Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2001
Source: Daily Press, The (WI)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Press
Contact:  http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/960
Author: Andy Hinkel, Capitol News Service

BOYLE, OTHERS TESTIFY ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

MADISON - A Wisconsin State Assembly committee heard the testimony of a law 
enforcement official, medical personnel, a lawmaker, and a woman suffering 
from chronic pain this week on the topic of the medical use of marijuana.

The Committee on State Affairs, chaired by Rep. Rick Skindrud, R-Mount 
Horeb, was not considering any bill on the subject, but rather holding an 
informational hearing. However, Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, who testified 
before the committee, plans to reintroduce legislation which would allow 
doctors to prescribe marijuana for chronic pain and appetite problems often 
associated with cancer and AIDS.

In the past several years, several states including California and Arizona 
have passed referenda legalizing the prescription of marijuana, but federal 
law still prohibits the practice. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently 
considering whether states have the ability to override federal law in this 
instance.

One of the major issues at the hearing revolved around the difference 
between smoked marijuana and delivery of its active ingredient, THC, in 
pill form. Some patients claim that pills do not offer the same relief from 
pain and appetite stimulation that the plant delivers when smoked.

Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin testified that he was against the 
prescription of smoked marijuana, with the understanding that his position 
might change if it could be proved to him that THC pills do not offer the 
same benefits as smoked marijuana.

Dr. Michael Miller of the Wisconsin Medical Society argued against the 
prescription of smoked marijuana, and Gina Dennik-Champion of the Wisconsin 
Nurses Association testified in favor of THC prescription without taking a 
position on whether it should be used in pill or smoke form.

Skindrud said that while he wants to learn more about the research that has 
been done on the drug, he is inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to 
those suffering from chronic illness.

"If it can be proved that marijuana helps somebody, where other drugs do 
not, it seems rather ridiculous to me that we don't use it," he said.

Asked whether the legalization of medicinal use of marijuana would create 
problems for law enforcement, Skindrud admitted that it could, but argued 
that the needs of patients should justify some risk.

"We have all kinds of law enforcement problems, but that's why we have 
police departments. Some people will abuse it, but people abuse everything 
out there," he said.

Boyle pointed out that other drugs which are illegal for the general public 
are currently used in medical settings.

"We allow medical prescriptions for cocaine and heroin derivatives, and 
these are drugs that hold a great deal more potential for addiction (than 
marijuana)" he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens