Madison: This is my third article about the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA) SB368/AB554. The prior articles were State Capitol press conference launches Wisconsin's Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act and Wisconsin Lawmakers announce Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act to receive combined hearing.
Wisconsin media responded to the Nov. 16 Capitol press conference announcing the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act with a flurry of coverage. News reports included widespread radio and television news coverage, articles on the internet, where it was also carried live and archived by Wisconsin Eye. In addition articles and supportive editorials appeared in a wide array of Wisconsin daily newspapers.
Madison's Wisconsin State Journal, the state's second largest daily, issued an editorial on Nov. 19, "Let Desperate Patients Have Pot". The editorial noted, "A doctor should be able to recommend marijuana to a Wisconsin cancer patient suffering from severe nausea, loss of appetite and pain. More than a dozen other states have legalized medical marijuana. Wisconsin should, too."
Wisconsin's Gannett Media dailies also came out editorially in favor of the JRMMA, sponsored by Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison). In an editorial carried by many, if not all of the Gannett dailies around the state, "Time to legalize medical use of marijuana", they wrote.
"The time is right for Wisconsin to act on legalizing marijuana for medical use. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said recently that the Justice Department would not enforce federal drug laws in states that permit medicinal use of marijuana and Gov. Jim Doyle said he would sign the bill if passed by the legislature. The legislature should pass the bill. It makes no sense to ban a drug that has proven to be medically beneficial when physicians are legally prescribing more toxic and addictive drugs." (Oshkosh Northwestern, 11/19/09).
The Wausau Daily Herald published an identical piece, also on Nov. 19, as well as the Appleton Post Crescent, and likely the rest of the dozen plus papers in the chain in Wisconsin.
On Friday November 20, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Jim Stingl offered his perspective, "Relief, not reefer, is reason for bill".
Stingl wrote, "It will seem strange at first to have marijuana sold in storefronts rather than alleys. But the product is more likely to be pure and safe, Erpenbach said. Doctors already can approve much stronger drugs, and this would be another form of medicine."
Also on Friday, an unexpected source, the online Milwaukee Biz Blog, carried a piece by Alan Gaudynski, a former Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin executive, "Legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin"
Gaudynski, first noting he had undergone surgeries for health problems, continued, "Although I am not a marijuana user, I've read reports that people with certain types of cancers and other types of debilitating diseases find pain and anti-nausea relief when smoking marijuana. If we could devise a low cost way to deliver it to appropriate patients through prescription from a doctor, and purchased from a legal outlet, like a pharmacy, I am all in favor of it."
Wisconsin patients are finding hope where it had not been for many years. The Dec. 15 State Capitol hearing, set for 10am in Room 412 East, should be a very interesting and for many patients, emotional day. To stay updated on the JRMMA, visit JRMMA.org, Is My Medicine Legal YET? or MadisonNORML.org. Send a prewritten letter to your WI State Legislators.
.
Comments
There is no reason to disallow sick people any medicine they wish to use to relieve their pain or other symptoms. As a sufferer of a condition where the only working, non-surgery relief is with marijuana, I really hope this bill passes and is put into action immediately.
While medical use for the sick is top priority, you can't help but oversee the jobs and money it brings for our state. Compassion centers (or dispensaries) will open all over the state creating many jobs. The fees for operating these centers and obtaining the state issued card alone will bring in thousands of dollars.
It is about time marijuana loses its ubsurd hysteria associated with it. There is so much this plant offers as a medicine and as a relaxant medicinally, therputically, and even YES recreationally.
every states should legalize weed for madicine
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!