CUT THE RED TAPE AROUND MEDICAL POT

Despite Nevada's permitting medicinal cannabis use, the few heroic people
actually willing to provide medicinal cannabis face more bureaucratic red
tape than brothel operators ["High and Dry," May 19].

A similar problem exists here in California, where terrified city councils
are rampantly passing bans and moratoriums blocking new dispensaries.

As a glaucoma patient and cannabis user since 1968, I can personally attest
to the therapeutic benefits of both the herb AND its legalization. But
despite decisive margins of public support, somehow the actual dispensing
of medical cannabis is too often seen as a major public risk or as "sending
the wrong message to the children."

Children most assuredly need to stay away from substances, including
alcohol, cigarettes, unprescribed pharmaceuticals and pot. Parents need to
be diligent, knowledgeable, honest and communicate generously with their
children.

It would be ludicrous to suggest that diabetics, or even OxyContin-or
morphine-using patients travel to distant and scattered drug stores to fill
their legitimate prescriptions. And who would suggest we should "protect
the children" by sending adult drinkers 70 miles round-trip to get a case
of beer?

It benefits no one for bona fide cannabis patients to be forced to either
attempt to grow their own medicine, travel long distances or have to buy
potentially tainted herb from random black-market street dealers.

It is time for the various city councils and other authorities involved to
streamline the Byzantine regulatory hurdles, and help rather than hinder
providers in their attempts to serve the legitimate needs of suffering
patients.

RICK STEEB

SAN JOSE