S.F.’s Plan on Medical Marijuana

Re “Duel Over Medical Pot Escalates,” March 17:

I applaud San Francisco Dist. Atty. Terence Hallinan’s generous and compassionate position on the medical marijuana question. This is particularly impressive considering his position as the city’s figurehead of law enforcement.

Hallinan demonstrates an admirable understanding of what Shakespeare meant when he wrote, “Earthly power doth then show likest God’s, when mercy seasons justice.”

STEVE KNIGHT

Rosemead

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In your article on San Francisco’s propensity to oppose the state and federal governments in health matters, you note its support for needle exchange programs, beginning in 1992, long before they were legally accepted. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement on “Interventions to Prevent HIV Risk Behaviors.” It stated that needle exchange programs cause powerful beneficial effects, reducing both HIV and drug abuse, and that “there can be no opposition to these programs on scientific grounds.”

Perhaps our northern neighbors know a lot more than we give them credit for when it comes to protecting their citizens.

J. THOMAS UNGERLEIDER MD

Los Angeles