Pubdate: Tue, 10 Aug 2004
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2004 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.captimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Underheim

MARIJUANA IS GOOD MEDICINE

Voters in the city of Detroit this month approved a measure written to 
eliminate restrictions on the use of marijuana by medical patients whose 
conditions can be aided by consuming the substance.

The vote makes Detroit the latest addition to a growing list of states and 
municipalities that have recognized the need to make it easier to use 
marijuana to quell nausea, provide pain relief, stimulate the appetite of 
AIDS patients, combat glaucoma, and ease the pain and suffering of people 
with multiple sclerosis.

Unfortunately, officials in many other states and municipalities cling to 
the misguided notion that marijuana is nothing more than an illicit drug 
that people want to decriminalize - or even legalize - so they can get 
high. But there is now a broad and serious body of research that confirms 
the medical benefits of cannibanoids, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Wisconsin is one of the states that have been slow to move to lift 
restraints on the use of medical marijuana. But some legislators are 
working to open a debate in the Badger State.

State Rep. Greg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, who chairs the Assembly's Public 
Health Committee, is again proposing legislation that would allow seriously 
ill or terminally ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes if 
supported by their physician.

Underheim, who sponsored a similar bill that died in the last legislative 
session, has reworked the measure and said last week that he planned to 
make another attempt in the coming session.

Underheim deserves a great deal of credit for taking on this controversial 
initiative and for working to craft legislation that is at once sensible 
and humane. Now he needs allies. Some legislators from the Madison area, 
such as state Rep. Mark Pocan, are supportive. But to achieve the Assembly 
majority that will be needed to advance this legislation, more legislators 
are going to need to develop spines. And that won't happen unless they are 
prodded by citizens who recognize that the need for medical marijuana is 
genuine. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake