:MMJ banner hung by activists 1/20.
MADISON: Hundreds of medical cannabis patients and supporters flocked to the Wisconsin State Capital for a Memorial for the late medical marijuana patient-activist Mary Powers, then visited their legislator’s offices to lobby for the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. Hundreds more emailed or called from home.
The Memorial brought a diverse group of Wisconsinites to the Capitol, and included music from Native American traditional singer and drummer, Al Baker and singer songwriter Rick Harris. Harris played his song, “Legal Medicine Blues”, that Jacki Rickert’s quiet heroism inspired him to write 9 years ago.. Baker’s beautiful and haunting singing and drumming moved many as it echoed about the Capitol.
Mary's family was in attendance, Medical marijuana patients Jacki Rickert, Gary Storck and Teresa Shepherd spoke, as well as Wisconsin Veterans for Medical Marijuana’s Charles Wachtel and Mary Powers’ care provider Sherry, who cared for Mary in her last months and was present when she passed.
Jacki meets Mary's mother.
One notable absence was Wisconsin media. It appears not one television, print or radio reporter showed up to cover this event about something that 80% of state residents believe needs to be passed. No corporate media, not even a college paper reporter. Does this mean the media is now part of the disconnect? The media blackout does not matter. JRMMA supporters are becoming their own media. The event was streamed live over the internet. Videos are already online.
Jacki speaks while Gary Storck looks on.
Ignoring the pleas of people in pain is something very un-Wisconsinlike. Is our state’s motto not “Forward”? Medical marijuana will be passed some day. Making patients wait means that in the end, more people will have suffered and died in pain unnecessarily because of the bigotry and cowardice of a small handful of Luddites. How many more Memorial Days will it take for state legislators to wake up and listen?
Gary Storck and Charles Wachtel speak.
If the JRMMA fails to move this session, constituents will expect lawmakers to explain why it did not happen or why they refused to support it, when they contact voters to ask for their support this fall. There is a collision coming. Legislators will be expected to justify the delay. The best way to avoid this certain collision is to do the right thing and move the JRMMA to passage now. For that to happen, state lawmakers need to find the political courage to listen and do what their constituents are asking, not what the State Medical Society is asking, not what the pharmaceutical lobby is demanding, and not what the Attorney general is spinning.
Wednesday’s historic gathering, the largest indoor medical cannabis event inside the Capitol ever, proved that advocates are not giving up. If anything, they are learning what it takes to finish a battle that has now been going on since the 1970’s in our state, and they are well aware of those who are the impediments to patients having legal access to their medicine.
Comments
As a student at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and as a Leading member of Students for Sensible Drug policy I want everyone suffering to know that we are out there fighting the fight, telling our family, friends, and coworkers that this is a bill that needs to be passed. The people have spoken!
people dont think just what is in all the dam pills you take when you are sick and then the pills makes you sicker so why not let people us medical cannabis
Thank you for fighting for us that cannot do it due to our debilitating illnesses. I hope that WI will wake up and realize that patients are suffering out here, breaking laws when they have no record and using medications that are far more dangerous than Marijuana. You cant overdose on Marijuana...I have tried.....but a few of my other medications would work.
The press boycotting this event is an atrocity. I plan on sending a link to this article to every WI television station and newspaper email addy that I can find. Along with the question of "what happened here" and a request for response.
And I can find them all very quickly!
We need to be able to medicate ourselves! - especially with natural herbs n ancient medicine! - They allow us to drink alcohol , smoke nicotine, and allow doctors to hand out and "push" pharmacutical garbage that isn't even fully tested and also does moar damage than good! - just listen to the latest commercials for antidepressents - the side effects are wayyyyy worse than the stuff you had to begin with - - - - -- if people want to vaporize cannabis for any of its healing purposes the STATE should at least allow them to - - - - THUMBS UP FOR WI MEDICAL CANNABIS!!!!
YES, even in CA w/legal papers, the ELK GROVE POLICE invaded my home and backyard to see one beautiful plant. Rude, put foot in door blocking it open, making accusations of an odd plant???
Let us open our minds.
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