That's the finding from a recent survey conducted by Chamberlin Research of Madison. The survey was commissioned by IMMLY (Is My Medicine Legal Yet) and other medical marijuana advocates to determine public opinion regarding the medical use of marijuana.

Northern Wisconsin legislator Frank Boyle said Tuesday during an interview that the poll results should inspire the Legislature to pass a medical marijuana law.

The poll found that 80.3 percent of Wisconsin residents said they support passing a law to allow seriously ill or terminally ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes if supported by their physician, compared to 16 percent who opposed medical marijuana. Three-point seven percent said they didn't know or had no opinion. The poll's margin of ever was plus or minus 3.97 percent.

"This group is very legitimate," said Boyle, D-Superior. "I've always known that there is overwhelming public support for this issue among the people of Wisconsin."

Boyle is one of 10 representatives sponsoring AB-715, a bill that would allow marijuana use for certain types of illnesses. According to Boyle, marijuana is the only drug that can relieve symptoms associated with chemotherapy, glaucoma, and severe migraines.

"This stuff is proven -- proven to a point that leaves no question in anyone else's mind," said Boyle. "Everyone has known someone who's had pain from these symptoms finds relief only by smoking marijuana.

"The last survey that was conducted a few years ago showed that 70 percent of state residents were in favor of this," explained Boyle. "Now, it's gone up 10 percent. That's a hard public statement to ignore."

IMMLY founder Jacki Rickert, a longtime Wisconsin activist, said the recent poll results amount to a mandate for lawmakers to pass a medical marijuana bill.

"The people have spoken," Rickert said. "What can be more noble and humane than enforcing the will of the people? These numbers show voters understand there are real people with valid needs for prescription Cannabis and they expect legislators to help patients in need, rather than causing more pain and fear by continuing to do nothing."

Gary Storck, IMMLY's direct of communications said the issue is not a political one.

"All over Wisconsin in every single region, people expressed very strong support," Storck said. "These results say that giving patients legal access to medical marijuana is an issue that is not liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, or only popular in Madison, as some legislator's have suggested."

Boyle, during an interview in his Capitol office, said smoking marijuana is the only effective way to relieve these symptoms. The drug Marinall, which is a derivative of the THC found in marijuana and taken in capsule form, does not have the same level of pain relief that comes from smoking marijuana, he said.

"Marinall just doesn't cut it. It's simply not as effective," said Boyle. "Smoking really is the only effective means of alleviating the problems. Of the thousands of people I've spoken too that have been relieved from pain through a variety of means, they say smoking marijuana provided the best relief."

Boyle cited American Medical Journals dating back to the late 1800's that showed the positive medical effects of marijuana. These AMA Journal articles touted marijuana as a medical phenomenon.

"It wasn't until the "illegalization' of marijuana in the 1930s that these problems were created," said Boyle. "It was the most ridiculous solution I've heard off. It's just plain stupidity."

The Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA), which is already on record as supporting patient access to medicinal marijuana, agrees.

"WNA is hopeful that the results of this poll will spur legislators to rethink their position on patient access to medical marijuana," said WNA Executive Director Gina Dennik-Champion. "Given the statewide support for access to medical marijuana, there is no reason why legislation should not be passed by the Wisconsin Legislature quickly."

Boyle agreed, but admitted that the bill's future is doubtful.

"There's no chance that this bill will be approved this session," said Boyle. "There's three days left in this session and that's not enough time to get anything done. We're going to have to wait until the next session in January and start to champion the cause then.

"I think that this survey sends a very strong and clear message to the legislation," said Boyle. "Any legislator that doesn't see the message in this survey is out of sync. I simply don't know of any poll that's had an 80 percent approval rating.

"This is an issue with a loud public voice and public opinion behind it," he said. "Come January, this issue will not be ignored or shuffled around and forgotten about. It's simply going to be too large."

Source: Daily Press, The (WI)
Author: Eric Niemi, The Daily Press
Published: Wednesday, March 13th, 2002
Copyright: 2002 The Daily Press
Contact: ashpress@win.bright.net
Website: http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/

Related Articles & Web Site:

Is My Medicine Legal Yet?
http://immly.org/

Medical Marijuana Information Links
http://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htm

Wisconsin Supports Use of Medical Marijuana
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12218.shtml

Wisconsinites Want Medical Marijuana Legalized
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12216.shtml

Medical Marijuana Bill Deserves Real Consideration
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11821.shtml

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