MORE COMPASSION NEEDED IN DRUG WAR

To the editor:

I respectfully disagree with the Delta Democrat Times' Jan. 18th editorial.
These days zero-tolerance drug policies pose a greater threat to students
than drugs.

According to the "Monitoring the Future" survey, more than half of all high
school seniors have tried an illicit drug.

Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education 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.