A DRUG DEALER'S TOLL ON AMERICANS

Marc Emery, who distributed millions of marijuana seeds throughout
the country, admits the accuracy of the Drug Enforcement
Administration's charges against him, but he denies harming Americans
["High Crimes, or a Tokin' Figure?" Style, March 18].

Like all dealers, Mr. Emery turns a blind eye to marijuana's victims
- -- people like Victoria Rogers, a mother driving with her children
when she was killed by a marijuana-intoxicated motorist.

Marijuana feeds thousands of addictions -- so many that more
teenagers enter treatment for marijuana dependency than for all other
drugs combined. Thousands of adolescents whose brains are still
developing also suffer from depression, memory impairment and
diminished judgment because of marijuana. Users destroy their lungs
because marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more cancer-causing
chemicals than tobacco smoke.

That Mr. Emery sees no consequences of his actions does not change
the fact that they destroy innocent American lives and that he should
and will face legal consequences as a result.

KAREN P. TANDY

Administrator

Drug Enforcement Administration

Arlington