Dea

Eight suspects were arrested and substantial quantities of illicit drugs were seized in a series of raids on a Los Angeles-area ring specializing in the sale and distribution of the "date rape" drug known as GHB, a law enforcement task force said Thursday.

Two seasons ago on “Breaking Bad,” Mike gave Walter a test, and Walter failed that test. The test was this: Jesse had gone off-course and had to be dealt with. It was up to Walter to deal with his partner and protégé, or at least get out of the way so Mike and Gus could handle the situation. As we now know, Walter didn't do it, couldn't bring himself to do it. Jesse was too important to him for reasons he perhaps didn't precisely understand. And now, even with Jesse's raw anger at Walter from last season, the bond between the two seems stronger than ever.

Re "The science of pot," March 10 The Times' editorial urges research on the medicinal use of marijuana. This is a long-overdue policy change. In 1988, I was an attorney who sued the Drug Enforcement Administration over its refusal to allow medical use of marijuana. The DEA administrative law judge at the time ruled in our favor, describing his own agency as "arbitrary and capricious" for denying access to cannabis for medical purposes; he was overruled by the appointed head of the DEA. The research at the time showed marijuana to be safe and effective for cancer treatment, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses.

Re "A New Tack on Medical Pot Use," Nov. 25: Richard Meyer of the DEA has every right as a private citizen to express his personal opinion that medical use of marijuana is more harmful than it is beneficial. But I see no MD after his name. Does he consider his personal opinion about the medical use of marijuana to be more valid than the professional judgments of people who have earned the right, through hard work and sacrifice, to put MD after their names? There are very good reasons why practicing medicine without a license is a crime.

Re "DEA's Khat Sting Stirs Up Somali 'Cultural Clash,' " Aug. 22 I am not particularly surprised to see the Drug Enforcement Administration in Seattle arresting a bunch of Somali Americans for using their native beverage, khat. With effects very similar to strong coffee, it may well have been becoming a competitor to java in Seattle. What bothers me most about the big khat bust is the DEA's priorities. Is there any valid reason that khat should be illegal and vodka legal? Seriously, in this age of growing international terrorism, surely our federal agents have far better things to do than this.

On reading Doug Jehl's article concerning the illegal use of U.S.-produced chemicals in Colombia, I believe it necessary to restate several points Exxon Chemical made in our response to Jehl's questions and clarify several issues. Exxon Chemical totally supports the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and is cooperating fully with the agency on all aspects of the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act of 1988. We share the concerns of the government and all citizens over the illegal use of chemical products.

A former government informant pleaded guilty to five counts of perjury, admitting he made up a story that a government drug agent allowed a bomb on board Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988, killing 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground. Lester Coleman, 54, of Pensacola, Fla., faces up to five years in prison and a $1.25-million fine. Coleman told U.S. District Judge Thomas Platt in Uniondale, N.Y.