cannabisnews.com: Mondovi Woman Leads Fight for Medical Marijuana 










  Mondovi Woman Leads Fight for Medical Marijuana 

Posted by CN Staff on October 02, 2007 at 09:09:22 PT
By Brad Bryan, Leader-Telegram Staff  
Source: Leader-Telegram 

Wisconsin -- If medical marijuana legislation ever gets passed in Wisconsin, it will bear the name of Jacki Rickert of Mondovi - "if" being the operative word."She's been an incredibly persistent pioneer. Her stamina amazes me," said Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, who along with Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, introduced the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act at a news conference two weeks ago that went almost unnoticed.
A similar bill, which would have provided for the legal use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, died in committee in March 2006. So did bills in the 2003, 2001 and 1997 legislative sessions.Boyle said increasing public awareness of the issue might make the fifth time a charm. "I feel very sure that the state will finally come to its senses," Boyle said. Boyle has been involved with Rickert and her cause for the last 14 years, even before her 210-mile wheelchair crusade in 1997 that took her to the state Capitol from the grave site of the Mondovi physician who first enrolled her in a now-defunct federal medical marijuana program."When I first met her, I was incredibly impressed with the sincerity of her cause," Boyle said. As far back as high school, Rickert said, she has been suffering the debilitating effects of the genetic disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Both are chronic and incurable."(Doctors) don't know where one ends and the other beings," she said.The ailments have left her in severe pain and confined to a wheelchair, and often to her modest, single-story home. Although she takes morphine for her pain, Rickert said marijuana saved her life."That we should deny marijuana for people like Jacki is unconscionable," Boyle said. Rickert said when Dr. William Wright of Mondovi first tried to procure marijuana for her in 1990, she weighed 68 pounds. She said her then 19-year-old daughter, who was her constant and complete caregiver, told her that she looked as though she'd "just gotten out of a concentration camp."Although she never received the 300 government-issued marijuana cigarettes that Wright had gone to great lengths to procure, she said, "cannabis angels" have supplied her "God-given medication" whenever she's needed it.Boyle and Pocan's bill would allow patients with debilitating medical conditions to get marijuana, if authorized by their doctors. It provides a medical necessity defense for pot-related prosecutions and seizures, sets maximum allowable amounts, prohibits doctors acting in good faith from being arrested, and creates a marijuana-user registry.Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said he opposes legalizing medical marijuana."I've always opposed Boyle's medical marijuana bill because it would only serve to add a loophole for those who want to claim medical purposes for smoking pot," Suder said. "Many of those trying to get medical marijuana approval simply want to smoke pot." Rickert said "nothing could be further from truth.""My heart goes out to (Rickert), but I don't want to see her used as a tool to create an avenue for those who simply want to smoke pot," Suder said. "I'm not saying that marijuana won't help some people who are suffering, but other medicine provides that help as well." Suder said the legislation is too vague and has too many loopholes, but that he could consider voting for a tighter version without loopholes.The Democratic-sponsored bill does have bipartisan support. Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, supports medical marijuana. "I agree with them 100 percent," Wood said, referring to Boyle and Pocan, adding he co-sponsors the bill every time it comes around. He said there is existing bias against marijuana and that other opiate-based prescription pain killers are just as bad, if not worse, than marijuana."I think that it's a bias that dates to a generation previous to mine," Wood said. Note: Democratic lawmakers hope law will get passed this time around. Source: Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI)Author: Brad Bryan, Leader-Telegram Staff Published: October 2, 2007Copyright: 2007 Eau Claire PressContact: brad.bryan ecpc.comWebsite: http://www.leadertelegram.com/I.M.M.L.Y.http://www.immly.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

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Comment #29 posted by doc james on November 11, 2007 at 09:06:55 PT:
IMMLY journey for justice, Jacki
May the pot gods bless Rep Boyle for his continued support for Med Mj and Jacki Rickert in Wisconsin. I was a participant in the Journey back in 97 but unfortunately was unable to make the trip up this time. It is way past time for legal medicine in Wisconsin and every other state in the U.S.
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Comment #28 posted by Gary Storck on October 03, 2007 at 07:50:23 PT
Harvest Fest this weekend in Madison
This weekend is the 37th annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in Madison!Come and hear Jacki Rickert, Ben Masel, myself and others speak, with lots of free great live music.More info MadisonNORML.org
Harvest Fest on MySpace
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Comment #27 posted by RevRayGreen on October 03, 2007 at 03:54:19 PT
Gary, Praise all
your hard work up in Cheeseland, maybe it will have a trickle down effect to Iowa....
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 21:37:51 PT
whig 
That was good. 
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Comment #25 posted by whig on October 02, 2007 at 21:34:31 PT
FoM
I thought it was pretty amazing when he was trying to sell Jon by saying he needed to take his advice if he wanted to be successful and have friends, as if Jon Stewart isn't successful or is somehow friendless.
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Comment #24 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 02, 2007 at 21:18:10 PT
Mercury's Promise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn1w3kLoOuA&mode
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 21:13:16 PT
whig
When Matthews said how Clinton got the girls by listening to try to make a point about his book but it didn't work on Jon Stewart!They have ears but they do not hear.
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 21:09:30 PT
nuevo mexican 
I thought it was great. It is a recipe for sadness and what a great way to say it. If you get to talk to Al Gore all I would want to say is thank you for bringing climate change to the forefront where it should be.
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Comment #21 posted by The GCW on October 02, 2007 at 21:06:36 PT
nuevo mexican 
"Any ideas you want me to present to AL?"BUSH
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Comment #20 posted by nuevo mexican on October 02, 2007 at 20:53:56 PT
I just saw it FOM! Wow!
That was great!John is a Scorpio too!, (which evolves into the 'Eagle'), and he lived up to the highest aspects of that sign tonight!That was amazing, Chris didn't know what to do, and this will be in the news, www.crooksandliars.com for weeks, as a highlight (to be repeated by other, now that it's 'cool'.No one has ever exposed Chris like this before, that I've seen, I'm glad you brought it up!Wow! 
P.S.
Going to see Al Gore tomorrow night, he's speaking in Santa Ana, NM! I made a sign 6 years ago that made the front page of the Santa Fe New Mexican, that said: 'Dennis Kucinich for President' when he was addressing an anti-war rally, and that was a last minute thing.Any ideas you want me to present to AL?Like 'run for President of the United States!' 
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Comment #19 posted by whig on October 02, 2007 at 20:44:18 PT
FoM
Chris Matthews did not make himself look good.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 20:32:45 PT
Just a Comment
I just saw the Daily Show and Jon Stewart really said how he felt about Chris Matthews's Book to his face. Jon Stewart called it a recipe for sadness. I hope others get to see it too.
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Comment #17 posted by OverwhelmSam on October 02, 2007 at 19:52:09 PT
The Governments Move Against the People
Going on worldwide over something as simple as pot use. We are moving one way, the governments move another. If only we could unite everyone, no one could stop us. Why not a marijuana legalization live aid concert?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCXkAN28urU&modeWe've got the numbers and the power, it just needs to be harnessed.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 19:51:24 PT
Afterburner
I want you to know that I am worried about what is happening up north. When do you get to vote your conservative Prime Minister out?
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Comment #15 posted by Dankhank on October 02, 2007 at 19:47:59 PT
hey potpal
you beat me, but we're having storms, so my computer has been off ...good job ...
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Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on October 02, 2007 at 19:46:29 PT
winning the drug war ...
hey, that's what the Drug Czar says ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7025308.stm
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Comment #13 posted by afterburner on October 02, 2007 at 19:24:34 PT
Local Control of Meds Makes Good Sense 
Compassion Club head wants Quebec to run medical marijuana access plan. (Tuesday, October 2, 2007) Canadian Press: Peter Rakobowchuk 
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/071002/n1002130A.htmlUS CA: Column: Take Away Illegal Drug Demand, Ax Gangs
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1124/a07.html 
(Sun, 30 Sep 2007)
Los Angeles Daily News (CA) 
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Comment #12 posted by mayan on October 02, 2007 at 18:26:07 PT
Idiot
Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said he opposes legalizing medical marijuana."I've always opposed Boyle's medical marijuana bill because it would only serve to add a loophole for those who want to claim medical purposes for smoking pot," Suder said. "Many of those trying to get medical marijuana approval simply want to smoke pot."Oh, no! Not the dreaded devil-weed! Never mind that alcohol,tobacco and prescription drugs kill hundreds of thousands of people a year!!! Where is suder's outrage against those substances???THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...The Military Drills of September 11th: Why a New Investigation is Needed:
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6906Who were those hijackers, anyway? A Telling Story Resurrected:
http://911blogger.com/node/11781Amy Goodman and 9/11 Truth:
http://mujca.com/goodmanvideo.htmMartial Law -- Poland, US:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=200710012201349029/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #11 posted by potpal on October 02, 2007 at 18:11:58 PT
walters
doh!
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Comment #10 posted by potpal on October 02, 2007 at 18:09:42 PT
failing waters
In the news...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7025308.stm 
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Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on October 02, 2007 at 17:49:39 PT

guns, not pot
The US is at war and somebody in Wisconsin wants to have 'medical marijuana'. This is atrocious. It is scandalous.We Americans must destroy this luxury of medical cannabis to be able to fund the war on terror.What is the matter with you folks? Don't you know that we must win this war on terror above anything else? Guns and bombs win wars. Pot makes people peaceful and thus, not war like. Very bad. The scourge of cannabis is at fault for us not winning the war in Iraq in due time.Cannabis users are at fault for the protracted war in Iraq.Quit being such selfish isolationists.Josef Goebbels would be ashamed of you.*Nazi Propaganda Mode On*Nero blamed the Christians for Rome burning, Cannabists are to blame for 911. Makes for good propaganda, dontcha think?Oh wait a dern minute here, if you buy gas for your car, you are supporting Arab states that support Al Quaeda.None of it makes any sense anymore, so it is a must to smoke some good ol' marijuana for your own good.Don't use drugs, smoke cannabis.
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Comment #7 posted by MikeC on October 02, 2007 at 15:34:30 PT

Gary
Thank you for your tireless efforts here in Wisconsin.
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Comment #6 posted by mai_bong_city on October 02, 2007 at 10:38:53 PT

lest i forget - 
the fabulous jeff wood, r from chippewa falls. i went to girl scout camp there! good onya', sir.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 10:38:39 PT

Truth
Here's a link to an article.Marijuana's $42 Billion Questionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23371.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by mai_bong_city on October 02, 2007 at 10:35:38 PT

On, Wisconsin!
big props to reps boyle and pocan, roll on, jacki!
oh and suder - screw u.
pardonez-moi, s'il vous plait ;)
if the packers' standing is any indication - this is the cheese state's year!

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Comment #3 posted by Truth on October 02, 2007 at 10:15:57 PT

off topic
A new report that MPP co-released yesterday shows that marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers $41.8 billion annually in law enforcement expenses and revenues lost to government at all levels.This is a good argument to convince folks to drop the war on cannibis. When you hear someone complain about the amount of money we spend on the Iraqi war point out that we spent a whooping 1/3 of that amount on the war on cannibist in America.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 10:04:09 PT

Gary
I wish all of you the very best of luck. All of you have worked so hard and have such determination. I want to see the day that your labors show good results and the job gets done.
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Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on October 02, 2007 at 09:45:30 PT

WI State Rep. Scott Suder, dirtbag
As chair of the Assembly Criminal Justice Committee in the 2001-2002 session, Suder proclaimed, "as long as he was chair of the committee" a medical marijuana bill was going nowhere. Now, 6 years later, he's still dishing the crap, trying to twist Jacki's words.Suder was ialso implicated, but not charged in the "Caucus scandal" corruption case that ended up sending some big name lawmakers to jail.In a way, I'm glad he opened his mouth. If Jacki is the poster woman for mmj, Suder is the poster child for corruption and ignorance. 
Madison NORML blog posting on Suder
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