Pubdate: Sat, 25 Oct 2014
Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette (WI)
Copyright: 2014 Green Bay Press-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/879
Author: Robert Burke
Note: Robert Burke of Hudson is the Libertarian candidate for 
governor of Wisconsin.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

IT'S TIME FOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

My name is Robert Burke and I am a Libertarian running for governor of
Wisconsin. Our state and nation are at an inflection point of change,
both social and economic, unrivaled in history. Wisconsin will need a
leader for a 21st century economy, and I would like to share my vision
for one small part. It's time for legalization of marijuana, and I'd
like to share why.

In my youth, I worked as a certified nursing assistant in both a
nursing home and a hospital. Our CNA's care in very intimate ways for
the most vulnerable of our society. I remember caring for a doctor's
wife with Alzheimer's. I remember meeting my first patient with
Multiple Sclerosis and learning how it shuts down and wastes away the
body. I remember meeting my 3-month-old niece as she had seizures
every few minutes. I remember breaking down in tears in the hospital
linen closet after floating to the Oncology department and meeting a
mother and her children as she fought cervical cancer.

A study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease that shows
significant hope in treating the disease with marijuana. A trial study
led by Britain's Clinical Neurology Research Group shows marijuana
extracts can be useful in easing pain and spasms in Multiple
Sclerosis. Multiple studies confirm the marijuana extract CBD
virtually stops seizures. A Harvard study shows that marijuana can
cure cancer by sending very specific self-destruct signals exclusively
to a cancer cell. On behalf of the people who suffer from all of these
terrible conditions, we need to get out of the way of their medicine.

Many more conditions can be treated with marijuana, from depression
and panic attacks to migraines, but I want to focus again on CNAs and
other health care workers. In my experience, many of them use
marijuana to relieve the stress of caring for these fragile,
vulnerable, people. It's natural, non-addicting, and used by far more
people than most realize. It's time to end the damage and begin a
process of legalization for those in medical need, and those who
provide their care. Full legalization is what I support, and these are
the reasons why.

I will finish on the broader social benefits to legalization. When we
give someone a criminal record for marijuana, we take away job and
employment opportunities, giving them more time to sit at home and
develop the drug habit prohibition is trying to deter. Worst of all,
prohibition gives criminals control of the industry, and when someone
is willing to break the law and sell marijuana, selling to our
children is a small step. I don't care if an adult wants to smoke a
joint and watch a movie; I'm trying to get it out of the hands of our
children.

If you agree, then share this with friends and family. There are
people hurting in our state and we need leadership from someone
interested in healing all the problems prohibition creates. I'm Robert
Burke; I'm a Libertarian, and on Nov. 4 if you want marijuana
legalized, I'm the guy for the job.
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MAP posted-by: Richard