Currently pending in the Wisconsin Legislature is the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA), the approval of which would allow the use and growth of cannabis for the treatment of certain illnesses.
On Tuesday of this week, the Wisconsin branch of NORML, along with another advocacy group, Is my Medicine Legal YET (IMMLY), held a Day of Pray for Compassion ceremony on the Capitol steps. The protesters sent a pray to the heavens and, just to be on the safe side, to the Wisconsin Legislature as well, asking for the right to use the healing powers of marijuana.
Speakers at the event included Gary Storck, president of Wisconsin NORML and spokesperson for IMMLY, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, an Ojibwa Indian performer and others who have diseases for which they say medicinal cannabis is the best option.
Commenting on the protest, James Cleary, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Heath, said that he had already prescribed oral cannabinoids for patients with advanced cancer. However, he went on to say, “as an oncologist, I am against approving the smoked version. That is the advantage of the Sativex product at this stage, or a vaporized version (of cannabis).”
Note: Sativex was developed in the GP for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
A vaporized version entails heating the plant material in a vacuum rather than burning it, thereby reducing the intake of irritants and toxins when inhaled.
However, Cleary acknowledged the difficulties with Sativex or other oral methods of taking cannabis due to solubility issues.
The legislative issue state and nationwide
The bill JRMMA, authored by Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Senator Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, would offer a medical necessity legal defense for those who are prescribed marijuana for treatment. This means patients holding or growing marijuana would be protected from arrest and prosecution.
JRMMA would also establish a licensing and registry system under the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. DHS would also be given the power to designate which diseases would qualify for the use of medicinal cannabis.
The future of medicinal cannabis in Wisconsin
Senator Erpenbach’s spokesperson said it is difficult to tell at this point whether the bill will make it out of the Senate and Assembly health committees and to the floor votes before the end of this legislative session in May.
“I think advocates are working with the committee to iron out concerns,” she said. “There’s a possibility to move it to the floor, but it is a diverse committee that has concerns, and they need to be addressed before a (committee) vote.”
Accordingly, Erpenbach does not want to hold a vote until there is more confidence the bill will pass through the committee.
Senate health committee member Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, said a lot of what she has been hearing in committee is that medicinal cannabis is used more for relaxation and comfort than for pain relief.
Lazich also pointed to the fact that the medical community — in particular the Wisconsin Medical Society — does not think medicinal cannabis is more useful than current drugs on the market. She added she supports the idea of more research on the effects of medicinal cannabis.
“When the Food and Drug Administration reach a point that it should be legalized and go through a pharmacy with a prescription … then it will be acceptable, but until there’s a legal prescription with legal pharmacy — same as other drugs — I don’t support it,” Lazich said.
Lazich added the other states that have legalized medicinal cannabis for growth in “pot houses” have had a lot of crime associated with those facilities, and she did not want something similar in Wisconsin.
According to Laundrie, if the bill does not get voted out of committee, it will need to be reevaluated and reintroduced in the next session. She added she is not sure Erpenbach will be part of the reintroduction but emphasized Erpenbach has not changed his position on the issue.
Storck said the timing for legalizing medicinal cannabis is perfect right now, as the Democrats hold the majority in both the Assembly and the Senate, and Gov. Jim Doyle has vocalized support for medicinal cannabis.
He added he was concerned about what would happen if the bill has to be reintroduced next session, as the Republicans may reclaim the majority and there will be a new governor.
“No medical marijuana bill has progressed this far, and now we have a governor willing to sign it. The problem is that Republicans need to support it and we can’t quite get them all,” Storck said. “We’re waiting for them to understand this is not a partisan issue and affects everyone.”
I have a hurniated disk in my L5s1 and I’m tired of the side affects of the meds I’ve been on . I would be more than glad to try something new ! dinosmopars@yahoo.com – Beloit. Wi
My pain level never gets below 6 and there are times it gets so bad I get dizzy and nauseated . From what I have read and heard over the years it should do more and I will have less side affects than taking narcotic meds . So if you know how to help pain without taking pills then please help people like me
pain sucks!
w/ptsd,anxiety,constant pain from a back injury ect…any doc will gladly write a scrip and send me on my way. I’m the one who has to deal w/the pharmiscuitical companys that keep their bank rolls coming in. It’s me that takes the chance of getting busted for pot to actually rely on the badly needed relief from symtoms of side effects of the narcotics and live with the stigma of being an addict by force. Jepododizing a long standing reputation of having to get only 1 thing from people and that’s sympathy and tollorate arogance of those opposed to using pot insted of following the norm. I stuggle everyday to think outside the box to maintain self-esteem and credit myself for putting up with a society that has created a monogumus attitude.
Wisconsin needs to pass the bill and not the buck. Buck up little misters. We need do need folks who move forward using histroy to guide us. Government needs to step aside and allow us to experience the freedom this country was founded on. I for one do not feel free as an adult being monitored by politically charged agendas geared towards perpetuating dissension among citizens. Live and let live. Let the bill pass and allow us who need it just to feel well and not have to put up with the coruption that is created amongst pot dealers and users either. That risk I don’t want to live with. Being vulnerable as it is sucks. You all know what that feels like to find a source. Look out side the box and take a look at who /where the couruption comes from…DAH!!!
please let me know if there aqre going to be any meetings or such to get something on the next ballot . i can do calling and getting interested people togeth
I SIMPLY CANNOT SEE why WI doesn’t sign a bill into law to legalized this NATURAL OCCURING (not synthetic) drug. You don’t see any Attorney Commercials stating: “IF you were the victim of a “Pot Injury Then you may qualify for benefits! Call….”
C’mon “elected officials–HELP THE SICK AND IN pain IN YOUR OWN DAMN STATE!
I have had multiple surgeries for a hip bone tumor (for which I am NOT a candidate for a total hip replacement due to my compromised immune system and my body’s already demonstration of rejection of titanium–which is a major part of a prosthetic hip.
I also suffer from severe Fibromyalgia to when there are days I cannot get up.
I PRAY EVERY DAY THIS BILL GETS APPROVAL AND TAKES AWAY CHRONIC CONSTANT PAIN.
I see no reason why marijuana should remain illegal. Cigarettes remain legal, but they have no medical use what-so-ever, in fact, all they do is cause health problems led on by addiction.
Marijuana should be legalized for medicinal and recreational use, and if it’s such a big issue, I don’t see why the government wouldn’t just tax it? People who have no interest can continue their own lives as if nothing happened, and current users would be stress free with the burden of the law being lifted from his or her shoulders. On an off note subject, alcohol is legal and in my own opinion is far worse. Even at a very high amount of THC intake, the high is not comparable to being drunk at all.
Marijuana should not be thrown into the same group as other drugs simply because it is not addictive, it’s a completely natural plant, it’s not chemically synthesized, and it does NOT cause sickness or death. I also believe that this plant should not be considered a gateway drug. People who wish to do harder drugs are going to do it no matter what, even if marijuana didn’t exist.
I’m so sick of politicians and the way the political system works. Weed Works Wonders
“A PROHIBITION LAW STRIKES A BLOW TO THE VERY PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH OUR GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED” PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
“HEMP IS INVALUABLE AS A MEDICINE.” PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON.
“HEMP IS FIRST AND FOREMOST TO THE WEALTH AND SECURITY OF OUR NATION.” PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON.
“MAKE EVERY USE OF THE HEMP PLANT, SOW ITS SEED EVERYWHERE.” PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON.
“I LOVE TO SIT ON MY PORCH AND SMOKE THE SWEET HEMP, AND PLAY MY HARMONICA.” PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
AFTER PRESIDENT LINCOLN QUIT TAKING THE PRESCRIBED MEDICINE OF THE DAY (MERCURY) HE SAID, “I WILL NOT GIVE UP MY PEACE PIPE.
ON AND ON AND ON…. THE SLOGAN DURING WW1 WAS, “HEMP FOR THE WAR.”
WE CAN THANK WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST AND THE WICKED POWERS OF HIS DAY FOR THE DEMONIZATION OF MARIJUANA… IT WAS ALL ECO-POLITICAL, AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MARIJUANA BEING A BAD THING.
WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!
CHRIS LANGLEY. KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.
This needs to be legalized for cystic fibrosis too, i know its a lung disease so smoking it wouldnt be the best, but if we could eat it then we would gain weight- which is healthy for us. The more weight we put on the better our lung and pancrease funtion. As a person with cf, i am in favor of the legalization, but i also have Glaucoma!
I am a libertarian Republican and strongly support Governor Walker in his effort to reduce the unaffordable compensation of state-government employees. But I am disgusted with “my” party on the marijuana issue. If we’re really for limited government, then let’s be consistent and repeal all “laws” restricting the right of adults to use marijuana, on their own private property, for any purpose — medicinal or recreational. LAISSEZ FAIRE!
And by the way, the Great Saviour Obama has made ZERO effort to lessen federal penalties for marijuana “crimes”, and he shows no signs of doing so. The only presidential candidates in either major party who honestly & publicly demand an end to marijuana prohibition are Republicans: Congress Roin Paul (Texas) and Gary Johnson (former Governor of New Mexico)……………..
Let’s keep up the fight against marijuana prohibition at federal and State levels. And re-electing Obama is NOT the way to do it. Nor is electing someone like Palin, Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, etc, who will also let the government lock up peaceful marijuana smokers forever.