Two freshman Republican lawmakers from Fond du Lac, Sen. Rick Gudex and Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, sponsored legislation that would find more ways to punish Wisconsinites and state visitors caught with small amounts of pot. SB 150 and AB 164 allow municipalities to prosecute marijuana cases the local district attorney has determined are not worth prosecution. There have been committee hearings in both houses with state medical cannabis and marijuana reform groups testifying against. The Assembly committee vote was 5-3 in favor on a party-line vote. [continues 140 words]
Synthetic marijuana and bath salts have attracted considerable attention recently. The increasing sale and use of these illegal substances in communities across Wisconsin is concerning to state and local law enforcement. What may be most troubling are the measures undertaken by those who attempt to manufacture these synthetics - ever so slightly altering the chemical composition in an attempt to evade prosecution. The Wisconsin Department of Justice takes the threats posed by these synthetics seriously. The attorney general's office, the Department's Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Crime Laboratory have partnered with the Legislature, the Wisconsin Controlled Substances Board and other officials to find solutions to the complex enforcement, investigative and regulatory issues presented by these substances. [continues 398 words]
It's the biggest movie of the summer. Not the biggest budget, or the biggest box office, but the most important. I'm talking about the new documentary "How to Make Money Selling Drugs," which will be released in theaters and on-demand on Wednesday. Written and directed by Matthew Cooke, and produced by Bert Marcus and Adrian Grenier, the film exposes the hypocrisy and destructiveness of the drug war at every level. The director's goal, as he put it, borrowing from Malcolm X, was to effect change "by the most entertaining means necessary." Or, as Hamlet said, "The play is the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." Or, in this case, the public, which will in turn catch the conscience of the king. [continues 663 words]
Dave Fraser was so fed up seeing the rampant use of hard drugs by his friends and acquaintances in Sheboygan that he packed up his things, including a flower shop business, and moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Last week, he said, one of his buddies died of a heroin overdose in Menominee, Mich. "It's just as bad here, heroin, people crushing pills and snorting or injecting," Fraser said. "I guess I don't know what to do. This last week, I've been reaching out to anybody who'll listen." [continues 773 words]
I am discouraged with our legislators in office. When a representative or senator takes office, he or she is elected to serve us and speak in our stead. As a doctor is required to take continuing educational classes to stay up to date on new discoveries in medicine, our legislators need to do the same. With polls showing a majority of Americans supporting legalization of cannabis, and with 83 percent support for allowing medical marijuana, state legislators are increasingly realizing the public supports marijuana policy reforms. [continues 189 words]
I am discouraged with our legislators in office. When a representative or senator takes office, he or she is elected to serve us and speak in our stead. As a doctor is required to take continuing educational classes to stay up to date on new discoveries in medicine, our legislators need to do the same. With polls showing a majority of Americans supporting legalization of cannabis, and with 83 percent support for allowing medical marijuana, state legislators are increasingly realizing the public supports marijuana policy reforms. [continues 182 words]
Young woman's final, fatal overdose shows difficulty in overcoming addiction It's been almost a month since Lisa Marmolejo buried her little sister. Olivia Marmolejo, 21, died May 17 of an apparent drug overdose. Although investigators are still waiting for toxicology results, Lisa said she's certain heroin played a role in Olivia's death. Lisa first noticed her sister was becoming distant last summer. The track marks on her arm were an ominous warning. In August, Olivia overdosed on heroin. [continues 1933 words]
The Wisconsin Senate's Committee on Economic Development and Local Government heard feedback from interest groups and residents Wednesday morning over a bill (SB 150) that would strengthen local and county governments' grounds for prosecuting individuals who possess natural and non-prescribed synthetic marijuana. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard Gudex (R-Fond du Lac) and Sen. Joseph Leibham (R-Sheboygan) has a companion bill in the Assembly (AB 164), which made its way through the Committee on Urban and Local Affairs last week. [continues 663 words]
Gary Storck considers medical marijuana a lifesaver. The Dane County man has been smoking it for medical problems since Oct. 3, 1972, when he was 17 years old. "I smoked some cannabis before seeing my eye doctor. He checked my pressures and they were normal that day," he said. Storck, 58, has glaucoma, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and has also had heart surgery. He uses a vaporizer to heat up marijuana until its active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is released into the steam. [continues 913 words]
There is a huge racial disparity in the state, with blacks far more likely to get busted. The TV series was called "That 70s Show" even though it first aired in 1998. It was a fond remembrance of a group of Wisconsin teenagers and their parents in a Milwaukee suburb who represented both the cynicism and pride of living in the Midwest during a turbulent decade. What many remember about the adventures of Eric, Kelso, Fez, Donna, Jackie and Hyde was a launching pad for future movie careers for some individual actors. Others may remember the infamous "smoke circle" that seemed like edgy television for the time even though it was undeniably familiar for those who grew up in the '70s. [continues 605 words]
Marijuana has become the drug of choice for police departments nationwide - a trend that is playing out with serious consequences here in Brown County. According to a new report released Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union, police have turned much of their zeal for fighting the failed War on Drugs toward the enforcement of marijuana laws in communities across Wisconsin and the country. In 2010, cops in Wisconsin busted someone for having marijuana once every 28 minutes. The majority of these arrests are happening in communities of color. Despite roughly comparable usage rates, blacks in Wisconsin are nearly six times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession. [continues 326 words]
Health care professionals report America is suffering an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. What if a widely used substance could prevent and maybe "cure" diabetes? There is, and cannabis is that substance. In a new study published in the American Journal of Medicine, "The Impact of Marijuana Use on Glucose, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance among U.S. Adults," researchers studied 579 current cannabis users and 1,975 past users. In multivariable adjusted models, current marijuana use was associated with 16% lower fasting insulin levels and 17% lower insulin resistance levels. Researchers also found significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences. [continues 148 words]
A Weekly Feature on Proposed Changes to State and Local Law. in a Nutshell Under current law, a city, village, town or county can enact and enforce an ordinance prohibiting the possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana or the possession of a synthetic cannabinoid. A person who is charged with possession of more than 25 grams of marijuana or who is charged with possession of any amount of marijuana or a synthetic cannabinoid following a conviction for the possession of a controlled substance generally may not be prosecuted under the ordinance. [continues 580 words]
Regarding Monday's At Issue column on marijuana possession, Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, should consider that organic marijuana and so-called synthetic marijuana are different things. Synthetic marijuana is an unintended side effect of the war on marijuana. Consumers are turning to potentially toxic drugs made in China and sold as research chemicals before being repackaged as legal incense. Expanding the drug war will only add to the highest incarceration rate in the world. Chinese chemists will tweak formulas to stay one step ahead of the law and two steps ahead of drug tests. New versions won't be safer. A better solution is to legalize organic marijuana. [continues 68 words]
DULUTH - Police have arrested 30 people in an alleged crack cocaine trafficking ring in Duluth and Superior, Wis.threatened The arrests came this week after a nine-month investigation dubbed "Operation Crackdown." Investigators say suspects were trading crack cocaine for government food-assistance debit cards at about half the face value of the cards. Investigators say they used decoy cards to conduct controlled buys of crack cocaine. Lt. Steve Stracek, commander of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, said alleged dealers would either go to the store with the buyer and buy groceries with the cards, or they would force the buyer to prove the card still had money, and then take the card. Authorities are seeking another 10 suspects. [end]
Regarding your Jan. 15 editorial, the drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. In 2010, there were 853,839 marijuana arrests in the United States, almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not lower rates of use. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization is a long overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana consumers will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition. Robert Sharpe Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Arlington, Va. [end]
It should be self-evident that the $1 trillion war on drugs has failed to accomplish its goals. Although the creators and enforcers of American drug policy may have had good intentions, the consequences of this policy have not been so good. It is past time that the U.S. government reforms its federal drug policies. Furthermore, considering the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington, Wisconsin should join the movement of individual states legalizing recreational marijuana use. In its pursuit of marijuana prohibition, it would behoove the federal government to be consistent in its own logic and actions in order to convince the American public that this goal is worthwhile. [continues 718 words]
I found your (Jan. 15) editorial on marijuana completely close-minded and uninformed. When will we admit alcohol and cigarettes open up the flood gates for experimentation with harmful and illegal drugs. You believe there are safer drugs available for people that suffer from debilitating health problems. Can you name a few of these wonder drugs? Conventional medicines such as oxycontin, morphine, dilaudid, ect. are only marginally effective at relieving severe chronic pain. Marijuana has been proven to give significant relief for the same ailments. All of the drugs used to combat pain can be habit-forming, over-perscribed, misused, sold to addicts and even make their way into our schools. People that truly need relief from severe chronic pain and ailments typically dislike using these same drugs, but they have no choice. [continues 237 words]
Your (Jan. 15) editorial against legalizing cannabis (marijuana) was very disappointing because it missed an opportunity to advocate for ending one of the most wasteful government endeavors in modern history. Clearly the Herald Times Reporter would rather the taxpayers pick up the tab for another failed prohibition than allow adults in a free country to grow and consume a plant. I did not expect your paper to be in favor of big government in our personal lives and gardens, monitoring our activities to save us from Mother Nature. Colorado and Washington are leading the way by taxing and regulating the adult cannabis market. More states are likely to follow suit and end another prohibition and allow adults to buy, grow, smoke and eat this plant. The fact that we have made a plant illegal for over 75 years is beyond logic, goes against the bible and has imprisoned and disenfranchised more people than Jim Crow laws. [continues 135 words]
Hundreds of people will converge on Madison today in an attempt to convince lawmakers that marijuana should be legal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin should not follow the recent example of Washington and Colorado and make it legal to use marijuana, even for medical purposes. There is a reason pot is, at least under federal law, a controlled substance. It is, as police and mental health experts call it, a "gateway drug" that often leads to experimentation with more dangerous illegal drugs, particularly among young people. [continues 302 words]
Central Wisconsin political observers say the vote to legalize marijuana in two states could eventually affect Wisconsin. Lawmakers will be watching to see what happens in Colorado and Washington, where residents voted to lift long-standing bans on recreational marijuana use, said state Rep. Scott Krug, R-Rome, who represents Wisconsin's 72nd Assembly District, and changes in this state might be possible. Krug, who previously served as the Wood County Drug Court administrator, said Wisconsin should put more of a focus on drug addiction treatment than the current legal system does. [continues 490 words]
LAKEWOOD, Wis. - The silence of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is broken only by the sound of Jeff Seefeldt's boots as he walks toward a clearing in the deep woods. Seefeldt, a district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, points out the trees and brushes that were cut down to make room for an illicit crop and piled into a makeshift fence meant to keep animals and human intruders out. He gestures toward the creek from which water was hauled to keep thousands of marijuana plants growing. [continues 277 words]
Gary Storck has been working for marijuana legalization for a long time. The 57-year-old Madison resident started to use it as a medication for glaucoma when he was 17 years old, and it worked. "I smoked some and went to see my eye doctor and my eye pressures were normal," he says. "They were usually very elevated when I went in without using cannabis." Born with a condition called Noonan syndrome, which causes heart problems, joint pain and a variety of other health issues, he found that marijuana - he prefers the term cannabis - relieved a lot of pain from those ailments as well. [continues 1217 words]
There are sensible and compelling reasons why marijuana use, including medical marijuana, is not legal in Wisconsin ("Time for a blunt conversation," Crossroads, Dec. 2). We need to keep it that way for those same reasons. My vantage point is as a doctor in adolescent treatment programs who has seen many young, and older, lives ruined by cannabis use. And I speak also as having been a member or chair of the Controlled Substances Board in Wisconsin for more than 15 years. [continues 190 words]
On Nov. 6, voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot initiatives to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana, while a similar initiative in Oregon failed. The possession and sale of marijuana is still a violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act, and it remains to be seen whether the Justice Department will modify its enforcement priorities in response to these initiatives. Colorado and Washington will now attempt to regulate and tax cannabis in a manner similar to the regulation and taxation of tobacco and alcohol. Advocates of these initiatives claimed that marijuana legalization will lead to increased revenue for the states and decreased drug-related crime, among other "benefits." A closer look at the issue, though, shows that the opposite is true and that the real social costs will dramatically outweigh any elusive benefits. [continues 458 words]
Traditionally, the truism about marijuana legalization is that if you think it's ever going to happen, you've almost certainly just sampled some yourself. But with Colorado and Washington having recently legalized marijuana for recreational use, it might be time to re-examine our relationship with the drug and whether the federal government should be dictating marijuana policy to the states where citizens support legalization. It's difficult to see exactly how different the world would be if states were allowed to dictate their own marijuana policy; it's not like the nation would be overrun by the guy from your dorm who played his guitar at 3 a.m. Currently, marijuana policy represents a facsimile of a world that we'd like to see, not the one that currently exists. [continues 618 words]
Wisconsin should legalize recreational use of marijuana - or at the very least lessen the penalties for minor cannabis possession. Don't let my dreadlocks fool you. My conclusion was not an easy one, but everything in life should not automatically lend itself to a criminal justice solution. Just because I favor the recreational use of marijuana doesn't mean that I believe it's good for you. It's not, but neither is smoking, drinking or overeating and a number of the other ills that society doesn't have a problem with until someone is hurt. [continues 766 words]
With the "fiscal cliff" looming, Congress finds itself contemplating many unpleasant and politically unpopular options including increasing taxes and cutting Social Security and Medicare. President Barack Obama is working to build public support for his proposals. Recent votes in Colorado and Washington State legalizing marijuana offer the president and Congress a route to both increasing revenues and saving billions now spent enforcing marijuana prohibition. Full national legalization of cannabis/hemp will provide millions of jobs and create multiple new green industries that will bring a new era of prosperity. A majority of Americans now support legal pot. Even the chief of the Indiana State Police recently opined that legalization makes sense. Ending cannabis prohibition is just the ticket for a soft landing off the fiscal cliff. Gary Storck Co-founder Madison [end]
It was good to read about the WISDOM group and bipartisan support for alternatives to incarceration for people charged with drug crimes. Marijuana being the most commonly used illegal substance, state lawmakers should take note of changing attitudes toward it. Colorado and Washington voters passed initiatives repealing marijuana prohibition at the state level. Massachusetts voters made that state the 18th plus Washington D.C. to legalize the medical use of cannabis. Meanwhile, Wisconsin has some of the most punitive, backward marijuana laws in the nation. It has a patchwork of local ordinances and state law with wide disparities in penalties, and it mandates a felony for second offense for possession of any amount of cannabis. These antiquated laws consume criminal justice resources for nonviolent, victimless activities. [continues 59 words]
Dear Editor: While President Obama's re-election was huge, the successful marijuana initiatives in Colorado and Washington state were arguably more significant. As someone who first tried cannabis four decades ago and, like millions of Americans, never stopped, I've been waiting my entire adult life for some common sense on pot laws. In the 1970s even President Jimmy Carter said cannabis should be legal and it seemed like it was at times. Madison voters favored legalization in a November 1976 advisory referendum and passed a local ordinance decriminalizing pot in April 1977 that remains on the books today. Then came the Ronald Reagan years, when the federal war on pot began to snowball with the adoption of more and more punitive and harmful policies. Studies documenting medical uses were buried. Reagan's successors, along with Congress and state legislatures, kept the drug war pork flowing. [continues 163 words]
One Door County native describes his former life as a heroin user as "just a tidal wave of misery and despair." The man, who asked to remain anonymous , moved to Madison as a teen and quickly became involved in the drug scene as heroin began making its big comeback. "It's just a very strange world, and if I stayed in it I would not be alive," he said. "I lost a friend almost every month - only a small amount of us made it through." [continues 972 words]
The use of prescription opiate narcotics is on the rise by both the younger and older generation, said Will Taylor, who works as a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration out of Chicago. Taylor's job is to nab traffickers bringing heroin and other narcotics into Wisconsin and nearby states including Illinois and Indiana. As a drug, heroin is made from poppies and is similar to synthetic opiates such as oxycontin and oxycodone. Traffickers move drugs based on supply and demand, and as a prescription drug habit costs more to get high as tolerance levels increase, a hit of heroin is relatively inexpensive. [continues 554 words]
Our state's hesitation to pass progressive laws and its attack on union workers has left it less desirable to younger generations. Young adults may be more inclined to move out of state to locales that better match their ideals and interests. My husband and I moved back to Wisconsin after several years living in other states. We agreed that Wisconsin had the ideal mix of recreation, business and proximity to family that we wanted. However, many of our friends had already left the state or moved shortly after our return. I believe that this could be an indication of a larger trend related to recent policy changes or lack thereof. [continues 532 words]
WASHINGTON -- Amelioration of today's drug problem requires Americans to understand the significance of the 80/20 ratio. Twenty percent of American drinkers consume 80 percent of the alcohol sold here. The same 80-20 split obtains among users of illicit drugs. About 3 million people -- less than 1 percent of America's population - -- consume 80 percent of illegal hard drugs. Drug trafficking organizations can be most efficiently injured by changing the behavior of the 20 percent of heavy users, and we are learning how to do so. Reducing consumption by the 80 percent of casual users will not substantially reduce the northward flow of drugs or the southward flow of money. [continues 634 words]
While reading the anti-marijuana legalization letter by Capt. Charles Wood, I came to a sentence that almost made me spit out my coffee in amazement ("Marijuana isn't safe," March 19). He wrote that marijuana promotes violence, and as his evidence, he mentioned "the headless bodies piling up in Mexico." Yes, there is a lot of drug violence in Mexico, as there was a lot of violence because of Prohibition in the 1920s. We have been ignoring the lessons of Prohibition for the past 75 or so years. The reason there is so much violence associated with marijuana is not because of the drug itself; it is the prohibitions. [continues 141 words]
The passing of Joyce Dreyfus, widow of former Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, reminds me of a time when Wisconsin elected representatives from both parties worked together for the common good. An example was the 1982 passage of the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act, which passed the Assembly 77-19 and the Senate 32-1. Among those voting in support were Tommy Thompson, William Bablitch, Lynn Adelman, Tom Loftus, Tim Cullen, Michael Ellis and Scott McCallum. Gov. Dreyfus signed the bill into law on April 15, 1982. It remains state law today. [continues 117 words]
True story: Many decades ago, my Grandpa Mike was pulled over for speeding. He was guilty, to be sure, but he still pleaded his case. After all, he wasn't the fastest driver going past the speed trap. In fact, he trailed well behind the pack. Compared to the other drivers, his offense was minuscule, and he said so. "I agree, they were driving faster," said the officer, "which means I knew you'd be the easiest to stop." Grandpa got the ticket. [continues 449 words]
I read in your paper an opinion about how terrible it was to have medical marijuana in California. Medical marijuana has been a godsend for sick, old, hurt and dying people in my state. Where medical marijuana shops open, crime has dropped on average by 2 percent or more in that area. Deaths by car accident in the 18 to 34 age bracket have dropped 9 percent where medical marijuana is available. Drivers given a DMV test while using marijuana were found to be as good or better than people using nothing. [continues 97 words]
I am writing regarding the editorial of Jan. 31 concerning the Antigo drug probe. I wholeheartedly agree with this opinion; everyone should be concerned when supposedly responsible, trusted adults go so very far astray of their responsibilities to our children and our communities. With the subject of illegal drug use/abuse in mind, I wonder if folks are aware that state Sen. Jon Erperbach, D-Middleton, has introduced SB 371 into the Senate to in essence legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin. [continues 122 words]
The Antigo and Merrill school districts have been rocked in recent weeks by drug charges against several employees, but the shockwaves from the case extend beyond those communities. And a conversation about drug policies in schools has followed the charges -- a hard but necessary conversation. Reporting last week by the Wausau Daily Herald revealed that among 14 local school districts surveyed, only three (D.C. Everest Area, Medford and Stevens Point) ask prospective employees to take a drug test. None do drug testing after employees are hired. [continues 432 words]
We are shocked by the information contained in preliminary court documents about teachers and other school personnel allegedly involved in illegal drug activity in the Antigo and Merrill schools. More accusations concerning use and sale of marijuana and cocaine are likely to emerge in the ongoing probe. But why should we care? This is happening far to our north and has nothing to do with us, right? Wrong. It is a major deal when those in positions of public trust, particularly those charged with educating our children, violate that trust and engage in illegal activity. [continues 234 words]
After reading the recent Wausau Daily Herald article, I was shocked, to say the least. I could not believe that in this day and age the Wausau School District (and other districts in the area) have not long ago required mandatory pre-employment drug testing. I am now retired, but when employed here in Wausau my employer required mandatory pre-employment drug testing more than 25 years ago. Do these districts believe it is okay for their employees, teachers and others, to be drug users? It is time they changed their policy immediately. Kim Hall from the D.C. Everest Area School District was right, as quoted in the story, in saying, "We want good staff." Warren Fabel, Wausau [end]
Only three of 14 school districts surveyed in central Wisconsin drug test teachers before hiring them and none conducts random or scheduled drug tests after employees are hired, according to a Gannett Central Wisconsin Media survey. Of the districts reviewed, the D.C. Everest Area, Medford and Stevens Point districts are the only ones that check if prospective teachers, administrators and support staff have consumed drugs shortly before hire. About 2,325 of the roughly 5,900 people employed by the 14 school districts -- roughly 39 percent -- passed drug tests before they were hired. [continues 564 words]
ANTIGO -- The court documents paint a shocking scene at a secluded golf course carved out of the pines and oaks north of Antigo. The records describe a group of men in their 40s and 50s regularly meeting to buy, sell and smoke marijuana -- among them an elementary school principal who also coached the varsity football team, a former head football coach, a former athletic director and at least two other school employees. Sometimes, cocaine was involved. Witness statements in court documents stemming from a Langlade County Sheriff's Department investigation indicate the Bass Lake Country Club in the town of Upham was a hotbed of drug activity. [continues 815 words]
Dear Amy: This past weekend I attended a large cocktail party with a group of new friends. At this party some of the other guests were smoking marijuana and doing other illegal drugs. I recognized one of the drug users as an elementary teacher at my daughter's school. Because the school is large, I doubt the teacher recognized me. My daughter is not in her class. I know this teacher has tenure because she has been at the school for a long time. [continues 680 words]
According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, more than 20 percent of high school students in Wisconsin had been offered, given or sold illegal drugs on school property in the span of a year. Dodge County school administrators and police say they are working to decrease those numbers locally. "We take really seriously students and their learning and their education," said Dodgeland administrator Annette Thompson. "We are fortunate that we are a small school. Most teachers know the students by name. We've got excellent counselors that are building these trusting relationships with students." [continues 957 words]
Whenever a professional athlete is suspended for smoking marijuana, as happened with two players on Washington's football team recently, a question usually arises: Why would they risk so much for so little? Turns out, the benefits of taking a few puffs aren't so little. At the low doses reportedly consumed by the athletes, "smoked cannabis can decrease anxiety, fear, depression and tension," three researchers wrote in the November issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine. "Furthermore, cannabinoids play a major role in the extinction of fear memories by interfering with learned adversive behaviors. Athletes who experienced traumatic events in their career could benefit from such an effect." [continues 617 words]
Charles Wood's letter on medical marijuana points to the problems when law enforcement agencies attempt to legislate public health ("Not a good choice for those in pain," Nov. 7). He puts forth a pained argument. Alcohol is not an analgesic, as he claims. Analgesics are medicines used for the control of pain. Do they administer Jack Daniels at hospice care? Analgesics are either over the counter, such as acetaminophen (causing liver damage and death), or prescription opioids (responsible for more deaths today than car accidents.) [continues 120 words]
Regarding "Not a good choice for those in pain," when one's health is in question, we consult a health care professional, not law enforcement professionals such as Charles Wood (Your Opinions, Dec. 7). The truth is that in the 16 states and the District of Columbia where medical cannabis is now legal, the experience has been mostly positive. Fees from state medical cannabis programs have helped balance state budgets. California estimates it gets $100 million per year in state tax revenues from medical cannabis. [continues 190 words]
Inside Wisconsin
