ANTI-DRUG HYPOCRISY

Re "Defiant Oakland adopts pot club," Aug. 14: Bob Weiner, spokesman for
drug czar Barry McCaffrey, reveals a basic flaw in the thinking of our
"leaders" when he states that "the current policy is that "science, not
politics," should determine what's legal.

Aside from the obvious observation that law is politics, the reasoning might
possibly be correct and the rationale consistent with the principles of a
free nation, if the word "legal" were replaced with "illegal." By claiming
that legalizing something, rather than making it illegal, requires
rationalization, the drug war and its executioners are undermining the
concept of "consent of the governed," the very meaning of freedom.

The people of California have spoken via their vote on Proposition 215.
Alcohol prohibition in the 1920's required a constitutional amendment, and
nothing short of a constitutional amendment overruling California's law
should be required to make this issue any of the federal government's
business. Furthermore, any official of this state, including Attorney
General Dan Lungren, who wishes to thwart the will of the people should
resign rather than try to use his office to that end.

- --George Drake, South Lake Tahoe

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst