In the March 21 editorial, “A crime is a crime,” the Daily editorial board says of the Higher Education Act: “The legislation is too narrow and fails to punish everyone equally who deserve to be punished.

“The legislation is not sufficient in accomplishing what politicians tried to do.

“Equally illegal crimes should be subject to similar punishments.”

This is all true.

We also need to consider why equally harmful and deadly drugs are not subject to similar punishments.

Cocaine and heroin are classified and regulated as controlled substances.

Nicotine is a CNS stimulant drug like cocaine, but more deadly than cocaine.

Alcohol is a CNS depressant drug like heroin, but more deadly than heroin.

So why are tobacco and alcohol expressly exempt by name from the Controlled Substances Act {21 USC 802(6)}?

Why does the government exempt the most deadly drugs, tobacco and alcohol, from the drug laws that regulate all drugs except the most deadly drugs, tobacco and alcohol?

I can’t get a politician to answer this question.

Why is the federal government soft on drugs?

Why has the federal government surrendered to the tobacco and alcohol drug lords?

Tom Barrus

Pharmacist and MBA

American Federation for Legal Consistency