DEA SHOULD REFOCUS

According to a recent report issued by the White House the "DEA is unable
to demonstrate its progress in reducing the availability of illegal drugs
in the U.S." It is hard to imagine how this could be when the DEA had a
budget of $1.4 billion last year alone. The problem of course is not in the
funding, but how it is used.

Since Bush took office an extraordinary amount of time and money has been
spent harassing medical marijuana patients in California in an attempt to
subvert the will of Californian voters. Bush finally got his first federal
jury conviction of a medical marijuana grower last month. The only way they
could do this was by forbidding the defense to mention anything that might
clue the jurors into the medical purpose behind the grower's actions.

This focus by the Bush administration is not only mean-spirited, but also
misplaced. While DEA agents are busting into city recognized grow
operations and throwing paraplegics on the floor there is a booming meth
problem nationwide. Why is the Bush administration trying to keep patients
doped up on opiates when marijuana helps relieve pain and helps patients
function in ordinary life? And why is he letting predatory criminals off
the hook to make harassing the sick a priority? It's time to send the Bush
administration and Congress a clear message that this federal harassment
must stop.

Kevin Feeney

Eugene