Feds Deserve Support

The staff errs in making a specious states' rights argument. While it is right to call for the legalization of marijuana for medical uses, it is far from appropriate to blame the executive branch of the federal government for essentially doing its job--upholding the law.

The staff presents a convoluted and distorted attack on President Clinton's opposition to the medical use of marijuana.

We agree that marijuana should be made available to patients in chronic pain, and that Clinton's embrace of slogans rather than solutions is worrisome. But if the federal government is to intervene, it should join Arizona and California in interpreting how the marijuana propositions should be enacted within the states--neither federalizing nor standing as a politicized roadblock to marijuana's medical use.

Moreover, Clinton is right to direct funds to curtail marijuana use by suburban youth. Substance abuse--whether involving alcohol, tobacco or pot--is a danger to America's future. Supporting medicinal uses of marijuana does not mean compromising our firm stand against recreational drug use.