Regarding "Clinton Plan to Combat Laws Legalizing Marijuana Targets
Doctors" (Dec. 30):

The article reports that the government's plan to fight the
California referendum legalizing the medical use of marijuana "would
threaten doctors with revocation of their federal registration and
possible criminal prosecution if they prescribe the drug."

But under the law, doctors will not be prescribing or dispensing
marijuana. Recommending marijuana for a patient is a communication
to the state and local law enforcement authorities. It remains up to the
patient to obtain the marijuana. How can that be a violation of
prescription-writing rules? Since the federal government cannot legally
move against the law or the doctors, the drugwarrior establishment is
resorting to terror tactics.

GERALD M. SUTLIFF,
Walnut Creek, California.