Pubdate: Sun, 19 2000
Source:  Ogdensburg Journal, Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2000  St Lawrence County Newspapers Corp.
Address: P.O. Box 409, Ogdensburg, New York 13669
Author: Terry Koch
NOTE: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone number.

RECONSIDER GETS 450 NAMES ON DRUG LAW REFORM LETTERS

Ogdensburg, New York -- St. Lawrence County's ReconsiDer chapter has 
collected more than 450 signatures on letters urging reform of the state's 
and nations's drug laws.

ReconsiDer member Lawrence Seguin of Lisbon said the group managed to round 
up the names on letters promoting a variety of issues over the past two months.

Seguin said he and fellow member Lee Monnet began circulating the petitions 
after a visit to the local chapter by Nick Aeyle of the state ReconsiDer 
organization.

ReconsiDer was formed to advocate for easing the New York State drug laws, 
and members are often involved in efforts to legalize or decriminalize 
various drugs from marijuana to stronger substances.

Three different letters sent to state and national elected officials touch 
on a wide variety of issues, said Seguin.

They are:

One to Congress urging opposition to a proposed law that would stop 
transmission of instructions for preparation of so-called "schedule 1" 
drugs over the internet;

Another to state officials advocating repeal of the "Rockefeller drug laws" 
of New York State;

And a third to the Senate calling on "honest debate on (national) drug 
policy." 	

The first, said Seguin, is going to Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Howard 
Berman and Zoe Lofgren, both D-Calif., and all members of the House 
Judiciary Committee.

The second targets Gov. George Pataki, State Sen. James Wright 
(R-Watertown); Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno; Assembly Speaker 
Sheldon Silver; and Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava (R-Gouvrneur).

And the third was sent to U.S. Sens. Joseph Biden and Orrin Hatch of the 
Senate Judiciary Committee.

People signing the letters are "the silent majority," said Seguin.  "The 
people being quiet are the ones who have had a lot of concerns" about the 
drug issue.

The signatures were gathered "by word of mouth, calling people, and 
contacting friends," he said.

The third letter addresses the issue that tough drug laws have been in 
place "for 27 years and nothing has changed.  The DEA (Drug Enforcement 
Administration) is getting only ten percent of the drugs coming in," with 
heroin and cocaine readily available.

He said it is his opinion that the prison system is "an industry" noting 
that "If you go to the Department of Corrections website and download their 
map, you can see that they're in rural areas.  They're using them to 
achieve an economic impact."

He said he was shocked when he saw that Mayor William Nelson urged a fourth 
prison in Ogdensburg, describing it in the process as an "economic boost" 
for the city.

"They said the same thing about the other prisons, but we lost K-Mart, 
Ames, Jubilee, Great American, and Mater Dei Collage," added Seguin.

"What is the impact? We've lost about six businesses.  What is the economic 
impact?" He added "One mall is closed.  Wouldn't we be better off with a 
rooftop highway bringing in real business, rather than something to house 
1,000 people lifting weights all day?" 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake