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NOW IS TIME TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Regarding a recent editorial, "GOOD NEWS: Headlines we'd like to see in 2010," my suggestion, published a year ago, remains the same: "Governor signs medical marijuana bill, Wisconsin becomes15th state to protect patients using medicinal cannabis."

The Wisconsin Legislature now has before it AB554 and SB368, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, sponsored by Rep.  Mark Pocan, D-Madison, Sen.  Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton and 15 cosponsors.

A combined Assembly and Senate Health Committee hearing in December lasted over eight hours.  Only six parties, mostly special interests including the State Medical Society and the Attorney General's office, opposed the bill.

In contrast, over 100 individuals and organizations testified in favor, and more submitted in writing.  Testimony came from patients, family members, doctors, nurses, clergy, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts and the Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union.

This overwhelming weight of evidence that sends a strong message to state legislators: Pass the Medical Marijuana Act now!

People with serious medical conditions do not usually turn out in droves on cold winter days to share their medical histories with strangers, including hostile lawmakers such as Rep.  Leah Vukmir R-Wauwatosa.  The doubts of lawmakers and the fear mongering of the opposition must be rejected.  This issue has overwhelming popular support, and Wisconsinites will not allow another session to go by without it being addressed.

Gary Storck, Madison, director of communications, Is My Medicine Legal YET?