CASUALTIES OF THE MARIJUANA WAR

To the Editor:

Re "The U.S. Bucks a Trend on Marijuana Laws," by Eric Schlosser (Week
in Review, June 1):

The irrationality of the escalating "war on marijuana" is obvious when
one considers Attorney General John Ashcroft's demand for full
enforcement of the laws against medical marijuana in states where it
is legal. Our government's efforts to interfere with Canadian attempts
to decriminalize pot are no less outrageous.

The "war on marijuana" is a multibillion-dollar operation that defines
cultural, class and political differences. It has a disproportionate
impact on poor, minority communities and undermines the credibility of
our criminal justice system.

The people most interested in maintaining our current marijuana laws (besides
the attorney general and other hard-liners) are those who reap huge profits
selling it on the black market.

Michael J. Gorman,

Whitestone, Queens

Note: The writer is a retired New York Police Department lieutenant and a
lawyer.