Madison NORML

Doug Hissom, in his Expresso column in the Shepherd Express, erroneously reported that two people testified at the hearing who actually did not appear:

Since the public hearing received absolutely no media coverage in these parts, here are some highlights.

. Thomas Rayson, a doctor from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, explained that marijuana can help chemotherapy patients take care of the nausea and vomiting from radiation and also helps the terminally ill.

"It is simply cruel and irrational to criminalize individuals for using potentially life-saving treatment" if prescribed by physicians, Rayson said. "It is out of ignorance and fear that this medication is not offered."

. Mitch Earlywine, a psychology professor at New York State University in Albany and author of a marijuana usage book, said legalizing medical marijuana does not increase recreational use, which he acknowledged may have been a concern to members of the Assembly health committee. He also said synthetic marijuana pills are problematic, since people with nausea and vomiting have trouble swallowing them.

Hissom then went on to correctly note that:

. Gina Dennik-Champion, executive director of the Wisconsin Nurses Association, said marijuana can benefit those undergoing chemo, as well as those with glaucoma or AIDS. "Marijuana should be able to be used as a possible option for patients when conventional medications do not work or have negative side effects," she said.

With all due respect, I guess that's what happens when the press relies on press releases rather than actually physically reporting news. But Milwaukee's Shepherd Express has provided welcome and reliable coverage of this issue click here while the daily Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been mostly silent, rarely even publishing letters to the editor about it.

Madison's Core Weekly weighed in with a nice article by Katie Bain that included several quotes I provided in a recent interview:

Gary Storck, director of communications for Is My Medicine Legal YET? a non- profit group dedicated to raising public awareness of marijuana's pharmacological benefits spoke on behalf of this organization, as did Jacki Rickert, IMMLY's founder. Rickert suffers from two medical conditions that almost prevented her from attending the hearing. "Patients like her just don't show up," Storck said, "it takes a lot of work for them to be there...cannabis has basically saved her life."

A slight error in this article left an incorrect impression as to the bill's chances this session.

A companion vote introduced by a Republican senator would then be necessary for the bill to proceed to the state senate.

This is true. A Senate version must be introduced by a Republican Senator.

Even if the bill is passed by the assembly, the Senate would not get the opportunity to vote on it during the current session, making it unlikely that patients who could benefit from medical marijuana will get government assistance anytime soon.

This is not exactly correct...

If a companion bill were introduced in the Senate, there would conceivably be enough time before late March or so when the session is winding down to pass both houses this session.

19 of 33 state senators are Republican. Unfortunately, none have so far shown interest in sponsoring a Senate version. Until a GOP senator steps forward, the farthest the bill can possibly go this session is to pass the Assembly. First, it has to pass the Health Committee.

However, getting the hearing was a big step. The bill being passed out of committee would be a big step. The best thing supporters can do now is write and call Health Committee members and ask GOP state senators to sponsor a Senate version this session.