DEA NOMINEE FACES CRITICISM ON MARIJUANA POSITION

WASHINGTON - Texan Karen Tandy was approved by the Senate Judiciary
Committee on Thursday to head the Drug Enforcement Administration but ran
into some last-minute opposition from two Democratic senators who
complained about her hard line on medicinal marijuana.

Tandy, 49, a Justice Department lawyer, is still expected to be easily
confirmed by the Senate but may encounter some vocal criticism of her
position supporting enforcement of marijuana laws.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who had submitted written questions to Tandy
after her confirmation hearing June 25, complained about her answers and
questioned whether the DEA should "continue to focus its limited resources
on the question of medical marijuana."

Tandy "didn't back off an inch" in supporting the continued DEA raids that
have caused controversy in nine states that do not press charges against
medical-marijuana patients and providers, Durbin said.

Tandy, a native of Hurst, said in her written answers that THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana, has medicinal
value when processed into Marinol. "Marijuana itself, however, has not been
shown to have medical benefits," she wrote.

Durbin, who submitted medical publications supporting medical benefits of
marijuana, pointedly registered a "no" vote when the voice vote on Tandy's
nomination was taken.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also complained about Tandy's answers on
medical marijuana, which many people with glaucoma and other diseases say
eases their discomfort.

Asked if she would support a moratorium on the raids, Tandy wrote, "If I am
confirmed as administrator of the DEA, it will be my duty to see to the
uniform enforcement of federal law. I do not believe it would be consistent
with that duty for me to support a moratorium on enforcement of this law,
or any law, in selected areas of the country."

Currently nine states either do not arrest patients for use of medicinal
marijuana or impose a small fine. The states are Alaska, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.