FELON CHARGES AGAINST TEEN DEALERS TOO MUCH

To the editor:

These days zero tolerance poses a greater threat to students than
drugs. According to the Monitoring the Future survey, over half of all
high school seniors have tried an illicit drug. Denying a majority of
the nation's youth an education and the chance to grow up to become
productive members of society is not in America's best interest.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving drugs. An
arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering.
After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President
Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism. And
thousands of Americans have paid the price in the form of shattered
lives. More Americans went to prison or jail during the Clinton
administration than during any past administration.

As an admitted former drinker and alleged illicit drug user, President
George W. Bush is also politically vulnerable when it comes to drugs.
While youthful indiscretions didn't stop Clinton or Bush from assuming
leadership positions, an arrest surely would have. The short-term
health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-
term effects of criminal records.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe,

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington D.C.
D.C.