DRUG SENTENCING

Your editorial "High court puts judge back in judgment" raises valid
concerns about the need for Congress to exercise prudence as they examine
federal sentencing guidelines in the wake of the most recent Supreme Court
rulings.

At the same time, Congress should give careful reconsideration to the
overall justification for such sentences, especially as applied to
low-level drug offenders.

Drug abuse has its roots in a combination of physical, mental and spiritual
problems. None of these are addressed by taking the offender and caging
them in a federal prison for years - or in the case of many mandatory
minimum sentences - decades.

And despite the feds having jailed over one million such offenders over the
past 20 years, the demand for illicit drugs and the illegal trade that
feeds it remain a steady constant.

Stern sentencing is likely worthy for those criminals who pose a clear and
demonstrable threat to the public. Simply being in possession of or selling
a short list of politically incorrect substances, however is not worthy of
such resolutions. It's urgent that Congress bear that in mind during
upcoming discussions of how to rewrite the mandatory minimum guidelines.

Stephen Heath

Drug Policy Forum of Florida, Clearwater, Fla.