JUST SAY "NO" TO DRUG CZAR

When U.S. Sens. Boxer and Feinstein vote on the confirmation of John Walters
for drug czar, I hope they remember the desires of the citizens of
California, who overwhelmingly voted by referendum to allow patients to use
marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Our founding fathers feared a strong federal government and spelled out the
federal government's responsibilities and restrictions in the Constitution.

The Tenth Amendment specifically reserved all other responsibilities to the
states. Self-determination with regards to medical use of marijuana should
be the sole responsibility of each state and its citizens.

In an administration which prides itself on returning power to the states,
Mr. Walters' drug policies regarding medicinal use of marijuana would do
just the opposite and would run counter to the wishes of the voters of
California and other states.

A drug czar should work with the states, not in opposition to them. It
should not be the policy of our federal government to arrest, prosecute and
incarcerate patients, whose only crime is attempting to alleviate the pain
and suffering which results from cancer and AIDS treatment.

As the primary sponsor of medical marijuana legislation in Maryland, I
commend the legislature of California for giving the voters a voice on this
issue. Don't let the nomination of the new drug czar silence them.

Donald E. Murphy,

R-Maryland

Annapolis, MD