MISGUIDED DRUG RAIDS: RESTORE 2 PRINCIPLES

The Drug Enforcement Administration wasted no time before blowing
smoke in President Obama's face.

Mr. Obama repeatedly promised on the campaign trail that he'd end DEA
raids on medical marijuana dispensaries in the 13 states where voters
have legalized marijuana for medical use.

But just two days after Obama became president, the DEA busted a
medical marijuana shop at South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Like 100 previous DEA raids on California's legal pot shops during
the last two years (and four subsequent ones since Jan. 22), no
Uzi-packing drug dealer or bong-toking hero of the Olympics was
collared in South Lake Tahoe.

Only the usual small amounts of marijuana and cash were seized in
what has become one of the most foolish tactics in the federal
government's misguided war on (some) drugs.

The DEA, unfortunately, is still run by anti-drug zealots of the Bush
administration. A White House spokesman says Obama soon will nominate
a new head of the DEA that reflects his position -- which is that
it's a waste of federal resources to circumvent state drug laws.

But the DEA raids on marijuana dispensaries are not wrong because
they waste resources, Mr. President. All government agencies do that.
The DEA's drug raids are wrong because they violate two basic
principles that, though sadly weakened and headed toward extinction,
have made America great -- personal freedom and federalism.