Madison NORML

MADISON: Support from hearing attendees was overwhelming, and media interest high, for the Dec. 15 combined committee hearing on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. A sampling of coverage appears below.

Those arriving close to the 10 am scheduled start time found the large hearing room standing room only, with attendees crowding hallways leading in to the hearing room. All committee members were present except Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), last seen on Milwaukee television in a debate with bill sponsor Sen. Jon Erpenbach saying he was against the bill. According to his website, he was at a Town Hall meeting. Let us hope a constituent asked him why he was not at the Capitol representing them at this critical hearing.

The final tally for the day was 57 who attended registered in support, with only one registered against. 48 people testified in support, with only 5 against. Those five were Dr.Michael Miller, State Medical Society, Kevin St. John, Wisconsin DOJ on behalf of AG Van Hollen, Charles Wood, Wisconsin Narcotics Officer Association, Robert Block, State of Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board and the fifth was a private citizen.

Some headlines and articles focused on remarks by Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) accusing bill sponsors Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) of using patients as a "façade" to push the complete legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin.

Rep. Leah Vukmir's claim at a public hearing drew boos and other derisive comments from many in the room packed with sick people in wheelchairs or walking with canes. Supporters say marijuana helps patients deal with diseases, cancer treatments and other ailments by relieving them of pain and nausea.

Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, said there were no medical reasons to use marijuana and that other pain relief measures should be pursued that "do not require individuals to light a joint." She said once marijuana is legalized for medical uses, momentum will grow to make it available to everyone, as has happened elsewhere.

"What I resent most is this facade you are putting forth, using people who are dying of cancer and have other diseases, as your shield," she said to the bill's Democratic co-sponsors who vehemently denied her claims. -- "Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, draws boos for opposing medical marijuana", Dec. 16, 2009, Green Bay Press Gazette.

The same AP article ran statewide and beyond with various titles including, "Wisconsin: Secret agenda for medical pot?" Dec. 16, 2009, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, "Sides square off in state Legislature over medical marijuana", La Crosse Tribune, Dec. 16, 2009 and  "Sides square off in Wisconsin over medical marijuana", Appleton Post Crescent, Dec. 16, 2009.

Predictable remarks in opposition by the aforementioned long time medical cannabis opponent Dr. Michael Miller, representing the State Medical Society also made it into various reports. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Patrick Marley included Vukmir's "façade" quote as well as this of Dr. Miller.

Michael Miller, a physician, told lawmakers the Wisconsin Medical Society opposed the bill because drug approvals should be based on science and left to the federal Food and Drug Administration.

"This is not the way to approve a new medicine," Miller said.

Marijuana is not a very strong painkiller, he said. Patients who need THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, to spur their appetite or combat nausea can get a prescription to Marinol, a synthetic version of the drug, he said.

Miller stressed the dangers of smoking the drug and said that is the primary way patients would use it, despite claims by advocates that many would eat it, or vaporize it and then inhale it. - "Medicinal pot bill stirs strong emotions on both sides of issue", Dec. 16, 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Journal Sentinel article also noted testimony from the office of Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, who opposes the bill.

"Make no mistake, the marijuana possession permitted by the bill to a user or caregiver is illegal under federal law, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000," Van Hollen said in written testimony to the committee.

Those charged with marijuana could more easily thwart prosecution in state court by claiming they had a medical condition, even if they were not on the state registry, Van Hollen said.

"If the bills are enacted as drafted, law enforcement's and prosecutors' ability to enforce what would still be illegal is seriously disabled . . . ," Van Hollen said. – “Medicinal pot bill stirs strong emotions on both sides of issue”, Dec. 16, 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Milwaukee’s Fox affiliate, FOX 6, posted this video report by reporter Jennifer Reyes “Medical marijuana: To legalize or not” (Dec. 15, 2009).

 Southwestern Wisconsin's Vernon County Broadcaster weighed in on the proceedings and Vukmir's harsh behavior with an editorial, concluding the bill needs to be passed.

A claim in the legislature, Tuesday, that the fight for medical marijuana was a ploy to legalize the drug, was reactionary. This argument is about helping people who are ill — nothing more.

The state of Wisconsin should join the 13 other states in the nation that have allowed for the use of medical marijuana. There is no substitute for this medicine. The excuses for continuing to keep its medicinal use illegal are not compelling.
-- “Medical marijuana should be allowed”, Dec. 16, 2009, Vernon County Broadcaster

Eau Claire’s WQOW tv offered this report on the hearings: "Wisconsin lawmakers discuss medical marijuana bill", Dec 15, 2009, Eau Claire (WQOW).

WEAU, another Eau Claire tv staion aired a report with some surprisingly supportive comments from the Eau Claire County District Attorney.

Eau Claire District Attorney Rich White says he doesn't think allowing marijuana to be given legally with a prescription will affect his office's case load.

"We'll deal with the legal consequences but I believe they will be relatively minimal,” says White.

White says it's up to the medical experts to decide whether prescriptions for marijuana are safe.

"That's no different than any advance in science, or the development of a new prescription drug," says White.

White says he doesn't think the legalization of medical marijuana in Wisconsin would lead to more prescriptions being forged. He says forging documents would carry felony charges. – “Public hearing in Madison reignites medical marijuana debate”, Dec. 15, 2009, WEAU.com

Unfortunately, with expert testimony at the front end of the hearing, most or all of the press had departed long before testimony from individual patients and supporters had started, outside of IMMLY's Jacki Rickert and Gary Storck who testified with Rep. Pocan and Sen. Erpenbach.

Amazing testimony and revelation after revelation of heroic personal struggles with illness and the healing powers of cannabis followed. Heartbreaking personal stories of pain and even arrests were peppered among them.

These stories can be seen and heard on Wisconsin Eye, which broadcast the hearing in its entirety live and has it archived for future viewing on their website.

For more info: List of qualifying medical conditions included in the JRMMA. For additional details on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, info on the Dec. 15 combined Health committee hearing, bill text and status, all the latest news and how you can help, visit JRMMA.org, IMMLY.org or MadisonNORML.org. Visit my Madison NORML Examiner articles archive.