WHY DID CITYLIFE DEFEND DRUG CZAR JOHN WALTERS?

Why did Ryan Slattery decide to defend drug czar John Walters ("Buzz kill,"
March 18). Mr. Slattery wrote, regarding Walter's visit to Las Vegas: "If
the visit was an attempt to undercut the initiative, Walters was pretty good
at hiding it."

Contrary to Mr. Slattery's view, Mr. Walters was apparently so bad at hiding
his desire to undercut the initiative that the headline in Nevada's largest
newspaper the following day was "Drug czar critical of marijuana initiative:
John Walters calls measure foolhardy." The article focused entirely on Mr.
Walters' views on the marijuana initiative.

Does Mr. Slattery blame the R-J for failing to simply reprint the news
release that Mr. Walters' office had prepared on the evils of prescription
drugs? Mr. Walters expected and prepared to address the marijuana initiative
during his visit, even if he did not deviate from talking about the evils of
prescription drugs until a reporter had the temerity to ask a question.

I wish Mr. Slattery had asked Mr. Walters a question. Namely, Mr. Walters
reportedly said that "education and treatment will help key a downturn and
reduce abuse of prescription drugs." Therefore, why is it that criminal
prosecution, jail, asset forfeiture and denying student aid is the right way
to deal with people who abuse marijuana? After all, as Mr. Slattery noted,
marijuana abuse killed no people in Las Vegas in 2001, compared to the 153
people who died by abusing prescription narcotic painkillers.

AARON M. CLEMENS

WASHINGTON, D.C.