cannabisnews.com: Bill Introduced To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana Bill Introduced To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana Posted by FoM on December 11, 2001 at 22:09:12 PT By Amanda Novak, State Reporter Source: Badger Herald Advocates of medicinal marijuana use were handed a victory Tuesday when Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, introduced a bill to allow marijuana use or medicinal purposes. Patients with debilitating medical conditions and the permission of a doctor would have access to medicinal marijuana if the bill passed. Wisconsin is the first state to introduce a bill that would legalize medicinal marijuana since the May ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that distributors could not use "medical necessity" as a federal defense. The bill is based on a law enacted by Hawaii's legislature in 2000 allowing patients to grow, possess and use medicinal marijuana with physician approval. The bill also allows nonprofit organizations to distribute marijuana to patients who have been approved. This is the first comprehensive bill on medicinal marijuana in Wisconsin. The bill would allow authorized patients to use a medicinal-use defense to protect themselves against marijuana-related prosecutions. To get authorization, a patient would need a statement from a doctor verifying they have a debilitating medical condition and the potential benefits would outweigh the risks of smoking marijuana. "This bill essentially allows for a legal defense when a patient has written authorization," Pocan said. "There are strict criteria, and it's about time we offered the most comprehensive health care with the most options for people." Pocan said national polls have shown over 70 percent of the population agrees with the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes, and he believes people in Wisconsin will be receptive to the legislation. Jacki Rickert, founder of Is My Medicine Legal Yet (IMMLY), said legalizing marijuana would alleviate fear in patients with long-term illnesses. "It would definitely take a lot of the fear and terror out of people," said Rickert, who uses the drug to help her cope with physical pain from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Advanced Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. "I could worry about making myself healthy and not have to worry about whether or not our door is going to be rammed in." Rickert said she is frequently asked about the effect of legalizing drugs on the youth of America. "I think it would definitely take an element of crime off the streets," she said. Not everyone agrees that legalization of marijuana is the best solution. Several state representatives said they did not support legalizing marijuana or any drug but had no specific comment regarding the bill. In 1999, the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported marijuana had therapeutic value and that there are some circumstances where smoking marijuana would be beneficial. Rep. Garey Bies, R-Sister Bay, said he needed specific evidence before voting for or against the legislation. "I would like to see the medical evidence," Bies said. "I would like to see some real evidence about what it would do, and I would reserve judgment until I had the evidence." Bies noted there may be federal laws that would withhold state funding if legislation legalizing marijuana were passed. "These are things we would have to consider, and I am sure that will come out," Bies said. Medicinal marijuana is legal in eight states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Newshawk: IMMLY -- http://www.immly.orgSource: Badger Herald (WI)Author: Amanda Novak, State ReporterPublished: December 11, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Badger HeraldWebsite: http://www.badgerherald.com/Feedback: http://www.badgerherald.com/about/contact_staff.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsinhttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedical Marijauna Bill Gets Second Chance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11535.shtmlBoyle, Others Testify on Medical Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9362.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 12, 2001 at 07:47:51 PT A Big Question Last night I received another email that is requesting that Cannabis News put together an email type news. I have no idea how to do it. I didn't realize that some people want to read the news and can read it on a pager but are away from their home computer. Does anyone know how to do it? I explained that I do not get any email news so I'm not sure how it would work. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on December 12, 2001 at 06:37:33 PT How science and evidence work with marijuana Here's how the process of acquiring and utilizing scientific evidence has worked so far with regards to marijuana:1. small bits of conflicting evidence are accrued through anecdote, political crusade, medical research, religious hysteria and general public experience2. someone decides that all the evidence needs to be summarized and presented in a big report to decide if marijuana really does A or really does B3. a government commission of experts studies all the previously accrued evidence and decides that marijuana lives up to whatever challenge of benefit or lack of harm has been alleged and recommends some kind of liberalization in policy4. the report stirs an outcry among prohibitonists who seize the media attention following the release of the report with new alarmist anecdotal or individual evidence of harm associated with marijuana5. the government body that commissioned the report quietly forgets that it ever existed and life goes on as before there was any "evidence" at all6. repeat whenever politically necessary [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on December 12, 2001 at 05:25:21 PT Frank Boyle http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm73/asm73.html If you live in Wisconsin, please write to Frank Boyle and thank him for what he's doing for the cause. He needs to hear that the public believes in him. Also, did Rep. Garey Bies asked for some evidence? I'm sure someone here can provide him with more than enough... Rep. Garey Bies contact information [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by i420 on December 12, 2001 at 04:57:40 PT Right on people!! You are right p4me everyday I run into someone and I blow their mind telling them what is happening. Good to see some REAL Ameican's doing justice in Wisconsin.... unlike some other states.I could give Mr. Bies some evidence all right .... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on December 12, 2001 at 00:38:37 PT A Snake Charmer! "I would like to see the medical evidence," Bies said. "I would like to see some real evidence about what it would do, and I would reserve judgment until I had the evidence." Bies noted there may be federal laws that would withhold state funding if legislation legalizing marijuana were passed. "These are things we would have to consider, and I am sure that will come out," Bies said.(Would Mr. Bies would like to see some "real" evidence if aspirin or morphine have any medical evidence that do cure people of any kind of dieases? Does anybody find that very odd when Mr. Bies, who I assume does not have a medical degree making a medical judgement as if he is a God? By his statement, it seemed he is more concerned about getting Federal state fundings more than being compassionate to those human beings who are suffering from all kind of dieases, who already have stated that fact that cannabis does help. It would do good if common folks from Wisc. would point these things out to this snake.)ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by p4me on December 11, 2001 at 23:44:14 PT Arizona and Washington DC Medicinal marijuana is legal in eight states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.I thought Arizona had medical MJ along with Washington,DC. If they cannot keep track of them now what is it going to be like after this year's initiatives. There is a heck of a show going on in the cannabis world and most everyone is unaware of how exciting it is. Lucky us and poor them. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment