Madison NORML

Source: Capital Times click here
Published: 9 June 2007

Medical marijuana makes life bearable

Dear Editor: A recent column click here, "Dying people shouldn't be denied basic liberty," makes many good points, but before physician-assisted suicide is considered, other options should first be available, like legal access to medical marijuana.

Cannabis has shown the ability to make life bearable again for the chronically and terminally ill. Patients whose quality of life has greatly degraded, despite all modern medicine can offer, might find the will to live if cannabis were a legal option. Families would gain additional time together.

While medical cannabis legislation has the overwhelming support of the people of Wisconsin, lawmakers like Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, the chair of the Assembly Health Committee and a nurse, continue to "play God." Vukmir stated in April that she would not hold a hearing because it would be a "circus" and that medical marijuana will not happen on her watch.

This is the time for citizens to become activists and demand that lawmakers abide by the will of the people, so when members of our communities face accident or illness, all options are available.

Bipartisan medical cannabis legislation will be introduced again this fall in the Assembly by Reps. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, and Mark Pocan, D-Madison. Callous and prideful lawmakers should not be standing in the way of this simple God-given herb that can provide so much relief to our sick and dying brothers and sisters.

Freedom and liberty are more than sound bites. It's time to restore patients' and families' freedom to utilize cannabis as medicine.

Gary Storck, Is My Medicine Legal YET?
Madison