SOROS AND AMERICA'S PASTIME

Regarding the article "Soros joining Ledecky group" (Sports,
Thursday), and the letter "Smoked marijuana is not medicine"
(Thursday), it is rare that a single day's newspaper can bring both
joy and anger at the same heights.

First, Dr. Robert L. DuPont's eloquent letter laid out clearly why
"Smoked marijuana is not medicine." Then, in the Sports section, which
I seldom read, the headline "Soros joining Ledecky group" jumped out
at me like a cobra attacking its prey.

How can Jonathan Ledecky not know of George Soros' nearly 10-year
quest to legalize marijuana, which Dr. DuPont and I agree is our
nation's most dangerous drug? Why would he want our baseball team
associated with someone who promotes that cause? It was October 1995
when I first confronted Mr. Soros at a Georgetown University forum. I
had just learned of a multimillion-dollar "gift" from Mr. Soros to a
group that boldly proclaimed their goal of marijuana
legalization.

In April 1998, Reader's Digest confirmed that Mr. Soros had given $6.4
million to a group called the Drug Policy Foundation. The group has
since changed its name to the Drug Policy Alliance. The "foundation's"
idea of prevention was to develop a "safe crack-smoking kit.
"Theaccompanying brochure, according to Insight magazine (December
1977), tells crack smokers: "Avoid cut lips ... Have safer sex ... Be
careful with your stem or pipe." There's no mention of brain damage or
addiction.

The Drug Policy Alliance is part of a legalization network that has
introduced pro-drug bills in 23 state legislatures this year. Parents
are opposing these efforts to purchase public policy in Rhode Island,
New York and Connecticut. Mr. Soros has contributed an estimated $40
million to underwrite the cost of groups whose goal is to legalize
drugs in one form or another.

We don't need Mr. Soros contaminating America's favorite sport. Let
him take his toxic money elsewhere. We already have drug-sniffing
dogs, metal detectors and guards in our schools trying to protect our
children and grandchildren. A headline in this paper (March 6)
announced, "Students want police inside D.C. schools."

We have no multimillion-dollar counterpart to fight Mr. Soros, but we
have heart and soul, and we will expend it all to protect the children
that multibillionaire Mr. Soros doesn't appear to value.

JOYCE NALEPKA

President, Drug-Free Kids: America's Challenge

Silver Spring