DRUG TASK FORCE

They Have Seriously Misplaced Priorities

Sept. 6 must have been a slow news day for The Herald to put the "bumper
crop of pot" story at the top of the front page. Particularly when the
article is full of half-truths, stereotypes, misleading information and
contradictions.

"Taking down pot growers is a day's work" for the 15-member Regional Task
Force, yet "it's hard for us to find whoever put these here." So actually
no growers were "taken down." Another quote: "It's been a good summer for
growing marijuana," according to Sgt. Jim Duffy, but the grow detailed in
the article was "pathetic."

The $1,000 per plant value is also misleading. That's the possible top
value of only the healthiest, most potent strains. Those 22 plants in
Tulalip were worth closer to a couple hundred dollars, not $22,000. The
total of $250,000 for the four-day sweep is equally overestimated, I'm
sure, to further justify more federal grants. Finally, Sgt. Duffy says
"drug dealers are lazy by nature." Could it be that the "lush and budded
out" plants the task force failed to find are being grown by marijuana
smokers who are not lazy and did a better job not only of growing but of
not being found?

With our economy dragging, the federal deficit enormous, is seems the
Regional Drug Task Force has some seriously misplaced priorities.

STEVE MORSE

Snohomish