Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 05:50:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: belmonte@MIT.EDU (Matthew Belmonte)
To: CapuanoHR8@aol.com
Subject: oppose H.R. 2086, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Re-authorization Act

Dear Representative Capuano

I write to urge your opposition to H.R. 2086, the Office of National Drug
Control Policy Re-authorization Act, and in particular to provisions that
would allow the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
to use the resources of the federal government to oppose candidates, ballot
measures, and grassroots movements that support the medical use of marijuana.

Like many other naturally occurring substances, marijuana possesses proven
benefits for certain patients.  Its efficacy in alleviating the symptoms of
multiple sclerosis, for example, was demonstrated in a study published just
this past month in the high-profile Journal of Neuroscience (see
"http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/7/2511?etoc" for details).
In addition, in the case of marijuana in particular, the harm inflicted by
the government's relentless `War on Drugs' greatly exceeds the harm that would
be suffered if drug abuse were to be addressed as a problem of public health
rather than one of criminal justice.

The Act's authorisation for the use of federal resources to combat state and
local ballot measures is particularly odious and anti-democratic.  Congress
should recognise that it is government that is meant to implement the will of
the electorate, not vice versa.  Since 1996, ballot measures supporting the
medical use of marijuana have been passed in eight states and the District of
Columbia.  In addition, ballot measures this past November in Nevada, South
Dakota, Ohio, and Arizona may have fared better but for ONDCP's active campaign
against them.  Indeed, in an opinion issued this past April, Nevada Attorney
General Brian Sandoval termed ONDCP's interference `unfortunate' and
`excessive,' and observed that it `sought to influence the outcome of a Nevada
election.'  The current bill would give explicit Congressional approval to this
dictatorial behaviour.

Again, in order to preserve the right of self-determination in the states, in
order to help those who can benefit from the medical use of marijuana, and in
order to encourage a public-health approach rather than a criminal approach to
the issue of drug abuse, I urge you to oppose the Office of National Drug
Control Policy Re-authorization Act.

Sincerely,
Matthew Belmonte
[address]