October 12, 2007

Dear Ms. Falco:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about activities of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONCDP). I appreciate hearing from you and share your concerns about the politicization of government agencies under the current Administration.

The ONDCP has taken a number of actions that have been of questionable value. The agency has placed undue emphasis on efforts to eradicate coca crops in Columbia, at the expense of efforts to address problems associated with drug abuse in this country. The ONDCP also has advocated the federal criminalization of the medical use of cannabis by patients in desperate pain who live in states where it is legal under state law to be prescribed cannabis for medical reasons, thereby preventing terminally ill patients from obtaining much-needed relief.

The new Congress is working to provide more vigorous oversight of the President and Administration. I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers issues concerning this office.

Thank you again for sharing your views. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator