Pubdate: Fri, 08 Mar 2002
Source: Detroit News (MI)
Copyright: 2002, The Detroit News
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/126
Author: Tony Amadori
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n327/a07.html

DON'T JAIL DRUG OFFENDERS

Susan L. Hiltz, executive director of Prevention Coalition of 
Southeast Michigan, disagrees with Nolan Finley's endorsement of a 
fresh look at drug legalization ("Don't let out-of-staters legalize 
drugs," Feb. 24).

She states that "out-of-state multimillionaires" are financing this 
re-evaluation of our criminal treatment of drug users. It is hard to 
believe such sentiments do not exist in Michigan, as well as in all 
of the United States.

Regardless of the above, Hiltz espouses the very points that Trio's 
ballot measure recognizes in her closing paragraph: "The answers lie 
in education, prevention, coupled with treatment and accompanied by 
research. The answers do not lie in drug legalization." We only want 
to change her last sentence to: The answers do not lie in prison 
sentences for drug users, who have committed no other crime.

Why send someone to prison for a frailty he or she is not able to 
overcome, without family and professional assistance?

Tony Amadori,
Livonia
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh