ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICIES SHATTER LIVES

It's a good thing the Waukesha County Sheriff Department's drug-sniffing
dog search of Butler Middle School turned up nothing. These days,
school-based, 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 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
zero-tolerance drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe

Program officer

Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.