Wisconsin: The State of State Medical Marijuana Patients Remains Hazy

by Gary Storck

MADISON: For nearly 20 years, dating back to the middle years of Tommy Thompson's 14 years as governor, medical cannabis supporters began holding vigil outside the Governor's State of the State Address (SOTS) to the Legislature and other state officials. On January 26, 2010, they were outside the Assembly Chambers once again, with their leader Jacki Rickert.

Supporters spoke with lawmakers heading in to watch Gov. Doyle with several stopping to warmly greet Jacki, including bill sponsors Rep. Mark Pocan, (D-Madison), and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, (D-Waunakee) as well as Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton) and Rep. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire).

Medical cannabis supporters called out to Gov. Doyle as he ascended the stairs leading to the Assembly Chamber. He looked over at supporters with signs and a "Medical Marijuana is Healthcare" banner held by patients.

Most JRMMA supporters held vigil while others watched the SOTS from the gallery. JRMMA Media was also on hand, taking photos, filming video and doing interviews. Once the Address was over, supporters fanned out, speaking with individual lawmakers. We spoke to Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), after the speech, and he remains hopeful that the JRMMA can move this session. One supporter even managed to talk to medical cannabis arch-opponent Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa).

One JRMMA supporter said he spoke with Senate Health Committee members Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), and both stuck to their usual response, that recurring song and dance of FDA approval, etc., the same tired refrain they used over and over at the Dec. 15 combined health committee hearing. Supporters have long noted the irony that Darling, is listed as a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Advocate of the Year 2006 and 2006 Inductee into the National MS Hall of Fame on her official state website biography, and rightfully question what kind of MS Advocate blocks access to a safe and non toxic medicine proven to be beneficial, forcing patients to use toxic standard meds or break the law?

"No wonder patients are leaving Wisconsin in droves when lawmakers like Lazich and Darling thumb their noses at both science and the people they claim to represent", said IMMLY's Gary Storck on Wednesday morning..

A Milwaukee television station report about the SOTS that aired Tuesday night included footage of IMMLY's Storck holding an "Allow Life with Dignity" Pass AB554". Storck said afterward, as Jacki and others signed it, that it was the sign's second SOTS, having been upgraded from last session's JRMMA AB550 to AB554 with the addition of a "4" glued over the "0". While supporters remain hopeful, they will be back again next year.

Meanwhile, right now, patients and the overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites who support legal access, are looking to state lawmakers, particularly silent Republicans, to get it together and pass, This Bill, This Time! Because this issue ultimately touches all of us, we must raise our voices so that lawmakers do not fail some of Wisconsin's most vulnerable people, the sick, disabled, seniors, vet and the dying again, like so many sessions before.

For more info: List of qualifying medical conditions included in the JRMMA. Jacki Rickert MMJ Act Hearing Recap & Action Alert. Report on Jan. 20 Mary Powers Memorial and JRMMA Lobby Day. For additional details on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, info on the Dec. 15, 2010 combined Health committee hearing, bill text and status, how to donate, all the latest news and how you can help, visit JRMMA.org, IMMLY.org or MadisonNORML.org. Visit my Madison NORML Examiner articles archive. Photos courtesy IMMLY/WI NORML and friends except where otherwise noted.

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