REP. SALAZAR'S VOTE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Re: "House denies bid to uphold state rights on medical pot," June 16 news
story.

I would like to express my profound disappointment over Rep. John Salazar's
recent vote against the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment which sought to
prevent the federal government from wasting taxpayer money arresting and
jailing Colorado's licensed medical marijuana patients.

I work with a number of seriously ill patients - many of whom have cancer
and other debilitating diseases - who have turned to medical marijuana only
as a last resort and upon their doctor's recommendation. I wonder if Rep.
Salazar is aware of the shadow of fear he has cast upon these individuals'
lives with his heartless vote.

Perhaps most shocking about Salazar's vote is that it directly contradicts
the will of the 58 percent of Coloradans who voted in 2000 to protect
medical marijuana patients with the approval of Amendment 20. When up for
re-election, I fear Salazar may learn the hard way that there is simply no
constituency in Colorado - or anywhere - in favor of arresting and
imprisoning cancer and AIDS patients.

BRIAN VICENTE

Telluride