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CANNABIDIOL OIL LAW IS FLAWED -- GARY STORCK

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said legislators have done what they can and can't force doctors to prescribe cannabidiol oil.  Gov.  Scott Walker says it's frustrating, but he's not sure what to do.

These are not the words of leaders.  All this was known before the bill was even drafted.

As a lifelong glaucoma patient, I lobbied for the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act, which state lawmakers passed in 1982.  After the act was enacted, state regulators advised me federal approval was needed.

The cannabidiol oil bill goes much further.  It involves privately produced cannabidiol oil crossing state lines.  This was evident to longtime advocates like me, but no one wanted to hear it.

A stampede into feel-good politics ensued, and the result was a severely flawed bill.

Meanwhile, comprehensive legislation by Rep.  Chris Taylor, D-Madison, and Sen.  Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, again failed to get a hearing.

As the Senate was passing the cannabidiol oil bill, Erpenbach showed leadership by noting the "thousands of Wisconsinites we are leaving behind today."

- -- Gary Storck, Madison