The Post didn't quote a local medical marijuana expert

I'm incredulous that your reporters chose to quote representatives of two national organizations advocating for the legalization of recreational marijuana use, rather than the local sponsor of D.C. Initiative 59, the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998 [Metro, Dec. 14-15].

The original sponsor of this popular voter initiative was the visionary Steve Michael, founder of the Washington chapter of ACT UP, who died of AIDS complications at 42 on May 25, 1998. Michael was a political mentor and respected friend to many local activists in the District, and it was sad and painful to watch his health decline as they gathered signatures and reached out to residents to garner support for the initiative.

Michael's partner, Wayne Turner, became the initiative's sponsor after Michael died. As an attorney and an AIDS and D.C. democracy activist, Turner is by far the better authority on all issues related to the history and future of Initiative 59.

Karen A. Szulgit,

Washington

The writer helped gather signatures to place Initiative 59 on the ballot.