Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune Company Contact: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82 Authors: Robert Sharpe, Boyd R. Holmes, George Zilliac, Miranda Collins, Kirk Muse, Jean Cowsert Note: Main title by mapinc editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1872/a06.html WAR ON SICK AND DYING A Drug Raid That Hurt The Sick And Dying Washington -- Dianne Donovan's excellent Nov. 7 column on the U.S. Department of Justice raid on a Los Angeles medical marijuana club ("Feds are busting the wrong `drug ring,'" Commentary) ended with the statement that "if federal agents are so keen to bust up drug rings, I know a few street corners they could hang around in Chicago." Every major city in the country has its share of street-corner drug markets. But sick and dying medical marijuana patients make for much easier targets than modern-day bootleggers. With obscene untaxed profits at stake, organized crime figures go to great lengths to conceal their illicit activities. Hence the Department of Justice's apparent preference for easy busts involving non-violent cancer and AIDS patients. Medical marijuana patients and providers typically go to great lengths to document the legitimacy of their marijuana use. The Los Angeles club that was raided was renowned for its stringent requirements, thorough documentation and the inability of Drug Enforcement Administration agents to conduct sting operations by posing as patients. The patients who depended on the club will now be forced to buy their medicine on the street. Illicit drug use is the only public health issue wherein key stakeholders are not only ignored but actively persecuted and incarcerated. In terms of the recent California raids, those stakeholders happen to be cancer and AIDS patients. Robert Sharpe, Program officer, The Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation - ---- Medicinal Pot Decatur -- Dianne Donovan's "Feds are busting the wrong `drug ring'" was right on the money. The people of California and seven other states have made it clear that they support a person's right to use medicinal marijuana. For the Drug Enforcement Administration to crack down in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks is truly sickening! Couldn't we allocate our resources more wisely in these uncertain times? It is my opinion that they timed the raids so that the people would be distracted by the war on terror. Also, Donovan's column is the first I have seen in the mainstream press regarding the DEA raids. This should have made the front page everywhere. Why the lack of coverage? Whatever happened to "compassionate conservatism" and states' rights? Thank you, Dianne, for shedding some light on this topic! Boyd R. Holmes - ---- Marijuana Laws Evanston -- Dianne Donovan's "Feds are busting the wrong `drug ring'" (Commentary, Nov. 7), defending the use of medical marijuana and protesting federal intrusion, was right on as far as it went. Two problems with the column are that Donovan faults the wrong people and doesn't suggest a remedy. She seems to merely want the Department of Justice to lay off marijuana medical cooperatives, but doesn't mention that the department is empowered to do its deeds by Congress. It is Congress that can change the federal law. George Zilliac - ---- Wasted Effort Valley Village, Calif. -- I applaud the column "Feds are busting the wrong `drug ring.'" Californians like myself are greatly saddened by the Drug Enforcement Administration raid of our local cannabis club. This club is where we have been providing a natural medicine to our cancer and AIDS victims for five years. That the federal government would waste its resources this way, in a time when we should be worried about terrorists and bioweapons, is a travesty. Miranda Collins - ---- Unneeded Raid Vancouver, Wash. -- Thank you for publishing Dianne Donovan's "Feds are busting the wrong `drug ring.'" It seems our federal government agents don't have enough to do protecting us from international terrorists. The Drug Enforcement Administration agents want to protect us from ourselves and protect us from taking medication our government has decided is not good medicine. Sure glad we live in a free country. Kirk Muse - ---- Hurting Patients Galt, Calif. -- Dianne Donovan's column states it clearly. As a medicinal patient, I would love to see more journalists be willing to state so clearly what our government is doing to sick people in the name of the "law." I thank Dianne Donovan and your paper. Jean Cowsert - --- MAP posted-by: Josh