This is in response to David Broder's Nov. 12 column on the medical marijuana raids stretching the resources of the Drug Enforcement Administration. I have been a registered nurse for more than 23 years and find that type of raid a waste of resources. Anyone who has seen the suffering of people with cancer and AIDS shouldn't begrudge the relief this type of therapy can bring.

Many times over the years, I have seen patients waste away with the nausea and vomiting that can occur, and the pain that is suffered. It is difficult to grasp that the raid in California now puts these patients or their loved ones on the street looking for marijuana, that is sometimes needed to alleviate certain symptoms. We have a huge OxyContin problem in Washington County where I live. I wish some of this precious money for fighting drugs could be used to help this problem and leave the medical marijuana issue alone.

Columbia Falls

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