Mary Powers rolls toward Capitol in 2009.
MADISON: AB554/SB368, The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA), sponsored by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee), would allow patients undergoing a "debilitating medical condition or treatment" to possess and use a small amount of medical cannabis.
As the JRMMA is based on the law Michigan voters passed in Nov. 2008, with a majority in every county, it lists debilitating conditions included in Michigan's law.
However, the JRMMA also contains two qualifying conditions not included in Michigan law. The first is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is included in California's law by virtue of the clause: "or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief". PTSD was also added to New Mexico's list of qualifying conditions after patients petitioned the state medical cannabis program and they concurred.
The other condition is Ehlers-Damlos Syndrome (EDS), and it has never before been specifically included in any state medical cannabis bill language. EDS is a group of inherited disorders marked by extremely loose joints, hyperelastic skin that bruises easily, and easily damaged blood vessels. EDS is included as it is also one of the medical conditions that the bill's namesake, Jacki Rickert is afflicted with, and she was approved for, but never supplied with, federal medical marijuana supplies to treat it.
Here is the JRMMA text listing debilitating conditions and treatments:
961.01 (5m) "Debilitating medical condition or treatment" means any of the following: (a) Cancer, glaucoma, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a positive test for the presence of HIV, antigen or nonantigenic products of HIV, or an antibody to HIV, Crohn's disease, a Hepatitis C virus infection, Alzheimer's disease, Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis, nail patella syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or the treatment of these conditions. (b) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment of such a disease or condition that causes cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis. (c) Any other medical condition or any other treatment for a medical condition designated as a debilitating medical condition or treatment in rules promulgated by the department of health services under s. 961.436 (5). -- Text of JRMMA.
PTSD is not just something many Iraqi and Afghani war vets are returning home with, but also something all too common in the general public in those who have endured traumatic situations. Cannabis is uniquely able to help those with PTSD put bad memories behind them.
Dr. Tod, Mikuriya, Harvest Fest, 2005
Dr. Tod Mikuriya wrote about PTSD including how returning Vietnam vets utilized cannabis.
approximately eight percent of the >9,000 Californians whose cannabis use I have monitored presented with PTSD (309.81) as a primary diagnosis. Many of them are Vietnam veterans whose chronic depression, insomnia, and accompanying irritability cannot be relieved by conventional psychotherapeutics and is worsened by alcohol. For many of these veterans, chronic pain from old physical injury compounds problems with narcotic dependence and side effects of opioids.
Survivors of childhood abuse and other traumatic experiences form a second group manifesting the same symptoms —loss of control and recurrent episodes of anxiety, depression, panic attacks and mood swings, chronic sleep deficit and nightmares.
Today's vets are finding it a potent remedy too.
While Wisconsin's JRMMA is on the cutting edge of state medical cannabis bills, additional medical uses are being explored in states like California, where the wide focus of their law has allowed its use by children with autism, as well as patients suffering from social anxiety and attention deficit disorder. Substituting medical cannabis for toxic, often addictive and/or organ-damaging heavy pharmaceuticals has shown great promise. Medical cannabis patients can titrate doses to suit their needs, rather than being chained to a daily prescription they must take the rest of their life, side effects and all.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 at 10am in Room 412 East of the State Capitol, two Wisconsin State Legislature Health committees are scheduled to hold a combined hearing on the JRMMA, Those attending can expect to hear from a diverse array of patients reporting how cannabis treats a wide range of medical conditions, both those included in the JRMMA and some that are not, but perhaps should be.
All photos courtesy of IMMLY/Madison NORML.
For more information on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, the Dec. 15 combined Health committee hearing and how to submit testimony, 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.
Comments
Great News, Gary! I hope it passes. I have a disease called Tuberous Sclerosis that has the ability to cause lesions and tumors on organs like the brain and on the body and seizures are a part of the disease(lucky I haven't had a seizure since childhood) and I think my depression stems from this. Maybe I would qualify. I have great hopes for this!
Gary, thanks for all you have been doing for this cause and for the sick. I have crohns disease. For this bill to pass would be a great thing for me and a turning point in my life.
I urge people to start the conversation with all friends and family members. Education is the key. We all know someone who could currently be helped by cannabis and we all will benefit from the research that will come at the state and private levels once JRMMA passes!
I support the legalization and regulation of medical marijuana in Wisconsin. I have sever tendonitis in both my arms, shoulders and hands. I've tried everything from medication to physical therapy. Nothing relieves my pain like marijuana has. When eaten or vaporized, it relaxes my muscles, eases my pain and makes me feel normal again. I hope this bill passes!
I completely support this bill! I have Fibromyalgia, Degenerative Disc Disease, Arthritis, and I am also a Medical Cannabis Patient. Cannabis is the only medication that will work for my pain and ease all the other symptoms of my disease.The people of Wisconsin deserve a safer way without having to look over their shoulders because their medicine is illegal. I have had no unwanted side effects from Cannabis and it has been the most effective not to mention the many other health benefits from it. Thank God for Cannabis!
If you support this please tell your family and friends. I did go with main stream medicine and it made me feel like a zombie. Cannabis has alleviated my back pain and relieved muscle spasms. I am not promoting the legalization of drugs, I just think that people should have access to medicine to help them have a little better life. I was recently arrested for my 2nd offense possession which in Wisconsin is a felony. Because I choose to have a few marijuana cigarettes in my pocket in place of pharmeceuticals I may have to spend years in prison away from my son and be labled as a felon. I'm obviously willing to break the law to be able to medicate myself, many others are also, please don't hide and let your opinions be heard...I can safely bet we have all had at least one person close to us that could benefit from this plant. One day you may find yourself on a jury determining someone elses fate...
Several commentators have indicated that they may qualify for medical marijuana. To find local providers and physicians, there's a site called weedneedz.com that has a pretty thorough list. It's primarily california and colorado, but as dispensaries open in other parts of the country they will also be included. Best of luck with your new medication.
...cont'd.
While on prednisone I expereinced steriod induced mania & though I'd lost my mind. I also suffered severe bone loss & now have Osteopenia & was daignosed with this at the age of 27. The suspected cause is long term Prednisone use. I've been smoking MMJ almost daily since my early 20's & suffered no ill side effects.
Without MMJ, I'm in lots of pain, have an extremely difficult time keeping weight on , don't sleep due to the pain & my quality of life dimminishes.
I use several delvery methods for my MMJ, mostly in my vaporizer, which delivers the cannabinoids (medically active substances in MMJ) whithout smoke. I also cook with MMJ. Smoking is not the only delivery method.
Without MMJ laws I am forced to be a criminal & fear going to jail just for medicating myself with a herb that 's been used medicinally for thousands of years.
It is time we have a compassionate law on the books that does not turn our sick & dying into criminals.
We need sensible MMJ laws NOW!
I have Crohn's Disease & can personally say Medical Marijuana (MMJ) is a godsend for me.
It is not a cure for Crohn's Disease, there is not a cure a this time. However, it treats my symptoms more effectively than most prescribed drugs or over the counter drugs, with little to no side effects (euphoria & the stoned/high feeling is not a side effect, that is what helps with my anxiety & depression).
Crohn's causes severe pain, not just in the gut but in the connective tissue of your joints much like arthritis. It also causes nausea, abdomianl cramps, vomitting, diahrea & severe lack of appetite. If my doctor were to prescribe me meds for these symptoms, I would be taking at least three different pills, all with sideeffects worse than MMJ. For instance I have been off & on prednisone (an anti-inflammatory corti-steriod) for some number of years.
Cont'd...
I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and to complicate pain mgt., my body contains an ultra rapid metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6 which makes taking pain killers useless. My body doesn't metabolize them correctly and the side-effects are huge. Because of EDS, being hypermobile when I was younger, I had over 20 knee surgeries including 3 knee replacements by the time I was 45 years old. With EDS your more you use, the quicker you deteoriate, I'm pretty much bone on bone through-out my body. Again, with no pain meds. I hope this passes and I hope this works for me and others with chronic/sever pain!
Thankyou Gary,Jackie for you countless hours of time and work. I have ms. you people are my HEROS.MARY RIP THANKYOU. I would like to help anyway I can. derrikharrison@yahoo.com
I have a kidney disorder called cystinosis and also have ulcertative colitis I get bad stomach pains and dont have much of a appetite but cannabis helps get rid of that. I really belive this will pass this time
It is time WI adopts this bill. I have fibromyalgia. It can be quite debilitating. Because of liver issues pharmaceutical pain medication is not an option.. not to mention the other health problems caused by the side effects of pain meds available currently ie: sleep disturbance, aggresiveness, and addiction. The use of marijuana helps alleviates the chronic pain and depression which was causing loss of time at my job. How great it will be to have a safer, legal choice for disease management.
I have severe endometriosis, PTSD and fybromyalgia. If this passes it will be a great turning point in my life. I am currently looking over my shoulder because the medicine I know works best for me is illegal. There is no logical argument against medicinal mj.
I have severe depression and severe sleep apnea. Without a doubt,these conditions need to be included in the JRMMA. I currently smoke cannabis to relieve my depression and to help me get a good nights sleep. I will NOT support JRMMA unless these conditions are included!!
We all need to support the JRMMA whether our conditions are coveed or not. Patients ned this lifeboat and it is selfish to refuse to support a bill because you are not included. Only CA law currently allows mmj for those conditions. Would you rather see patients who do qualify continue to be arrested?
Wisconsin needs medical cannabis. I want to live my life with dignity, not dazed and confused while poisoning myself with doctor prescribed medications in pill form. Ive been on opiate medications for over 10 years, have tried to break the cycle of dependency numerous times, and have asked doctors for better options. Guess what, they don't have any, and are SCARED to recommend Cannabis as medication because they fear retaliation from law enforcement.
Bottom line, Its a plant, and it has been used for many things dating back to biblical times. Prohibition doesn't work.
FREE THE HERB. CANNABIS IS MEDICINE!
I am a combat Veteran who was in the 3rd special forces group in operation erduring freedom I (early 2002) diagnosed with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, DJD in my back and destroyed knees. upon returning from afghanistan returned in a state only describable as psychosis. 3 hour long anxiety attacks in which I would come to, hudled under my kitchen table trembling bleeding from cutting myself. I almost killed myself three times.... cannabis saved my life.. it could pull me right out of that anxiety . i dont partake anymore but i certainly advocate the use and always will. After all isn't euphorea described as a false sence of well being. well if I dont have a sence of well being a false one is the next best thing!!!
don that closed mindedness is the reason people havent flooded down the doors of their represenatives. the i will not support it unless someone screeches the bill to a grinding halt and fixes everything for don... i got news for ya my obvious road scholar... read the bill... there is a clause that would pertain to you it is called... the pursuit of happiness... the wording and practical application are two different things if you have a doctor who thinks your condition could improve they would be able to write you a script. there is no i in team, don so why dont you join the team and come in for the big win. and then you could say you fought for the little guys and be proud of it!!! (can you see the symptoms anger and irritability)thanks don.
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