JUST SAY NO

A provision in the Office of National Drug Control Policy Re-authorization
Act of 2003, currently being considered by the U.S. House would allow the
nation's drug czar to use taxpayer dollars to oppose candidates and ballot
initiatives that would legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

While I am highly skeptical of the purported medical benefits of marijuana,
I believe it is inappropriate for a federal agency to be involved in
electoral politics. The federal government should not be in the business of
telling voters which candidates or ballot initiatives to vote for.

I hope that our members of Congress will resist any attempts to turn the
Office of National Drug Control Policy into a precinct organization, and
will ensure that it continues to do its job of keeping drugs off our streets.

David E. Palmer, Hyde Park