OBAMA'S CHOICES FOR DRUG CZAR AND AG

Dear Editor:

Regarding the article about Obama's choices for Drug Czar and AG, as a
medical marijuana patient myself, but a Republican one, let me be the
first to say, "I told you so."

I say this here and have said it in the comments in the NORML blog
article, the one which appeared in The Hill blog. The sick and dying
are not an important voting block, and I can guarantee that President
elect Obama's response to medical marijuana will be or already has
been, "Pfffffffft," as he shoves the folder off his desk onto the
floor, which will be followed by the Presidential directive, "don't
let this come across my desk again, ever."

The scientific evidence is clear that marijuana has multiple medical
applications, some of which the Federal government has patents upon,
although President-elect Obama must not have seen or has refused to
review any of it, as he is on record as doubting the efficacy of
marijuana as medicine.

President-elect Obama's non-change on the (medical) marijuana front
will show conclusively that prohibition and its drug war
implementation is an uniquely bipartisan policy, which is loved,
cherished and protected by both parties equally. Under Clinton
millions were arrested on marijuana charges, and medical marijuana
users, meaning the sick and dying, were made the central target and
fodder for the Clinton-McCaffery reign. Under GW Bush, millions were
arrested on marijuana charges, including, still, the sick and dying,
just as under Clinton, during the Bush-Walters-rule.

Why on Earth should we have expected anything different? This is,
incidentally, one more in the now countless examples of the baby boom
generation's new credo under which it governs: "It was OK for me when
I did it, but not for you, now that I am in charge."

Eric Johnson,

Los Angeles