Pardon New Yorkers, Governor Pataki

Gov. Pataki will issue no holiday clemencies before he leaves office. The Libertarian Party of New York urges Pataki to reconsider and to pardon all drug offenders who have not been convicted of crimes against persons or their property. Gov. Pataki can demonstrate that he believes in justice by correcting the error of his predecessors. Real reform would be to repeal the Rockefeller drug laws, but clemency mitigates the injustice and harm they do. If Pataki won't act while he tests the GOP presidential waters, we must hope for better from Governor-elect Spitzer. After all, he endlessly proclaims that on Day One, everything changes. Let him prove it.

I am not terribly optimistic that Spitzer will be any better than Pataki. Spitzer opposes medical marijuana legalization which even the Christian Coalition endorsed. Spitzer spits on the suffering of those who would benefit from using medical marijuana to alleviate their symptoms.

Our 2006 Libertarian gubernatorial candidate John Clifton is a Queens social worker and former drug abuse counselor who advocates drug legalization. We do not advocate drug use. We advocate drug legalization becuase we advocate individual liberty, free markets and personal responsibility.

Richard Cooper, Chair Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org