CONVOLUTED DRUG LAWS

Re: "DWI appeal is rejected for Tulia prosecutor," Oct. 23 news story.

The case of Swisher County District Attorney Terry McEachern illustrates
how convoluted and counterproductive our drug laws have become. Mr.
McEachern participated in the infamous Tulia drug sting. Thirty-eight
people were falsely accused of selling small amounts of an illegal drug to
an adult. No danger to anyone was even alleged. The accused were sentenced
to long prison terms.

Last spring Mr. McEachern drove to Ruidoso, N.M., had three drinks with his
dinner, took two Valiums, got in his Jeep and headed for Texas. A
frightened family in another car called 911 on their cellphone. For using
legal drugs and endangering everyone else on the road, Mr. McEachern was
fined $300 and sentenced to two days in jail.

Where is the sanity in these sentences?

Suzanne Wills, Drug Policy Forum of Texas, Dallas