Small Stash

The Reagan Administration calls its new drug policy "zero tolerance," meaning that planes, vehicles and vessels may be confiscated for carrying even the tiniest amount of a controlled substance. And tiny means just that. Last week the U.S. Coast Guard seized the Ark Royal, a $2.5 million, 133-ft. yacht that was in international waters between Mexico and Cuba. The onboard stash: one-tenth of an ounce of marijuana. Because only the captain and crew were on board at the time of the raid, it was not even apparent that the grass had been used by the yacht's owner. Though about 20 boats have been seized since mid-April, this incident led to loud public groaning from civil libertarians, who saw a mismatch between the punishment and the presumed crime. Eventually the Government relented. The yacht was returned after the owner paid $1,600 in fines and fees. But officials were satisfied that they had sent a message: Mere featherweight infractions can draw heavy penalties.