Madison NORML

I first knew Lee Sherman Dreyfus as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1975-76, where he was the chancellor. Later, lobbying for medcal marijuana legislation, we exchanged correspondence regarding the bill. I last saw him at current Gov. Jim Doyle's first inaugration in January 2003.

For immediate release Thursday, January 03, 2008

IS MY MEDICINE LEGAL YET?: MOURNS PASSING OF FORMER WI GOV. LEE SHERMAN DREYFUS WHO SIGNED WISCONSIN'S FIRST MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL IN 1982

Mondovi & Madison - Former Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus was a true leader and a governor who put Wisconsinites ahead of partisan politics by signing Wisconsin's Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act into law on April 19, 1982. The legislation had easily passed both houses with broad bipartisan support in 1981, passing the Assembly by 77-19 and the Senate by 32-1. Unfortunately, the bill relied on the federal government supplying medical marijuana, which they refused to do and this effort became symbolic.

We call upon the Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor to help finish former Gov. Dreyfus' legacy of compassion and bipartisanship by working to pass Assembly Bill 550, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, this session. Currently AB 550 is stalled and awaiting action in the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform committee. With time remaining to pass this critical legislation quickly running out, it is essential that state lawmakers act now so patients who need medical cannabis today gain access as soon as possible.

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 cannabis. For further information contact Jacki Rickert at 715.926.4950 or Gary Storck at 608.241.8922 or visit the IMMLY website at www.immly.org.

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