THE OTHER WAR

Thank you for publishing Jefferson's Fish's comments on how it's especially
inappropriate to prosecute our feckless drug war in the wake of the
destructive September terrorist attacks that greatly stressed an already
troubled U.S. economy ["Divert Drug-Bust Money to War on Terrorism," Jan. 2].

As Fish points out, the enormous cost of arresting and imprisoning
nonviolent drug users - steep enough when the economy is robust - is even
less affordable during a recession.

Despite some earlier presidential hints to the contrary, George W. Bush's
choices for attorney general, Drug Enforcement Agency administrator and
drug czar certainly didn't indicate that any moderation of existing policy
was in the offing. That impression was further strengthened by DEA moves to
shut down two distribution facilities for medical cannabis in California -
"buyers' clubs" - which had been operating in an exemplary fashion under
the new state law.

That federal officials are also cognizant of how unpopular their policies
are with the public is also painfully obvious: Although both clubs' records
have been impounded and their patients forced to either do without or
patronize the black market, no charges have been filed.

Is this "compassionate conservatism" in action?

Tom O'Connell MD

Editor's Note: The writer is a doctor. San Mateo, Calif.