Madison NORML

Now only if the legislature would only listen the 80.3% of Wisconsinites who support legal access. The full article cites a later poll with different wording that only found 75% support. Immly's 2002 poll found the higher figure: click here.

After lagging back much of the march, Jacki was far in the lead as we approached the Capitol grounds where Rep. Frank Boyle was waiting to greet us. After a quick meeting with Rep. Boyle to determine the new press conferernce lineup, we proceeded to the Senate Parlor for the press conference.

With federal patient George McMahon unable to attend, as well as Ed Thompson and a nurse representing the WI Nurses Association, we decided to let more patients speak. After Frank Boyle spoke about the bill and announced its name, "The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act", Rep. Mark Pocan talked about the bill details.

Then, I took the podium, spoke a bit about Jacki and myself, and introduced Jacki. Jacki was followed by Carolyn, a young woman from Dane County with multiple sclerosis, J. T. "Osch" Oschwald, a spinal injury patient from Colorado and a national medical cannabis activist. After that we kind of opened up the discussion, with more heartfely testimonials.

Among the assembled press was Jackie Johnson from the Wisconsin Radio Network who produced a great report with audio and pictures:

Their medicine's not legal yet
Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 9:03 PM
By Jackie Johnson
click here

[snip]

Jacki Rickert is in severe pain, and had discovered that cannabis really works for her.

"You see living, breathing, rolling, walking evidence right here. We wouldn't come all this way to lie to you. Why would anyone lie about something like this? It would be much easier to just stay at home and go, 'hey, it's not my problem.'"

J.F. Oschwald of Colorado is confined to a wheelchair, and he says cannabis eases some of his pain.

"Medicine is medicine and if they can regulate morphine then they can regulate marijuana."

Oschwald got a little choked up when he dreamed about a day that he "wouldn't be illegal in 38 states." Patient activist Gary Storck (also of the group Is My Medicine Legal Yet -- IMMLY) credits pot for saving the lives of some of his ailing friends.

"Just live some kind of quality of life, that's all we ask for. You know a lot of us would be in a box today if it weren't for cannabis."

Storck says pot is the best treatment for our soldiers who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. For those opposed to smoking marijuana, one supporter emphasized that you don't have to smoke it. You can reap the benefits via vaporization and eating the stuff.

[snip]