MONOPOLY ON MARIJUANA

Regarding your June 8 editorial, what's the real impact of state-level
medical marijuana laws on interstate commerce? Patients with the option of
legally obtaining marijuana under a doctor's recommendation don't rely on
the black market. If the federal government decides to focus federal law
enforcement resources on busting voter-approved medical marijuana
suppliers, desperate patients will turn to street dealers for their medicine.

The U.S. Supreme Court effectively confirmed organized crime's monopoly on
marijuana distribution. International drug cartels are no doubt thrilled
with the Court's ruling. It's now up to Congress to decide whether or not
to maintain the status quo. Despite overwhelming public support for medical
marijuana, many politicians remain fearful of drug policy reform. Far too
much political capital has been invested in the war on some drugs.
Tough-on-drugs politicians have built careers on confusing drug
prohibition's collateral damage with a relatively harmless plant. I can
only hope the prospect of federal agents arresting cancer and AIDS patients
inspires Congress to pass compassionate-use legislation.

Reefer madness is a poor excuse for criminalizing healthy citizens who
prefer marijuana to martinis. There is no excuse for prosecuting sick
patients desperate to ease their suffering.

Robert Sharp

Arlington, Va.

Editor's note: Mr. Sharpe is policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug
Policy, www.csdp.org.