Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: Albany Times Union (NY)
Copyright: 2002 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/8
Author: Alexandra Meyerson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n414/a07.html?9558

ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS DON'T PROTECT US

It was with great sadness that I read your March 8 piece "Cops believe that 
teen was duped by drug dealers." Unfortunately, this tragedy is certainly 
not an isolated incident.

Many of us who read these stories everyday have come to realize that it is 
our so-called "War on Drugs" that is directly responsible for the crime and 
misery that they relate. As long as recreational drugs are illegal in this 
country, the black-market exists as an open invitation for the unscrupulous 
to make tremendous profits with little or no regard for our children.

In New York state, we have compounded this problem with the Rockefeller 
drug laws, which mandate prison time for all convicted drug-offenders over 
the age of 18. These laws have forced dealers to recruit young people, like 
the mentally disabled young man in your story, whom they find easy to 
frighten and control.

It is time for New Yorkers to realize that the Rockefeller laws are not 
protecting any of us from drugs and drug-related crime, and have instead 
turned our children into targets for dealers. We, as voters and 
legislators, need to repeal these laws to prevent future children from 
being used and mistreated in this way.

Alexandra Meyerson, Flushing
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