Lined Up

How should I feel about new Governor David Paterson's admission that he did pot and coke when he was in his 20s?

I'm mildly surprised, both by his candor and his admission that he revealed his criminality. With many other politicians admitting to drug use, including former Governor Spitzer and President Bill Clinton, drug use isn't the taboo as it was once seen. Yet, drug use is still illegal under state law.

How does this inform his policy stance on drug crime policy and sentencing? That's the real question here, even as one has to wonder what other skeletons are lurking in his closet (and do we really want to know them?).

Paterson was, and remains, a supporter of reforming the Rockefeller drug laws. As per the Drug Policy Alliance:

Before being elected as Lt. Governor in 2006 on the Spitzer ticket, Mr. Paterson served as Minority Leader in the State Senate. A twenty-year veteran of the Senate, Mr. Paterson was a key champion of Rockefeller Drug Law reform. In 2004, he released a report which outlined proposals that are, even now, more progressive than anything previously considered.

The Drug Policy Alliance and our allies have worked closely with Mr. Paterson over the years. I’ve met personally with him on numerous occasions to discuss the Rockefeller Drug Laws, and in every instance, without fail, he expressed his commitment to this cause. He always promised to do what he could to win real reform, and he always kept his word to us in our dealings with him. For further background on Mr. Paterson, you can read a NY Times article here.

Like us, he shares the view that drug use and abuse should be viewed as a public health issue, rather than a criminal justice issue. Given the extensive alternative-to-incarceration infrastructure in New York State that can divert people convicted of low-level drug law offenses each year, we are confident that a public health approach to drug policy in New York is within sight.

UPDATE:
This definitely gives us more insight into how and why Paterson believes that the Rockefeller laws should be reformed. He probably realizes that he very easily could have ended up in prison for his coke and pot usage.