Marijuana Has Many Negative Effects EDITOR: Marijuana is a drug. When inhaled, it gets a user high. In this state, the user cannot study, participate in sports or do normal activity. When he or she comes down from the high, normal routine can begin again. Pot use causes physical and mental laziness, paranoia, addiction, lung problems and may lead to stronger drug use - just to name a few of the negative consequences. Below are a few excerpts of an article published in the National Psychologist's Nov.-Dec. 2003 issue. [continues 152 words]
The vote in the state Assembly on a package of bills to address heroin abuse and related crimes defied the usual party line voting to pass 96-0 about two weeks ago. The four bills covering heroin opiate prevention and education legislation, nicknamed H.O.P.E., covers a multi-pronged approach to address the "heroin epidemic in Wisconsin," said Rep. Scott Krug, R-Nekoosa, who co-authored the bill to allow trained first responders to administer Narcan, a drug that counters the effects of a heroin overdose. [continues 535 words]
Everybody's doing it -- confessing their youthful, pot-smoking ways - -- so here goes. I don't remember. Kidding, kidding. Anyone older than 30 recognizes the old adage: If you remember the 1960s, you weren't there. Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk. It is true that marijuana smoking tends to affect one's short-term memory, but the good news is that, while stoned, one does relatively little worth remembering. At least that's my own recollection. So, yes, I toked, too. This doesn't mean anyone else should, and I haven't in decades, but our debate might have more value if more of us were forthcoming. [continues 678 words]
RACINE -- In 2011, the state prohibited the possession and distribution of synthetic marijuana, often called K2 or Spice. But despite the law, synthetic marijuana is continuing to cause problems in Racine County, sending young people to the hospital for adverse reactions, according to Racine Fire Department officials. On Thursday, an 18-year-old woman was taken to the emergency room at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St., after she started dry heaving and acting strangely. [continues 145 words]
I strongly disagree with Ruth Marcus' column, "The perils of legalized pot," (Jan 4). It's ridiculous using children as an excuse to cage responsible adults who use the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis (marijuana). Will Marcus be lobbying to cage responsible wine and beer drinkers next? Further, claiming, "society will not be better off" by legalizing cannabis is silly. Cannabis prohibition is responsible for increased hard drug addiction rates, contempt for drug laws, eroded constitutional rights, escalated prison populations, corrupt politicians, race discrimination, prohibiting free American farmers from growing hemp (even though communist Chinese farmers grow it), costs trillions of dollars and the list is growing faster than the plant itself. The sooner America ends cannabis prohibition the sooner the sky will stop falling in. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
The bill mandating screening of newborns is not the only health care legislation that state Rep. Erik Severson (R-Star Prairie) and Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) are refusing to hear in committee ("Bills requiring critical newborn test stall," Dec. 22). Also sitting in both committees is the Jacki Rickert Medical Cannabis Act (JRMCA), which was introduced in October by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) and 16 co-sponsors, four senators and 12 assembly representatives. Wisconsinites overwhelmingly support medical cannabis legalization, yet Vukmir and Severson, both with health care backgrounds, are literally holding back the progress of medicine in our state by refusing a hearing. Vukmir has historically been extremely hostile to medical cannabis and put on quite the show at the most recent hearings on medical cannabis, on Dec. 15, 2009, when Democrats held the majority. [continues 54 words]
Despite more support for the legislation than ever before among Wisconsin lawmakers, an ongoing effort to legalize marijuana for medical use in the state appears to be headed nowhere. Even with unprecedented public support and backing from more members of the Legislature than at any time in history, sponsors admit the bill is likely to fail again. So far, 21 states have legalized and established a system to regulate marijuana for medical purposes. In Wisconsin, a version of the bill failed in 2009 after a dramatic public showdown between state Sens. Leah Vukmir and Jon Erpenbach, and another version died in committee in 2012. [continues 1851 words]
The Courier is correct that nothing happened after 159,454 voters, a 75.49 percent margin, voted in favor of the Dane County medical marijuana advisory referendum passed in Nov. 2010, "Our view: Marijuana referendum a waste of time" on Dec. 11. The referendum asked state lawmakers to pass a state medical cannabis law. It outpolled every other candidate or referendum in almost every ward in Dane County. A similar referendum in the City of River Falls, received 68 percent of the vote. [continues 242 words]
The family of a 20-year-old man who died from a drug overdose at the Milwaukee County House of Correction in 2007 blames the county and its chaotic administration of the lockup at the time, in a lawsuit filed in federal court. Alexander Orlowski died from a methadone overdose, after trading bags of chips for the drug from other inmates, the complaint says. The county and workers at the House of Correction in Franklin failed to take any steps to stop the drug trafficking, which was common knowledge among inmates, according to the lawsuit. [continues 394 words]
In two states last year, voters legalized recreational marijuana. One of those states, Colorado, is similar politically to Wisconsin. And yet, few among Wisconsin's political class appear to take pot legalization seriously. If anything, it is dismissed as a wacky western idea that has no place in the heartland. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke seemed amused when asked what she thought about cannabis legalization several weeks ago. "I don't think that's where the people of Wisconsin are at," said Burke, who has indicated she could support legalizing medical marijuana. [continues 578 words]
Monsters and angels, good and bad-these are the separations that make our society feel comfortable. Seeing acts of crime and horrific violence perpetrated by certain groups of people, it becomes easy to create a mentality of disconnect between "us," the morally superior community, and "them," the violent monsters that appear only in our worst nightmares. However, it is not so easy to accept the realization that the line between angel and monster relies entirely upon one's own perspective. Even harder still is the acceptance that the actions of angels fuel the reactions of devils. [continues 820 words]
A weekly feature on proposed changes to state and local law. In a nutshell Current law prohibits a person from possessing, manufacturing or distributing marijuana. This bill (AB480, SB363) creates a medical use defense to marijuana-related prosecutions and fines, and prohibits the arrest or prosecution of people who are registered with the Department of Health Services (DHS) and have certain debilitating medical conditions or treatments. People who are registered could possess 12 marijuana plants and 3 ounces of marijuana leaves or flowers. They would be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery or engaging in any other conduct that endangers the health or well being of another person while under the influence of marijuana. [continues 487 words]
Lately I've been reading in the newspaper and hearing on the news all this stuff about a "heroin epidemic." Are these people serious? Drugs have been a part of humanity for millenia and drug "problems" are nothing new - including in this area for decades. The reason heroin use is on the rise is doctors have become overly strict with whom they continue to prescribe to. If someone has legitimate pain problems and makes a mistake, it is practically impossible to get the help they need through legal avenues. That is the reason heroin use has increased ... [continues 329 words]
Several Wisconsin Democrats have introduced a new bill in Madison that would seek - again - to legalize medical marijuana. We asked readers on Gannett Central Wisconsin Media's Facebook pages to share their opinions. Below are some excerpts. We asked: Should marijuana be legal if prescribed by a doctor? I think it should be legalized! There are many good uses for it. Tobacco has all the nasty stuff in it, and that's legal! I'm epileptic, and I have read a lot of things that have said marijuana can help manage seizures. If it's going to help someones health, like mine or anyone else's, legalize it! [continues 313 words]
BELOIT-Drive west out of Beloit on Shirland Avenue, just past the Rock River, and you won't notice many differences on either side of the road. Stateline Liquors on the left gives it away; the center line on this part of Shirland Avenue divides more than traffic, it splits Wisconsin and Illinois. Despite that division, you'll still see small houses with big lawns and businesses with cracked parking lots either way you look. The only clues to what makes the sides different are the phone numbers those businesses advertise and the signs for street names-green to your right and white to your left. [continues 1148 words]
After two failed attempts, two Wisconsin legislators reintroduced a bill to make Wisconsin the 21st state in the country to legalize medical marijuana. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, and Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, provides legal protection to medical cannabis users, along with legal protection for testers and prescribing physicians of the medicine. Although the bill was introduced in previous sessions, this version of the bill adds additional provisions for users of medical cannabis than versions introduced in previous Legislative sessions in 2010 and 2012. [continues 421 words]
The movement for legalizing marijuana, either medically or recreationally, is gaining traction in individual states across the country. While many states are progressing on marijuana policy - i.e., decriminalizing or legalizing medical or recreational marijuana - - Wisconsin has been stagnant, if not even regressive, as of late on its own marijuana policy. Just recently the Wisconsin Senate passed a bill which, according to Minnesota Public Radio, "would allow for municipalities to enact ordinances prohibiting possession of any amount of marijuana and give them the authority to prosecute second offenses." While the "get tough on crime" approach to drug policy is favored by many legislators, both at the state and federal level, it inevitably does not work - especially with regards to marijuana. Instead of the regressive marijuana bill just passed by the Senate, the Assembly and Gov. Scott Walker should advocate for the legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana. [continues 590 words]
Members of law enforcement are among the biggest opponents of marijuana legalization, citing concerns over potential increases in impaired driving, the potential for marijuana to fall into the hands of children and the drug's reputation as a =93gateway=94 to other harmful substances. The La Crosse Police Department declined to comment on the impact of medical marijuana legalization, but Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen came out in opposition to a previous legalization bill in 2009, writing that it would =93create serious impediments to the enforcement of state drug laws against those individuals who are not actually involved in the medical use of marijuana.=94 [continues 237 words]
Nobody wants to be a criminal. That's the thought that crosses John's mind each night as he gets ready for bed. Part of his nightly routine involves breaking the law, but he isn't losing any sleep over it. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. John (not his real name) uses medical marijuana to manage the chronic, neuropathic pain that he's lived with for the past nine years. Surgery to correct a herniated disc left scar tissue that put pressure on a root nerve, causing unbearable pain in his leg and foot. During the day he could keep himself distracted enough to cope, but at night he would lie awake in agony - sometimes going as many as five nights without sleep. [continues 1619 words]
Inside Wisconsin
