RE “Medical marijuana overseers uneasy” (Page A1, Nov. 9): Your news article makes a good case that Beacon Hill has been lax in its oversight, and probably in its funding, of the state Department of Public Health, as evidenced by recent failures at the department regarding crises at a state drug lab and at a Framingham pharmacy.

So I shouldn’t be surprised that Representative Jeffrey Sanchez claims, “The dialogue and debate have just begun” on medical cannabis. Over years, well-reasoned, rule-based legislation has seen multiple hearings before the Public Health Committee, which has blocked further action. If debate has just begun, it’s due to legislative denial.