Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 2002 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Author: Gerald Sutliff MEDICAL POT DEFENDED (1 OF 3) Editor -- Joseph Perkins' chortling column about the defeat of marijuana reform around the country is a hard one for reformers to take ("Voters see pot reform for what it is," Nov. 11). He accuses us of being well-funded while we sweep against the tide of a $20 billion-plus federal budget and the clout it brings in. More important, he fails to explain why access to marijuana without risk of criminal persecution for those who need it, medically or recreationally, is an evil thing. He can't do that without mounting a pulpit. GERALD M. SUTLIFF Oakland - --- MAP posted-by: Beth