Editor -- Re: The article reporting on Dan Lungren's trip to Washington
seeking guidance from the FDA.

Attorney General Lungren should stay home and do his job by defending the
state of California's new medical marijuana program from the unjustified
usurpation of state jurisdiction by the federal government. It is not a
given that the federal laws overriding the lawful (under state law)
possession of marijuana for personal medical use makes a person subject to
federal prosecution. Should the federal government make such a move against
such a person Dan Lungren should tell them to ``Butt out, the people have
spoken.''

What is the federal government going to do? Nationalize the National Guard?
Kiss our electoral votes goodbye?

Politically, Lungren and Pete Wilson have more to gain by asserting
``states rights'' on this issue than being a lick spital to the DEA.

GERALD M. SUTLIFF
Walnut Creek