DEA CAN'T STOP POT USE

The Drug Enforcement Administration may succeed in shutting down most
of Southern California's medical marijuana dispensaries if it chooses
to make this a priority ("Feds digging deep in pot-dispensary blitz,"
July 19). So it's reasonable to ask, what if it succeeds?

Likely, two things will occur: First, some patients will lose access
to medical marijuana. This will particularly affect the most infirm
and severely disabled, who are unable to grow their own medicine, as
well as those who live in public housing or other situations where
growing is impossible. The severely disabled are likely to be least
able to seek out street sources.

But many, probably most, will simply turn to street dealers, with all
the danger that implies.

The medical marijuana market won't go away; it will just be
transferred from businesses that attempt to operate legally and are
subject to local regulation to the unregulated criminal underground.

How anyone can think this is good for either the sick or their
communities is beyond me.

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project

San Francisco