Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jun 2003
Source: Reporter, The (Fond du Lac, WI)
Copyright: 2003 Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2271
Author: Gary Storck

CALL LEGISLATORS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A recent Associated Press article carried in the Reporter, "Mayville teen 
charged with selling drug that's legal" (June 19), contained a statement 
that must be challenged.

The article quoted DEA Special Agent Ed Childress as defining Schedule I 
drugs as "those that have no medical purpose and a high propensity for 
abuse, such as marijuana, heroin and LSD."

While the DEA continues to maintain the legal fiction that marijuana has no 
medical use and a high potential for abuse, science says otherwise. With 
over 80 percent of Americans supporting legalizing medical cannabis for 
patients who can benefit, it is time for Congress to acknowledge reality by 
passing HR 2233, the bipartisan States Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, 
which would reschedule marijuana so doctors can prescribe it, as well as 
let states set their own policies on medical use.

The recently reintroduced legislation already has 33 cosponsors as of this 
writing, including Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). Unfortunately, the 
rest of Wisconsin's congressional delegation continues to ignore the 
overwhelming support their constituents have for medical marijuana. Please 
remind them to do the right thing, by calling the House Switchboard at 
(202) 224-3121 and asking to be connected to the office of your representative.

Gary Storck

Madison
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens