MADISON: The following article was published in the September/October 2010 issue of the Eastside News, The News, published by the Goodman Community Center, publishes close to 13,000 issues six times per year. which are mailed to East Side residents and supporters of the Center. As the News is print only at this time, I'm reprinting my article here for those who cannot obtain a hard copy.
Source: Eastside News (Madison WI neighborhood bimonthly)
Pubdate: September/October 2010
Author: Gary Storck
Page: 25
Volume 140 Number 5
Address: 149 Waubesa St. Madison WI 53704
Website: http://www.goodmancenter.org/resources/eastside-news
MEDICAL MARIJUANA REFERENDUM QUESTION ON NOVEMBER 2
By Gary Storck, NORML
Dane County voters will find a question asking if they support passage of a state medical marijuana law when they go to the polls November 2.
On July 15, in a voice vote, the Dane County Board unanimously approved placing a Medical Marijuana Advisory Referendum on county ballots for the November 2 general election. The approval sets up the first-ever vote in Dane County on medical marijuana.
The resolution was spearheaded by east side supervisors John Hendrick, and Barbara Vedder, who were joined by 11 other sponsors. It had previously passed the board's Executive Committee on July 8 on a unanimous 6-0 vote.
The vote means that on Nov. 2, all Dane County ballots will carry this question:
"Should the Wisconsin Legislature enact legislation allowing residents with debilitating medical conditions to acquire and possess marijuana for medical purposes if supported by their physician?"
Four county residents spoke in support. The first was Mike Glaspie, a cancer patient and veteran, "I don't know a single person who wouldn't choose something that could help them instead of obeying the law. It's an unfair choice to ask them to have to make. I feel we should be able to ask the general population how they feel about that."
Several supervisors followed sponsor Hendrick in speaking in support. No one opposed.
District 28 Supervisor Kurt Schlicht, a Republican candidate for the State Senate, talked about family, "I stand in support because my mother died of pancreatic cancer. The last six months of her life were so horrific. I am against using drugs to get intoxicated, but I watched my mother die. She was a registered nurse. The marijuana, acquired illegally, gave her an appetite and gave her a littler energy and probably sustained her a few more weeks. So I stand in support, and I'll take it to my constituents and I hope it passes."
Supervisor Brett Hulsey, a Democratic candidate for the State Assembly seat of retiring Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) also spoke in support, citing a family member's bout with cancer.
"This is sometimes the best medicine", Hulsey said. "I hope we can change the policy and fight back the reefer madness that has stopped this medicine from being available"
District 32's Mike Willett, representing Verona, said he was planning on voting against it but came around to supporting a vote, "I support it because it is putting the question out to the people."
Hendrick spoke again before the vote, saying " I would just invite all of you to join Representative Vedder to represent our constituents and to represent the opportunity for all of your constituents to vote on this in November and to advise the legislature that they have nothing to fear from the people of Wisconsin if they decide to pass a bill to legalize medical marijuana."
After the unanimous vote for adoption, Hendrick said the resolution would be sent to the Wisconsin Counties Association to encourage others to follow suit. In a July 20 article, Hendrick told the Wisconsin State Journal he was surprised at the unanimous vote but wouldn't be surprised if the referendum passed by a 70-30 margin or better on Nov. 2.
Advisory referendum supporters plan to be at the Saturday Farmer's Market at the Capitol and other events with literature. To learn more visit JRMMA.org, MadisonNORML.org or call 608-241-8922.
Gary Storck is a Madison resident, longtime medical cannabis patient/advocate, member of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Referendum Campaign Committee and the co-founder of the Madison chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
For more info: Dane County Medical Marijuana Referendum: www.jrmma.org. 06/24/10: Gary Storck OPED: Isthmus: Rejection of Wisconsin medical marijuana bill was a profile in cowardice. This Oct. 1-3, 2010: Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival. Madison NORML Examiner: Jacki Rickert MMJ Act 2010 runs out of time in Wisconsin Legislature. For additional details on medical cannabis and Wisconsin visit JRMMA.org, IMMLY.org, Wisconsin NORML or MadisonNORML.org. Visit my Madison NORML Examiner articles archive. Photo courtesy of Madison NORML. All rights reserved. Madison NORML Examiner is dedicated to the memory of Mary Powers (1949-2009).
Comments
Yes It should be legal for those with chronic pain, cancer and other debilitating diseases. The only choice those with chronic pain have now is to 1)endure the pain each and every day/night or 2)use very strong pain medicine which is far more dangerous than marijuana is and that is a scientific fact. One cannot overdose from marijuana, but we see deaths from pain killers every day. This is a "NO-BRAINER" and it's time Wisconsin State got on board with this. Many physicians are in favor of this treatment and cannot do anything to help those sufferers in our state. At least not yet.
i hope it passes for all of us that need it for medical reasons i got adhd and seaizurs it helps me out alot and sick of always haven to hid it like i am doing something wrong when i need it for my help in my life...
should be legal anyways its far less damaging in all respects than alchohol.
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