U.S. OFFICIALS COULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM LEO

Leo Greene clearly has more knowledge and wisdom than most of the
people making policy for the U.S. government ("Leo's Story, Looking
for relief, more time," June 18).

Indeed, the ability of marijuana's active components, called
cannabinoids, to protect against nerve damage is well known to the
U.S. government: The National Institutes of Health actually hold a
patent on cannabinoids as nerve-protecting agents.

If this plant were anything other than marijuana, our government would
be rushing to fund new research and make its benefits available to
patients as quickly as possible.

Instead, drug-war bureaucrats delay, distort and dissemble, while the
sick continue to suffer.

California led the way in recognizing marijuana's legitimate medical
uses. Now we need our members of Congress to take the lead in dragging
the U.S. government kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

BRUCE MIRKEN, Marijuana Policy Project, Washington, D.C.