Pubdate: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 Source: Washington Times (DC) Copyright: 2004 News World Communications, Inc. Contact: http://www.washingtontimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492 Author: Bruce Mirken Cited: Drug Enforcement Administration ( www.dea.gov ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ashcroft.htm (Ashcroft, John) ASHCROFT AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA Seriously ill patients across America are celebrating the resignation of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft ("Ashcroft, Evans quit Bush Cabinet," Page 1, yesterday). Under his supervision, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a cruel and pointless war against patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other terrible illnesses who found relief from medical marijuana when conventional medicines failed. It made no difference to Mr. Ashcroft that these patients were obeying the laws of their states, or that their use of medical marijuana was with the recommendation and guidance of their physicians. During one particularly gruesome raid in September 2002, five DEA agents pointed automatic rifles at the head of a disabled woman, Suzanne Pfeil, then handcuffed her while they proceeded to ransack the medical-marijuana co-op where she was a patient. The departure of Mr. Ashcroft gives President Bush an opportunity to reconsider this war on medical-marijuana patients -- a war that has been rejected again and again by voters, most recently in Montana. Bruce Mirken Director of communications Marijuana Policy Project Washington - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin