BILL WOULD STRIP STATES OF CASH TO FIGHT DRUGS

WASHINGTON -- Law officers in Oregon, Washington and seven other states that
allow people to smoke marijuana for medical purposes could lose $11.5
million in federal money to investigate drug traffickers under a bill
pending in Congress.

The shift is part of a new, five-year plan for the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy.

Crafted by House Republicans, the plan would give broad spending discretion
to the office's director, also known as the nation's "drug czar."

At risk for Oregon and Washington is an annual budget totaling $6.5 million
under the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. The money could be
diverted to federal agents, who would enforce national drug laws prohibiting
the use of marijuana.

Critics, including Democratic members of Congress, said the provision could
punish local law enforcement officials unfairly. It also could undermine
efforts to control drugs that are more damaging and costly to society than
marijuana.

"However one feels about that decision by the citizens of our state, to take
resources away from our already overtaxed law enforcement is just
irresponsible, and the priorities are simply cockeyed," said Rep. Brian
Baird, D-Wash.

Law officers in the Northwest agreed, saying they needed federal money to
help track heroin dealers in urban areas, as well as methamphetamine
laboratories in rural areas.

They said they were blindsided by news that their budgets might be cut.

"This came out of the blue," said Chuck Karl, director for a high-intensity
enforcement zone covering seven counties in Oregon.

Dave Rodriguez, director for Washington, said his office has continued
aggressive pursuit of marijuana smugglers and dealers because they aren't
protected by the state's law. Budget cuts would hamper what has proved to be
an effective effort, he said.

"Why would they want to do something like that?" he said. "I think this is a
vast overreaction to what in fact this (medical marijuana law) does."

The drug-control bill, sponsored by Reps. Mark Souder, R-Ind., and Tom
Davis, R-Va., would give the drug czar authority to shift 5 percent of the
$230 million program to federal agents from states that have laws
decriminalizing the medical use of marijuana.

The $11.5 million would "assist in enforcement of federal law where state
law permits the use of marijuana in a manner inconsistent with the
Controlled Substances Act," according to the bill, HR2086-.

Aides to Souder and Davis couldn't be reached for comment on Monday or
Tuesday.

John Walters, the drug czar, didn't ask for the provision, said Brian Blake,
a spokesman. Walters would prefer to help local authorities understand
regional drug markets and crack them.

"It's not the direction Director Walters wants to take it," Blake said of
the bill. "In fact, it's the opposite."

Nevertheless, critics said the language could allow the drug czar to
commandeer entire budgets for Oregon and Washington, which get $2.5 million
and $4 million, respectively, under the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking
Areas program.

A more likely scenario is that the provision could be used to target
California, where state law is broader and allows medical marijuana users to
form buyers' clubs, said Steve Fox, director of government affairs for the
Marijuana Policy Project.

"California has always been the whipping horse," he said. "This could be
just an additional threat."

Critics said the bill contained additional provisions that would give the
drug czar discretion that could invite abuse.

The bill would lift restrictions on about $200 million earmarked annually
for antidrug advertising, making it possible for the White House to mount
media campaigns against state marijuana law initiatives and candidates who
support them, Fox said.

Blake said the drug czar already has authority to use federal money to fight
legalization of drugs. But Baird questioned whether the provision was
constitutional.

"This is not just providing candidates on both sides of the issue with money
so they can express their opinions," Baird said. "This is deliberately
skewing the outcome of an election."

Of greater concern to enforcement officials in the Northwest is a new
funding formula included the bill. It would channel money to drug
enforcement at border crossings and in big U.S. cities such as New York.

Karl said his $2.5 million base budget for Oregon could be cut by $400,000
or more. The formula appears to be stacked against places where the
production of drugs, mostly in rural areas, is as big a threat as
distribution by international dealers, he said.

"We've got to deal with not just the cartels, we've got to deal with the
local and regional organizations as well," he said.

Rodriguez said he faces the possibility of similar reductions. The program
is operating at a minimal level in Washington state, he said, and any cuts
could undermine its goal of coordinating law-enforcement efforts across
jurisdictions.

"This completely, in my estimation, is going to pull the program apart," he
said.

The bill passed subcommittee last month and could move to the House floor
within weeks, critics said. But as more members learn the details, it could
face stiff opposition.

Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., said she plans to rally members from the nine
states with medical marijuana laws to try to make changes.

"When you put the power of that many states together, you can get things
turned around," she said.