DEA WASTING MONEY AND LOSING DRUG WAR

Dear Editor,

As the federal Drug Enforcement Administration celebrates its 30th
anniversary this July, the U.S. Senate is considering the nomination
of Karen Tandy as the DEA's first female administrator. This should
call for a critical review of the DEA's record, but the Senate
Judiciary Committee's once-over-lightly June 25 hearing on Tandy's
nomination gave no hint that anyone is willing to ask the necessary
questions.

The DEA has squandered vast resources arresting medical marijuana
patients and caregivers -- people whose only crime is trying to obtain
relief from the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, and other terrible illnesses.

Meanwhile, the clearest measure of the DEA's effectiveness --
availability of illegal drugs -- demonstrates utter failure. Since
1975 the federal government has funded "Monitoring the Future," a
survey of teen drug use. That first year, 87.8% of high school seniors
said that marijuana was "easy to get." In 2002 -- some 15 million
marijuana arrests later -- the figure was 87.2%. Cocaine and heroin
were easier for teens to obtain in 2002 than in 1975.

It is time our elected officials did some serious rethinking of
anti-drug strategies and priorities. But don't hold your breath.

Sincerely,

BRUCE MIRKEN

Director of Communications

Marijuana Policy Project

bruce.mirken@mpp.org