Pubdate: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 Source: Shepherd Express (Milwaukee, WI) Copyright: 2007 Alternative Publications Inc. Contact: http://www.shepherd-express.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/414 Author: Lisa Kaiser Cited: Leah Vukmir http://www.legis.state.wi.us/W3ASP/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Assembly&district=14 Cited: Is My Medicine Legal Yet? http://www.immly.org Referenced: Medical Marijuana Gets Heavy Support http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1149/a09.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Jacki+Rickert+Medical+Marijuana+Act Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/multiple+sclerosis CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE Among the casualties of the war on drugs are those who use marijuana to relieve their pain and suffering. Sean--not his real name--lives in Milwaukee County and smokes pot to help him cope with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other health problems. He walks with a crutch and his joints are stiff, but he manages to get around when he needs to, thanks to his use of marijuana as medicine. "I'm a bad spokesman for MS," he said. "Pot gives me energy. Usually people with MS are kind of out of it. I'm paralyzed on one side and it hurts to walk. But pot helps me get around. It makes me more flexible. I've tried different pain medications. Morphine is a joke compared to marijuana. Pot is a much better painkiller, without the nasty side effects." Sean requested anonymity because his medication is illegal in Wisconsin. He has an out-of-state doctor's recommendation for it, but won't discuss how he obtains his medicine. "It's a bit tricky," he said. Legislation to make medical marijuana legal for people like Sean will be introduced in the state Legislature within the next few weeks. While it has many Democratic allies, and the subject is scheduled for a public hearing in the state Senate, supporters worry that it won't go anywhere in the Republican-controlled Assembly. State Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) chairs the Health and Health Care Reform Committee in the Assembly, and she's told reporters that she believes a medical marijuana program would lead to full legalization of pot in Wisconsin. She told the Wisconsin State Journal that she wouldn't allow the bill to be heard in her committee. "This is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to legalize marijuana, which is not going to happen on my watch," she told the paper. Vukmir did not return calls for comment for this article. Sean scoffed at her arguments. "That's nonsense," he said. "We're not trying to talk people into taking it. But some people have found it to be beneficial." Sean urged supporters to contact their elected officials to help seriously ill people access and use medical marijuana legally, safely and easily. Polls consistently show that Wisconsin residents overwhelmingly support a legalized medical marijuana program in the state--more than 80% of respondents, in fact, want the state to legalize medical marijuana for those who have a doctor's recommendation--yet Sean and his allies are frustrated by politicians' unwillingness to take the next step. Each time they use their medicine, they break the law and put themselves in jeopardy. "Talk to your state officials and aldermen," Sean urged. "Say you want laws passed in your own community. If we can have it legal locally, we can be safe in our own homes. Using medical marijuana is not a crime." To get involved in the movement to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin, please contact Is My Medicine Legal Yet? at www.immly.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake