in federal prison if
convicted on a dubious indictment obtained on evidence of
convicted and cooperating witnesses.

They also risk losing everything they have worked for
under the federal substituteassets statute. One would
think twice about going to trial under such circumstances.

The total amount of marijuana seized in this alleged
conspiracy was 15 pounds, seized from another cooperating
codefendant.

Judge Curtin deserves thanks for his enlightened and
practical views. MARGARET M. SWEENEY Hamburg