MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS

In the news coverage of the federal law enforcement search warrants
served on the marijuana-production facilities in several cities
throughout Montana on March 14, several omissions need to be corrected.

First, the citizens of Montana nullified federal law when they passed
their medicinal marijuana initiative. Second, there was no mention of
the fact that Montana has become the marijuana-producing capital of
the entire northern United States.

Third, there was no mention of the flooding of our public schools of
15- and 16-year-olds proudly flashing their "green" cards for
medicinal marijuana for treatment of cataracts. Fourth, there was no
mention of the fact that several producers in Flathead Valley are
clearing a profit of more than $100,000 a month.

And lastly, there was no mention of the fact that the citizens of
Montana were deceived by the progressives' support of the initiative
that there would be no unintended consequences for disobeying federal
law.

Perhaps it is now time for Montana to disobey the Endangered Species
Act in reference to wolves and to nullify environmental laws and/or
judicial decisions regarding logging. The citizens of Montana need to
recognize that there are always consequences, and the "medicinal"
marijuana issue illustrates that.

So rather than decry the federal enforcement of marijuana laws, maybe
we had better set down and discuss two more important issues -- the
proper role of the federal government in the policing of the states
and how does Montana solve this problem.

John Fuller

Whitefish