COUNTY MARIJUANA SUIT IS COSTING TAXPAYERS

As California organizer for the Marijuana Policy Project, thank you
for finally seeing the futility of San Diego County's medical
marijuana challenge and urging the Board of Supervisors to hang it
up, once and for all ("In brief/Rx marijuana; discovering a workout
pill," Editorial, Aug. 2). It is unfortunate that the Board of
Supervisors didn't heed the Union-Tribune's advice. In a time of
staggering budget deficits in California, continuing this frivolous
lawsuit at the expense of taxpayers (who are paying for the lawyers
on both sides) amounts to nothing less than fiscal insanity.

If San Diego County supervisors really believe that locking up
patients for following their doctor's advice is a good use of public
safety resources, one would think that they would work to bring the
medical marijuana issue back to the voters. Of course, since nearly
three out of four Californians support the medical marijuana law,
such a ballot initiative would also be an exercise in futility. But,
at least it wouldn't be on the taxpayers' dime.

F. Aaron Smith

Santa Rosa