Madison NORML

IMMLY TO REP. SCOTT SUDER: PROVIDE DETAILS OF SO-CALLED "LOOPHOLES" IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

November 19, 2007
Contact: Gary Storck, 608-241-8922

Madison - When asked by reporters about state medical cannabis legislation (AB 550, "the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act"), State Assembly Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) has twice stated that he would support such legislation if unnamed "loopholes" were closed:

1) "Suder said the legislation is too vague and has too many loopholes, but that he could consider voting for a tighter version without loopholes." -- "Mondovi woman leads fight for medical marijuana," Eau Claire Leader Telegram, 2 October 2007.

2) "I think the legislation leaves a huge loophole for those who want to experiment with marijuana," Suder said. "Many of us are willing to take a look at the legislation, but the language needs to be tightened to prevent abuse." -- "Senate To Hear Pros, Cons Of Legalizing Medical Marijuana", Badger Herald, 14 November 2007.

On Wed. Oct. 3, after Rep. Suder's comments in the Leader-Telegram, a delegation of three medical cannabis patients visited his office and offered to meet with Suder to discuss his so-called "tighter version without loopholes". There was no response from Rep. Suder. On Nov. 15, quoted in the Badger Herald, Rep. Suder again offered to support a version with tightened language, but again did not explain what he meant.

If Rep. Suder is truly sincere about the health and well being of Wisconsin families battling serious illness today, he should immediately provide those details while there is still time this session to introduce his version of the bill. Patients need medical cannabis today and each day that passes while Rep. Suder is talking about a hypothetical vague proposal, people are suffering and dying needlessly and their families are grieving. We call on Rep. Suder to immediately disclose the details of his medical cannabis proposal, if he truly has one. With the holidays fast approaching, a breakthrough on medical cannabis legislation would be a very welcome gift for thousands of seriously ill Wisconsinites and their families and friends. It's now up to Rep. Suder to demonstrate his proposal is real and not just empty rhetoric to try to justify his opposition to AB 550, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act and legal access to medical cannabis in general.

Is My Medicine Legal YET? is a Mondovi and Madison based grass roots patient and caregiver organization dedicated to advancing public education about the medicinal benefits of marijuana. For further information contact Gary Storck at 608.241.8922 or Jacki Rickert at 715.926.4950 or visit the IMMLY website at www.immly.org.

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