DRUG LAWS INEFFECTIVE

Your newspaper had an article about changing drug laws, mainly cocaine
laws ("Review of cocaine sentences sought," Nation&World, June 28).

I have long wondered how you could murder someone and get such a low
sentence, while drug laws usually sentence a person to much longer
times.

There really isn't a difference between powder cocaine and crack
cocaine because the buyer will either shoot up the powder or cook it
down to rock. It's all the same drug, and basically the same high.

Users of this drug hurt themselves, their families and friends. And
cocaine is like the "Siren Song" of long-ago fables, calling the
person to the "rocks" where they crash.

Until we find a way to mute the call of the "Siren Song," the
addiction will overpower whatever good intentions the addict has.

It's a sad situation for all concerned, but jail time is not the cure.
The governor should look into providing long-term rehab for offenders.

Jan Zimmerman, Byron