A change is needed.

It's been two years since Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the nation's drug czar under the Democratic Clinton administration, urged reform of the state's harsh Rockefeller Drug Laws. During that time, much in the debate has changed, but one constant remains: The Rockefeller statutes are still on the books, as Draconian as ever, and still in need of urgent reform. In 1999, Gen. McCaffrey found himself in an alliance with Gov. Pataki in urging reform, even though the …

…year, the issue has faded from the public consciousness and the prospects for passage do not seem as promising today as they were only a few months ago. But now with the former drug czar repeating the call to undo the damages of 28 years of failure, perhaps the governor and lawmakers on both sides will get serious about reaching a middle ground -- one where an enlightened drug policy can replace one crafted in ignorance.