MEDICAL MARIJUANA

On behalf of the patients, caregivers, physicians and voters in California
who utilize and support our state's Compassionate Use Act of 1996, I offer
thanks for David Broder's column questioning the Bush administration's
escalating war on medical marijuana ("DEA marijuana madness," Nov. 11).

Many of us view these actions as little different from the time in our
early history when British troops were sent to take control over our
forefathers who chose to exercise their God-given right to self-govern. It
is unsettling to see this constitutionally-protected right so blatantly
ignored (see Ninth and Tenth Amendments, Bill of Rights).

Indeed, it is even more so a shame to see resources wasted on denying the
suffering access to beneficial medicine while real threats to our safety
are of such compelling concern to the citizenry.

LEE EISENSTEIN

Watsonville, Calif.