Madison NORML

First, here is the letter as published, below it is the original letter as I submitted it:

What was published:
Source: Wisconsin State Journal: click here
Monday, January 5, 2009

Time to legalize medical marijuana

With overwhelming support, Wisconsinites would be thrilled to read this headline: "Governor signs medical marijuana bill, Wisconsin becomes 15th state to protect patients using medicinal cannabis."

Michigan became the 13th such state when voters passed Proposition 1 on Nov. 4. On Dec. 15, the New Jersey State Senate Health Committee passed medical marijuana legislation by a 6-1 margin, sending it to the full Senate for a vote. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine urged quick passage.

With the change of leadership in the state Assembly, Wisconsin has the potential to be next. Gov. Jim Doyle, who has stated he would sign a bill if it reached his desk, should follow the lead of fellow governors who urged legislators to act.

The Michigan state agency tasked with regulating their medical marijuana program expects to begin certifying patients and caregivers in April, meaning a Michigan resident with a qualifying medical condition will be eligible to legally use medical cannabis with a doctor's approval. A Wisconsinite with the same condition would still be eligible only for arrest and jail.

One in four Americans now live in a state where medical marijuana is legal. For the sake of state patients and families struggling with serious illness, Wisconsin needs to join the club in 2009.

-- Gary Storck, Madison, Is My Medicine Legal YET?

My original, unedited submission with additional content:

Dear Editor,

With overwhelming support statewide, Wisconsinites would be thrilled to read this headline, “Governor signs medical marijuana bill, Wisconsin becomes 15th US state to protect patients using medicinal cannabis”, “Headlines we would like to see in 2009” (Dec. 31).

While Michigan became the 13th such state when voters passed Prop 1 on Nov. 4, the next state likely to pass a medical marijuana law right now is New Jersey. On Dec. 15, the New Jersey State Senate Health Committee passed medical marijuana legislation by a 6-1 margin, sending it to the full Senate for a vote. The following day, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine urged quick passage, telling reporters "I don't think that we ought to be having fights on issues that don't go to the heart of the needs of a broad majority of folks, I think that this is one that if it can be moved expeditiously because there's a consensus, I think that's great. I have studied the issue and I think that if properly structured, it's an initiative that's sensible."

With the change of leadership in the State Assembly, Wisconsin has the potential to be the 15th state. Gov. Jim Doyle, who has stated he would sign a bill if it reached his desk, should follow the lead of fellow governors who urged legislators to act as Gov. Corzine did in New Jersey or Bill Richardson did in New Mexico in 2007. New Mexico would not have become the 12th state without the personal efforts of then Gov. now Commerce-Secretary-designate Richardson who worked with legislative leaders to assure passage.

The Michigan state agency tasked with regulating their new medical marijuana program expects to begin certifying patients and caregivers in April. This will mean that a Michigan resident with a qualifying medical condition will be eligible to legally use medical cannabis with a doctor’s approval, while an identical Wisconsinite would still only be eligible for arrest and jail.

One in Four Americans now live in a state where medical marijuana is legal. For the sake of state patients and families struggling with serious illness, Wisconsin needs to join the club in 2009.

-- Gary Storck, Madison, Is My Medicine Legal YET?