NICK AND MARY JANE

The last time we wrote about Nicholas Thimmesch II, the then-communications
director to Rep. Steve Largent, Oklahoma Republican, was voicing
bewilderment that a candlelight vigil was scheduled on the U.S. Capitol
Lower Terrace, with the explicit instructions: "Note: NO candles."

"What's a candlelight vigil with no candles?" he wondered.

Now we're pleased (we think) to report that Mr. Thimmesch, son of the late
Los Angeles Times Syndicate columnist Nick Thimmesch, has become
communications director for NORML, National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws.

Particularly intriguing, given he began his career in the Reagan White
House, served on the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign, ditto on the 1996 Dole-Kemp
campaign, and huddled with conservative moralist Bill Bennett at Empower
America, among other duties in 15-plus years.

And what would Ronald Reagan say if he knew Mr. Thimmesch was peddling
marijuana decriminalization?

"I think the Gipper was always for people following their hearts and voting
with their feet, and by coming to NORML I'm adhering to the Reagan dictum
of voting with my feet," says Mr. Thimmesch, who says he's delighted with
the election victory of George W. Bush.

"More than anything, I hope to open dialogue between traditional
conservatives and the drug reform movement in this country," Mr. Thimmesch
says, adding he could "no longer idly sit on the sidelines while the nearly
30-year so-called 'war on drugs' continues to devastate American freedoms
and constitutionally guaranteed rights.

"For too long it's been libertarian Republicans who've gone to bat on this
issue. I think the more traditional conservatives and Republicans look at
the cost effectiveness of the drug war, the damage to our civil rights, the
essence of freedom that this is all about, the more they will be convinced
they should change their policies."