ASHCROFT'S PRIORITIES APPEAR TO BE PERSONAL

The excellent Nov. 11 Forum column "DEA raid seems beyond reason" really
exemplifies national leaders' misplaced priorities in going after America's
sick and dying instead of concentrating on far more important issues.

But it does not ask why Attorney General John Ashcroft would suddenly go
after medical-marijuana dispensaries. However, once one realizes that his
cabinet colleague, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, is the former
chief executive of Searle Pharmaceuticals, it all starts to fall into place.

Chuck Beyer

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada