Amendment 44

DEA OVERSTEPPED AUTHORITY TRYING TO INFLUENCE BALLOT

Kudos to The Gazette for condemning the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration's decision to misappropriate taxpayers' funds and staff
time to campaign against Amendment 44, The Alcohol-Marijuana
Equalization Initiative ("DEA should butt out of state ballot debate,"
The Gazette, Aug. 30).

Whether one favors or disapproves of Amendment 44, Colorado voters
deserve the opportunity to decide this issue free from federally
sponsored interference.

Further, The Gazette is correct to question the DEA's "expert"
credentials and to inquire whether the agency can be "an honest broker
of information" regarding drug policy. According to the DEA's mission
statement (www.dea.gov), the agency's primary function is to "enforce
the controlled substances law."

DEA officials do so, according to the agency's Web site, by
investigating and prosecuting violators of controlled substances laws
and seizing their assets. Not surprisingly, nowhere on the DEA's Web
site does the agency state that its mission is to make law or
influence public policy.

This November, that duty ought to be left to Colorado's
voters.

Paul Armentano

NORML Foundation

Washington, D.C.