Drug Panel Hears Law On Marijuana Criticized

Present laws and pending legislation regarding marijuana and other drugs were evaluated last night by a task force of the Mayor's Committee on Drug Abuse as being either completely unrealistic or minor steps tóward a solution. The panel, moderated by lawyer Allyn Kantor, received a report by State Senator Gilbert Bursley, R-Ann Arbor, in which he said "we have been made acutely aware of the fact that present laws and present means of enforcement have been remarkably unsuccessful." Bursley went on to summarize the status and content of various drug laws now before the State Legislature. He cautioned, "jail sentences and fines are not sufficient deterrents and cannot even maintain a holding action in preventing drug abuse and drug dependence." With respect to marijuana, Bursley voiced favor for reducing penalties connected with its sale and possession. "Marijuana is not a narcotic substance causing physical addiction, and to retain it in the narcotics classification contributes to the growing disrespect and disregard for the law by young people," he said. - ■ Assistañt County Prosecutor Thomas Shea said his department's job is only "to enforce the law" and that any new drug legislation should be based on valid scientific research. "There is no real scientific study being done today on marijuana . . . and we know so little I about other drugs," Shea said. "Until these drugs have been investigated scientifically we can't come up with any recommendations." Shea did tell the panel there has been a drop in the number of LSD cases recently, but that, "heroin cases have increased tremendously." Asked what he believed to be the greatest hurdle for more effective drug-law enforcement, Shea cited a recent Supreme Court ruling on search and seizure. "If a policeman actually sees someone blowing a pot pipe in a car then he would have reasonable cause to stop and search the car and occupants, otherwise he is powerless," he said.l Other speakers included Mrs. John Sinclair, wife of the White I Panther leader, who was asked to give her evaluation of current marijuana laws. "My husband is in jail for up to 10 years for possession of two marijuana cigarettes. There is no question that this law is used in an oppressive way. "Marijuana was legal in U.S. until 1939, then some fanatic . . . told all these horror stories about people jumping out of Windows under the influence of marijuana," Mrs. Sinclair said "In New York City you hardly ever hear of a bust for possession of marijuana. . . . I think there should be a city ordinance passed in Ann Arbor making possession of the drug a misdemeanor." Both Shea and Mrs. Sinclair were a s k e d what the limit should be beyond which the law should involve itself in personal drug use. "If he flips out and hurts other "people with it or destroys property," replied Mrs. Sinclair. Shea answered, "First we must determine what we are dealing with."