July 26, 2009
Video: Medical Cannabis in Wisconsin: Gary Storck talks of glaucoma and Wisconsin medical cannabis efforts
Posted by Gary Storck
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Almost 30 years ago this July 31, in 1979, I attended a hearing on a medical marijuana bill at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. I took a bus up from Milwaukee, where I lived at the time, for what would be my very first visit to the Capitol.
I was there to support Assembly Bill 279, which would establish a Wisconsin Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act. Fellow glaucoma patient Robert Randall, the first legal federal mmj patient, was also present and testified in support as he had done in other states at the time. Here is a video I made about that historic hearing on that historic date, Tuesday, July 31, 1979:
Posted by Gary at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2009
Videos of IMMLY's June 7 medical cannabis vigil at WI State Capitol
Posted by Gary Storck
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Here are videos from Sunday's vigil at the State Capitol from IMMLY.org.
IMMLY's "candlelight" vigil for victims of Medical Cannabis Prohibition on June 7 at Wisconsin Capitol a resounding success!
Longtime Wisconsin medical cannabis patient/activist Gary Storck speaks at IMMLY's medical cannabis vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Gary talks about the vigil then introduces IMMLY Founder Jacki Rickert in this clip from the vigil.
Is My Medicine Legal YET? Founder Jacki Rickert speaks about Cheryl Miller and medical cannabis at IMMLY's medical cannabis vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
IMMLY's Gary Storck introduces Wisconsin medical cannabis patient/activist Mary Powers at IMMLY's medical cannabis vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
Wisconsin medical cannabis patient/activist Mary Powers speaks at IMMLY's medical cannabis vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
Wisconsin singer-songwriter Rick Harris performs his song, "Legal Medicine Blues" for Jacki Rickert and other attendees of an LED "candlelight" vigil for medical cannabis at the State Capitol in Madison that was organized by IMMLY.
Another view of Rick
playing Legal Medicine Bues at the vigil:
Posted by Gary at 07:54 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2009
Legal Medicine Blues at the Wisconsin State Capitol on June 7, 2009
Posted by Gary Storck
Monday, June 8, 2009The vigil Jacki and I organized for Is My Medicine Legal YET? at the Wisconsin State Capitol Sunday night was a resounding success, with at least 45 folks in attendance. Patients, activists, students, everyday people held LED candles and heard myself, Jacki, Mary Powers and others speak, with a great live version of "Legal Medicine Blues" by singer-songwriter Rick Harris to conclude the event. Below is that song, and I should have videos of the speeches available soon.
Posted by Gary at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
June 04, 2009
A letter from 30 years ago today
Posted by Gary Storck
Thursday, June 4, 2009Good luck to my friends in NJ today as they take medical cannabis to the next level with a hearing that could put their state's bill on the NJ Assembly floor for a final vote later. Cheryl Miller's spirit will be in the hearing room!
I first wrote this post in 2006, when it had been 27 years ago that I obtained a letter from my eye doctor saying if he were able to legally, he would prescribe cannabis for my glaucoma.
Now it has been 3 decades since the letter, and nearly 37 years since an earlier eye doc tested my intraocular pressure (IOP) after I had medicated and found that my chronically elevated IOPs were normal!
June 04, 2006 A letter from 27 years ago todayPosted by Gary Storck
Sunday, June 4, 2006Since 1979, June 4 has held special meaning for me. My then-ophthalmologist wrote me a letter dated June 4, 1979 that states, "I am familiar that reports that marijuana lowers intraocular pressure in many people who have glaucoma. If marijuana were available for me to prescribe to this patient, I would be willing to do so, in the hope it would adequately control his condition with fewer side effects than the medications currently available."
Unfortunately, under federal law, my doctor could not prescribe marijuana then and still cannot do so today. Marijuana could be prescribed up until 1970, when Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act classing marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with a high potential for abuse and no medical use. 36 years later and counting, they have still not corrected this grave error, and many millions of patients over several generations have paid the price.
The letter was significant personally in that it represented the first time a doctor had recognized, in writing, that cannabis would benefit me and that it should be available like any other medication. Seven years earlier, October 3, 1972, I had stumbled upon pot as a treatment for the congenital glaucoma that had steadily stolen my sight all through childhood. I had smoked some pot with friends after school and headed off to see a different eye doctor. He found my normally highly elevated intraocular pressures normal. Since that day I have continued to medicate with cannabis every day I could obtain it, through the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and today over halfway through the 00's.
If America truly is the land of liberty and justice for all, the Berlin wall of cannabis prohibition must fall, like the lies and myths that have been perpetrated in the name of keeping this gentle herb from patients in need. The sky is blue not green, and its time to stop the lies and the war and let the healing begin.
Posted by Gary at 04:20 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2009
Live Legal Medicine Blues from 2007 IMMLY/Madison NORML benefit at Cardinal Bar in Madison
Posted by Gary Storck
Monday, May 25, 2009Here is a video from the IMMLY/Madison NORML medical cannabis benefit at the Cardinal Bar in Madison on Friday, October 6, 2007. The Riddiough-Shanahan Band plays the traditional singalong version of Rick Harris' "Legal Medicine Blues". Rick Harris was inspired to write LMB after meeting Jacki Rickert while playing IMMLY's first benefit at Mother Fools Coffee in 2001. Read more about this great song click here
Posted by Gary at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)