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November 24, 2006
Wisconsin State Journal Letter to the Editor: Will Legislature look at medical marijuana?
Posted by Gary Storck
Friday, November 24, 2006
While I was off enjoying Thanksgiving yesterday, the Wisconsin State Journal published this version of a leter I sent them. The original version named some of the anti-medical marijuana zealots voters tossed Nov. 7.
With a new session just weeks away, it's not too early to put medical cannabis out there.
Source: Wisconsin State Journal
Pubdate: Thursday, November 23, 2006
Author: Gary Storck
WILL LEGISLATURE LOOK AT MEDICAL MARIJUANA?The headline of Tuesday's editorial about cleaning up state politics -- "No more excuses for Legislature" -- could also easily apply to medical marijuana. Polling has long established that a majority of voters support legal access to medical marijuana.
Some of the "bums" the voters "threw out" were anti-medical marijuana zealots. In the 2005 to 2006 session, AB 740 became the fourth medical marijuana bill to die in committee without a vote since 1997.
Each year, there are an estimated 36,000 new cases of cancer in Wisconsin and around 11,000 people die from it. Add in patients with multiple sclerosis, AIDS, glaucoma and many other medical conditions, and we are talking about thousands of citizens who will benefit if the Legislature will only listen to the people.
As a medical marijuana advocate and patient, I field calls from patients and family members seeking information. Sadly, I have to counsel them that patients and their caregivers still risk arrest and jail if they try to get and use cannabis for medical purposes.
The legislature should pass Senate Bill 1 and start the cleanup of state politics. And Senate Bill 2 ought to be a medical marijuana bill, passed quickly with the mercy, compassion and respect our sick and dying citizens deserve.
Gary Storck, communications director, Is My Medicine Legal YET?, Madison
Posted by Gary at November 24, 2006 03:53 PM
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