cannabisnews.com: Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana





Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana
Posted by FoM on December 12, 2001 at 07:43:52 PT
By Associated Press
Source: Journal Sentinel
Two Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a bill that would allow Wisconsin residents suffering from cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other diseases to smoke marijuana to help manage their pain and increase their appetites.Reps. Frank Boyle of Superior and Mark Pocan of Madison said their legislation would allow people to grow or buy marijuana if their doctor gave them a statement consenting to its use for medical purposes.
It's an issue that's shadowed the Legislature for nearly eight years, Boyle said.The bill also would allow non-profit corporations to produce and distribute medical marijuana if they were licensed and regulated by the state Department of Health and Family Services.The bill was endorsed Tuesday by Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ed Thompson, who is mayor of Tomah."It's high time that the Wisconsin Legislature gets off its high horse and recognizes how important this is," Thompson said. "Nobody's ever died from the use of marijuana. . . . It's not harmful but helpful."The bill faces substantial opposition in the state Assembly and among the medical community."This topic has been a perennial loser here in the Assembly that has done a lot to define Madison liberals but not much to impact the debate," said Steve Baas, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Town of Waukesha).Michael Miller, former president of the Dane County Medical Society, said there have been clinical trials of orally administered and prescribed THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana, but not of smoked marijuana. "There's not clear evidence that it works for any medical condition," he said.The State Medical Society supports lifting legal barriers to clinical trials, but not to legalizing marijuana's medical use, since there are too many potential risks, including increased addiction, Miller said.Note: Ed Thompson endorses two lawmakers' proposal that seeks to help patients.Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Dec. 12, 2001.Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)Published: December 12, 2001Copyright: 2001 Milwaukee Journal SentinelContact: jsedit onwis.comWebsite: http://www.jsonline.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:IMMLYhttp://www.immly.orgMedical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmMedical Marijauna Bill Gets Second Chance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11542.shtmlMedical Marijauna Bill Gets Second Chance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11535.shtml
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