cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Advocates Praise Bill Medical Marijuana Advocates Praise Bill Posted by CN Staff on February 27, 2004 at 09:43:55 PT By Jim Collar of The Northwestern Source: Oshkosh Northwestern Jacki Rickert doesn’t smoke marijuana for a high. She said she smokes marijuana so she can live. The Mondovi resident suffers from a rare connective tissue disorder. While using traditional medicines, she wasted away to 68 pounds. After using marijuana as a medicine, she’s back to her normal weight, she can move again and most importantly, she can live her life. It’s time for government to realize that marijuana has legitimate purposes, she said. “My world changed,” said Rickert, founder of the Is My Medicine Legal Yet? advocacy group. “I could start eating a little bit by little bit.”Wisconsin advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana are praising an Oshkosh lawmaker for a bill they hope will raise discussion on legitimate use of the drug. Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, introduced a bill into the State Legislature this week that would allow the medical use of marijuana for illnesses and ailments including AIDS, cancer and glaucoma. If passed, the bill would create a medical necessity defense in the courtroom for those charged with marijuana use or possession. The bill also calls for the state to create a registry of medical marijuana users and would authorize certain non-profit groups to distribute the drug to those approved for its medical use. Still, marijuana use would remain a federal crime. Rickert said there’s little chance the bill will pass in the current session. But she praised it as a good first step.Right now, marijuana use and possession are state and federal crimes regardless of purpose. While advocates are seeing attitudes change toward medical use, legalization remains a source of controversy. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration argues that marijuana is dangerous, addictive and provides no medical benefit that legal prescription medications couldn’t.At the same time, those who support legalizing drugs have seized on the medical-use arguments to advocate broader legalization of drug use, according to DEA position papers. Supporters of medical marijuana argue that the drug is safer than many prescription medications and has multiple benefits including pain relief and increased appetite. Eight states have made its use legal, although the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t recognized those laws. In California, federal drug agents have raided clubs established for dispensing medical marijuana several times since the state legalized it in 1996. Gary Storck, a Madison member of Rickert’s organization, said he understands criminalizing certain drug use, but not when it’s allowing the sick to lead better lives. Storck, a lifelong glaucoma sufferer, said he believes he would be blind today if it wasn't for his regular marijuana use. The drug releases tension in his eyes and it doesn’t carry the harsh side effects of some legal medicines.Underheim’s bill would still maintain some prohibitions. The bill would limit where medical marijuana could be smoked, and the medical defense couldn’t be used if a patient sold or otherwise delivered marijuana to someone else. The bill would also maintain prohibitions against driving under the influence. Underheim could not be reached for comment on Wednesday or Thursday. Rickert said she’s thankful that marijuana is at least being considered. People should consider stories like hers before forming an opinion, she said. She doesn’t consider herself a criminal, but she said she’d continue to break the law if it means relief. “What do I fear most?” she asked. “Do I fear the police, or do I fear the pain and going back to 68 pounds? That’s a pretty easy answer.”Source: Oshkosh Northwestern (WI)Author: Jim Collar of the Northwestern Published: February 27, 2004Copyright: 2004 The NorthwesternContact: jcollar thenorthwestern.comWebsite: http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/index.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:Is My Medicine Legal Yet? http://www.immly.org/Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmPolitical Fears May Stymie Pot Legislation http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18079.shtml Cancer Changes Lawmaker's Mind on Drughttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18075.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by gloovins on March 29, 2004 at 23:42:09 PT Thanks GCW... for the "bull's eye" Actually, this was one of my last posts before I got accidentally bumped from posting here, FoM fixed it for me -- thanks again FoM. I, honestly, thought this particular post got me banned!I mean no disrespect to the victims of 9/11. That will forever be emblazoned on my mind as the saddest day in U.S. history, so if the analogy bothered some, I deeply apologize.Now I see Bush jr using 9/11 and his "re-action" to it in campaign ads and speeches he gives now and it makes me ill. Sickens me. He sat and watched school children. Just sat there, like an blank, dumb, idiot. That is because he is one. And all those warnings? The list goes on and on...I pray he does not get re-elected. He is taking America down the wrong path, be it gay marriage, industrial hemp, the economy, etc etc...Please just vote in November & vote anyone but Bush.America will be better off with ANYone but him, imho.B good all....c ya's...Johnny SEE WHAT THE MICHIGAN MEDIA WON'T WRITE ABOUT [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by The GCW on February 28, 2004 at 07:17:42 PT gloovins gets bulls-eyes. HELLO POLITICITANS ARE YOU LISTENING>>>???????? YOU ARE SLAMMING THE FEDERAL AND EVERY STATE BUDGET(S) INTO THE GROUND LIKE A PLANE INTO A BUILDING [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by mayan on February 28, 2004 at 04:57:32 PT Unrelated... Sorry, but this is all over the wires...U.S. Denies Iran Report of Bin Laden's Capture: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20040228_39.htmlFrom the article..."He(Iranian correspondent) said the reason U.S. officials had denied the report was so that they could time the release of the news of bin Laden's capture to help boost President Bush's chances of re-election at presidential polls in November."That's just the scenario some here at Cannabis News envisioned!Let's kill this bird before it flies...The CIA met Bin Laden while undergoing treatment at an American Hospital last July in Dubai: http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/RIC111B.htmlGaping Holes in the 'CIA vs. bin Laden' Story: http://emperors-clothes.com/news/probestop-i.htmThe bin Ladens’ Great Escape - How the U.S. helped Osama's family leave the country after 9/11: http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york091102.aspBush Senior Met With Bin Laden's Brother on 9/11: http://www.propagandamatrix.com/041203metwithbinladen.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by gloovins on February 27, 2004 at 20:22:18 PT ekim Yeah, total 18 mo to 4 yrs in prison and the cost of the actual time he/she does (we'll say 2.5 years) 30 months of incarceration vs. 1 TAXED (by city & state & fed prob) OZ. quality organic cannabis from a local coffeeshoppe & the difference, mmm NO MORE DEFECEITS??????? HELLO POLITICITANS ARE YOU LISTENING>>>???????? YOU ARE SLAMMING THE FEDERAL AND EVERY STATE BUDGET(S) INTO THE GROUND LIKE A PLANE INTO A BUILDING WITH ALL DEFICET/PORK SPENDING SO END THE WAR ON DRUGS & TAX AND REGULATE ALREADY, DAMN! CANNIBIS/HEMP & ALL ITS 25,000 + DIFFERENT USES COULD, FOR ONE, END THE ENERGY CRISIS WE CURRENTLY ARE IN, CHOKING TO DEATH DAILY ON AIR WITH ALL THESE F&%%$ING FOSSIL FUEL BURNING CARS AND PROPING UP CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE WITH DRUG PROHIBITION AND ITS INEVITIBLE BLACK MARKET....FOSSIL FUELS *WILL* RUN OUT YOU IRRESPONSIBLE JACKOFFS!! SEE HEMPCAR.ORG OR VEGGIEVAN.ORG DUHHHH.....sorry ....ahhhh ...I vented...I gotta go kiss the sky and listen to fleetwood mac or suede or SOMEthing to pass the time tonite and relax, bye all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by ekim on February 27, 2004 at 19:38:02 PT has anyone had toffu from hemp seed new head chees Dennis said that his first decree would end Nafta and debate ways of making it more fair for the workers and mother. The two johns were awol.E seems like anyone who could put down on paper such a wonderful picture of a dream, would to me have to have reverence for the plant.This is a nice article and it even included a file photo of federal patient Irv Rosenfeld medicating.Hey Gary will you do a little research on Irv and tell us just how long he has been driving and how he gets his dl. I Sen. Findgold a supporter as he impresses me being the only Sen. to vote against the Patriot Act. Is Madison saving money with a ticket law like Ann Arbor.A first time offender around here got 18 months in prison to 4 yr for selling a oz to a cadet officer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by E_Johnson on February 27, 2004 at 18:39:30 PT Did Tolkein ever use cannabis for combat trauma? I was just reading a story at Salon on Tolkein and how everyone is trying to own him politically. The article concluded that with his old time conservative views and his hatred of industrialism and his love of both Christianity and paganism, he's really culturally more close to the American hippie tradition than to any of the other groups that have claimed him or labeled him.So I started thinking -- his views on religion and society really match the marijuana community pretty well.Could he, could he ever have been a pothead himself?He was a WWI veteran, and they were experiencing a lot of PTSD right in the 1920s when the availability of marijuana in Western society was probably at its peak, was it not?He was the equivalent of a Vietnam vet in the 1970s, when pot was very huge.Well pot was very huge in the 1920s too, the prohibition laws hadn't taken hold yet and the Jazz Age was swinging.So now I am wondering if it could be that Tolkein ever used marijuana for PTSD which he suffered being in WWI.Does anyone here know anything about the history of pot use after WWI among WWI veterans? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on February 27, 2004 at 18:26:10 PT: Or, as my favorite childhood SF writer put it: A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects - "Lazarus Long"From the "Notebooks of Lazarus Long" by Robert Anson Heinlein http://www.bobgod.com/writer/lazaruslong.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on February 27, 2004 at 17:58:34 PT The way I see things now All political ideologies are reservoirs of human wisdom that are specialized to a given set of assumptions. During the course of human events, circumstances change, and in order to remain adaptive to change, we need to take ideas from all of the reservoirs.We can't ever get overspecialized into one particular coping mechninism for the events Nature throws at us and we throw at each other.We humans need to keep our options open. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mayan on February 27, 2004 at 17:26:28 PT WE WILL EXPOSE YOU!!! "Rickert said there’s little chance the bill will pass in the current session. But she praised it as a good first step."Whether or not this bill passes we will find out who would deny a sick person their medicine. Politicians can't use the old "I don't want to appear soft on drugs & crime" excuse anymore. It's time to kick ass and take names. We will not tolerate these inhumane fascists anymore. WE WILL EXPOSE YOU AND SHOW YOU THE DOOR!!!The way out is the way in...House Speaker OKs 9/11 Panel Extension: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040227/ap_on_go_co/sept_11_showdown_2Bush to Limit Interview with 9/11 Panel to an Hour: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4456767No Easy Answer: Heroin, Al Qaeda And The Florida Flight School: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=82&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0FBI AND US SPY AGENTS SAY BUSH SPIKED BIN LADEN PROBES BEFORE 9/11(video): http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/newsnight/attack22.ramBush Senior Met With Bin Laden's Brother on 9/11: http://www.propagandamatrix.com/041203metwithbinladen.htmlWas 9/11 Lack of Air Defense Deliberate? http://www.vho.org/tr/2003/3/Elsis273-284.html#9/11 widow urges public action: http://www.septembereleventh.org/newsarchive/2004-02-23-action.php9/11 Prior Knowledge/Government Involvement Archive: http://www.propagandamatrix.com/archiveprior_knowledge [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by gloovins on February 27, 2004 at 17:25:23 PT Again, is this the USA or what? “What do I fear most?” she asked. “Do I fear the police, or do I fear the pain and going back to 68 pounds? That’s a pretty easy answer.”Damn its sad when someone this ill has to fear her government/police dept. over utilizing a plant. A PLANT or death? Wow, is Amerika backwards now more than ever. Makes a person [need to] go to pot, I say! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Universer on February 27, 2004 at 16:59:09 PT SystemGoneDown True, but did you likewise notice that immediately thereafter, there could be heard a loud chorus of boos, probably from Kucinich's supporters? Socialism is not a bad thing when used in moderation -- just like capitalism.I was somewhat disappointed by the overall treatment of Kucinich, but his was no worse than that of Sharpton, and he (the Rev) comported himself relatively well, I thought.It is obvious, however, and unfortunate, that the media seem to have picked their favorites already. But I am certain that so long as they have a dollar to their respective campaigns' names, Kucinich and Sharpton will be in Boston.The idea, remember, is to beat Bush. Oh, Lord, please let us beat Bush. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 27, 2004 at 12:51:16 PT News Article from KATU 2 Keeping Troublemakers Out of Parks Ruled Unconstitutional February 27, 2004 PORTLAND, ORE. - A federal judge has ruled Portland's 50-year-old "exclusion rule" used to keep troublemakers out of city parks and public spaces is unconstitutional. The city ordinance had allowed police to ban individuals from public parks or squares for violating any city ordinance, even if the violation did not occur in a park. U.S. District Judge Ancer Haggerty said the rule violated the First Amendment and is not "necessary to protect the safety of the parks." Haggerty issued the opinion in response to a lawsuit filed by two women who in April 2002 were kicked out of Pioneer Courthouse Square while collecting signatures for a ballot measure in support of medical marijuana. Complete Article: http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=64922 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by SystemGoneDown on February 27, 2004 at 11:41:11 PT Demo-Debate... Did anybody catch Larry King basically call Kucinich a Socialist? Also, I'm kind of disappointed that the medical marijuana issue never came up.....typical [ Post Comment ] Post Comment