It is disgraceful to hear what Gen. Barry McCaffrey is doing concerning the
recent medical marijuana initiatives in California and Arizona; dispatching
Drug Enforcement Agency "brownshirts" to harass California physicians
simply for working within current state law.

McCaffrey has repeatedly referred to the importance of science over
ideology and that is exactly the point. Our drug control policy has always
been based on the pure ideologies of ignorance, irrational fear and racism.
It is no wonder the people fought for and won the repeal of alcohol
prohibition.

The medical marijuana initiatives in California and Arizona are the
people petitioning the government for a redress of grievances.
None was "duped" into voting for the initiatives; the people weren't
afraid to speak their minds on a federally taboo issue, but the government
just remains unwilling to listen to them.

David Carter,
Houston