Madison NORML

Source: Shepherd Express
Pubdate: January 10, 2008
Author: Shepherd Express Staff
Section: Expresso

REMEMBERING DREYFUS

Last week we lost one of our most colorful politicians, former Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus. Although many commentators chose to focus on his red vest, tax refunds and populist style, readers around the globe got a different picture of a man they had probably never heard of before: Dreyfus as a champion of gay rights. According to the Associated Press headline reprinted around the world, "Former Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus dies at 81; signed first statewide gay rights law." Although local news reports tended to downplay that historic move, we're grateful to the AP reporter, Scott Bauer, for his description of the former guv.

Medical marijuana supporters reminded us that Dreyfus signed another landmark bill into law, the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act, in 1982. According to the organization Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY), the law didn't change much, since it relied on the federal government for a supply of medical marijuana. IMMLY is calling on the current governor, Jim Doyle, and the state Legislature, to pass the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, which is stalled in the Assembly Health and Health Care Reform Committee, chaired by state Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa). The bill would allow certain individuals to use medical marijuana for health reasons.