MARIJUANA ADVOCATES CHEER DEA AGENT'S EXIT FROM STATE

DEA special agent in charge Jeffrey D. Sweetin, who became the face
of some of Colorado's medical-marijuana fights, has been promoted to
run the agency's training center in Virginia. ( Craig F. Walker, The
Denver Post )

Marijuana-legalization advocates cheered the upcoming departure of
federal agent Jeffrey D. Sweetin because, they said, they believe his
views are not in line with the will of Colorado voters who legalized
the drug for medicinal purposes.

The outspoken special agent in charge of Denver's Drug Enforcement
Administration understands that he became the "face" of
anti-legalization in Colorado, but says his exit doesn't mean the
fight over marijuana is over.

"The person who takes my place is going to have the same mission I
have," Sweetin said.

DEA agents are sworn to uphold the constitution, and marijuana
remains illegal under federal law, he said.

A widely publicized clash

Sweetin was promoted to run the DEA training center in Quantico, Va.,
and will provide international support in places such as Afghanistan.
The new assignment begins in September.

Sweetin was widely panned by medical-marijuana proponents during his
eight-year tenure. The criticism heightened after Chris Bartkowicz, a
Highlands Ranch resident who was growing medicinal-marijuana plants
in his basement, was arrested after showing his operation in a
television interview.

The DEA maintains that Bartkowicz was arrested because he was selling
more plants than he had patients and his grow operation was within
1,000 feet of an elementary school.

Sweetin points out that the DEA is not raiding dispensaries that have
boomed throughout the state. He believes marijuana proponents used
the arrest as a way to build hysteria.

"It's a difficult societal issue that can't be broken down into
soundbites," Sweetin said. "It's going to continue to be a challenge
for Colorado."

Mason Tvert, campaign director of SAFER, a marijuana advocacy group,
says he is glad Sweetin is leaving, but agrees that his moving on
won't change the DEA's mission.

"One disingenuous anti-marijuana zealot is just the same as another,
and I would expect that his replacement would be just as adamant
about going after marijuana regardless if the substance is safer than
alcohol," Tvert said.

As Sweetin became more outspoken about marijuana in Colorado, the
personal attacks increased.

"Medical-marijuana proponents threatened my life and the lives of my
family," he said. "We are not thin-skinned. It's OK to disagree with
us, but I don't agree with personal attacks. That's cowardice. But
people who legitimately stood up, I think that is fine."

Extraditions a high point

As he leaves Colorado -- at least temporarily -- Sweetin's sweetest
memories are of the cases his agents broke while he was in charge,
particularly the 2003 extradition of Mexican drug lords who were
trafficking cocaine to a ranch in Peyton.

"The pundits said, 'You will never get your hands on these guys,' and
we did," Sweetin said.

Last year's extradition of Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero from Mexico to
Colorado was personal for the DEA, Sweetin said, because of the man's
brother's involvement in the killing of DEA Special Agent Enrique
Camarena in 1985.

"All the dopers in Mexico know they will be caught by DEA at some
point," Sweetin said. "Our system of justice is daunting to them. We
can't send a message to them that we are giving up."