Madison NORML

Jim Miller: Explain marijuana’s use as a medicine

Wisconsin State Journal
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A Sunday letter to the editor titled “Legalization could open the door to abuse” stated “Every teenager at odds with parents over the dangers of marijuana is aware of actions to legalize weed” and “The message they’re getting is that weed is safe and parents are wrong — again.”

The writer offers no solution other than to not pass a medical marijuana law in Wisconsin, as if that will keep kids from trying marijuana.

It seems that if there was a correct message for kids about medical marijuana, we should be giving it to them instead of sacrificing seriously ill and dying patients over our perceived inability to do so.

We recently legislated a medical marijuana law here in New Jersey. My late wife, Cheryl Miller, fought for medical marijuana rights until her death in 2003. Cheryl and Wisconsin’s own Jacki Rickert were like sisters.

New Jersey’s legislators rejected this same old smoke screen. They proved that they consider patient care a priority. I would hope that Wisconsin legislators will do the same and pass the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act in her honor rather than her memory.

— Jim Miller, Toms River, N.J.