CASUALTIES OF THE MARIJUANA WAR

To the Editor:

"The U.S. Bucks a Trend on Marijuana Laws" (Week in Review, June 1) notes
that our government is actively enforcing marijuana laws. This enforcement
presumably follows from the goal stated by the director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy: "to protect Americans from dangerous threats."

The obvious threat from marijuana is that children will lose mental
facility and health because of the inhalation of toxins. Given the stated
goal, the administration should support fiscally troubled schools and
should aid, rather than hinder, the efforts of the Environmental Protection
Agency to protect our environment.

THOMAS DAVIDOFF Berkeley, Calif., June 1, 2003