The Honorable Bill McCollum
2266 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman McCollum:

As a former political supporter and ally, and as one who still feels well disposed towards you personally, I must express my continued disappointment in your political positions. Unfortunately, you seem to have adopted the most ignorant policies of the Republican Right Wing; you seem to have aligned yourself with that part of the Republican Party that caused me to leave. The latest incomprehensible position is that concerning House Resolution 372, which opposes the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use.

Your position on this matter is incomprehensible because very frankly it makes no sense. If a doctor believes that a certain substance will be medicinally helpful to a patient, then that doctor should have the authority to prescribe it; we certainly should be able to trust in the good judgment of our doctors. In fact, we have shown that we do place such trust in our doctors, as we allow them to routinely prescribe far more dangerous and addictive drugs, such as morphine, percodan, barbiturates, amphetamines, etc. As an example, my wife just received a prescription for opium pills, as a pain suppressant. I certainly hope that you are not going to interfere with the discretion of her physician to prescribe that drug; I certainly hope that the DEA will not be breaking down my door to search for and seize her pills.

I note that your resolution describes marijuana as "a dangerous and addictive drug"; of course, that is rather ridiculous. Everyone knows that marijuana is neither dangerous nor addictive, particularly when compared to other legally prescribed drugs. This kind of misinformation is less than admirable. It would seem calculated only to arouse the passion of the less intellectually able voters.

The present state of the Republican Party is extremely distressing for one who has been a Republican all of his life and who devoted a good period of that life to working for the Party. I do not understand why the Republican Party must always take the ignorant position--the position that is not based upon reason, but rather blind prejudice. The Party continues to appeal to the lowest common denominator of intellect and good sense. It has become the modern day version of the 19th Century "No-Nothing Party."

I would hope that you would do something to stem this tide of nonsense. I used to have confidence in your abilities, good sense and judgment, and moderation. I would hope that you would be born again in regard to these qualities and that you would take the lead in restoring them to the Republican Party.