cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Week is Smokin' Medical Marijuana Week is Smokin' Posted by CN Staff on March 22, 2004 at 23:01:09 PT By Lindsay Mosher, City Reporter Source: Badger Herald The use of marijuana is illegal in the United States, but for victims of glaucoma, marijuana significantly aids in slowing the progression of vision loss. Glaucoma victim Gary Storck began to lose his eyesight as a young child. His doctors prescribed several conventional medications that were unsuccessful in recovering his vision. In 1972, Storck smoked marijuana before going to see his doctors, and his eye pressure was no longer elevated. Storck is a member of the Drug Police Task Force and Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY), a nonprofit medical-marijuana advocacy group based in Mondovi, Wis., and Madison. Storck and other users of prescribed marijuana went to the City Council meeting March 2 in hopes of setting aside a week to promote marijuana awareness in Madison. The council voted to recognize March 14-21 as Madison Marijuana Medical Awareness Week. Ald. Judy Olson, District 6, and seven other alders backed the resolution, which obliged citizens of Madison to observe appropriate programs and activities. "Marijuana had the potential to save my eyesight," Storck said. Marijuana also helped Storck's friend, IMMLY founder Jacki Rickert. "I've tried just about everything in the [Physician's Desk Reference], according to my physician," Rickert said. "I was either allergic or it did not work." Storck explained last week's activities were important because they raised community awareness. He said most people do not advocate medical marijuana until they themselves are faced with a disease that can be lessened by marijuana. "In the face of uncontrollable suffering, marijuana can be a godsend," he said. According to Storck, marijuana can help alter the progression of epilepsy, AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Storck explained that inhaling marijuana through smoke or vapor is best because it allows people to control the dosage. "In conjunction with my other pills, I can take a lot less medicine," Rickert said, referring to her marijuana use. Storck said although the use of marijuana for medical reasons is legal, glaucoma sufferers are forced to buy the substance on the black market because pharmacies in Wisconsin do not distribute it. A benefit was held Friday at the Cardinal Bar for IMMLY. The University of Wisconsin Green Progressive Alliance sponsored a film festival and discussion panel at Memorial Union Sunday. "We are taking a step toward safe and legal access," Storck said. "I don't seek to break the law, but I have no other choice." Storck said he felt Madison Marijuana Medical Awareness Week went well. "It showed Madison still has commitment to compassion," he said. Source: Badger Herald (Edu, Madison, WI)Author: Lindsay Mosher, City ReporterPublished: March 23, 2004Copyright: 2004 Badger HeraldContact: editor badgerherald.comWebsite: http://www.badgerherald.com/Related Articles & Web Site: Is My Medicine Legal Yet?http://www.immly.org/Medical Marijuana Advocates Praise Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18409.shtmlWisconsin Marijuana Activists To Travel To D.C.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17106.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by gloovins on March 29, 2004 at 23:04:18 PT cool...Thanks...missed not being able to post Now I can tell the world the truth again! Cannabis is medicine!But wait,...are they ready for it?? ;) http://apublicservice.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 25, 2004 at 12:38:59 PT Gloovins I guess Matt must have gotten the glitch fixed. Sorry for the problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Gloovins on March 25, 2004 at 12:30:59 PT Just testing 123 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by billos on March 23, 2004 at 14:56:53 PT: The antis would rather........... have you take legal drugs to medicate. Such as the ones that will soon have lables with a sucide warning as a side effect..Geeeeezzz. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Virgil on March 23, 2004 at 08:29:05 PT Canasol is a Jamaican prescription for glaucoma Jamaica has two prescription medicines that involve a powder form- http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/59.html This paragraph makes out like it applied to the eye-During the 1980's and 90's, West said, thousands of vials of Canasol have been tested and used as a topical eye medicine in Jamaica, Europe, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and other areas.Jamaica also makes Amasol- "Asmasol is useful during both the acute phase of an asthma attack, and as a preventive during the impending phase," [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on March 23, 2004 at 08:11:53 PT The spring of Sativex(TM) GW Pharmaceuticals has submitted for approval the use of Sativex for MS and neuropathic pain. We should see approval this spring for what should have happened decades ago. Here is the product pipeline from GW’s website- http://www.gwpharm.com/research_pipeline.aspThe introduction of the first cannabis extract will be interesting to follow as it has a corporate sponsor in Bayer and more testimonials than Viagra could ever imagine. The time frame of acceptance from Western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand will be interesting. What Jamaica does and South Africa does will be part of a great story also. It is still India that draws my attention as it asserts its billion citizens into the global economy. The American Nazis are going to face a more stern public that has been driven into unemployment and a lower standard of living as the fat cats have gone after the public treasury to line their pockets as the children are given a staggering debt whose interest can no longer be paid with $18 billion a month. The question that will arise is why a natural THC molecule is not allowed on the market when the identical man-made molecule of THC in Marinol enjoys a notable status on the schedule of narcotics as the only substance listed under a trademark.There is an article from Greg Palast concerning the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) that reflects on the influence of the concentrations of wealth as all of Latin America except Venezuela lines up for surrender to the global powers as they surrender their governments and futures under the premise of free trade- http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/ftaa/1303.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on March 22, 2004 at 23:22:00 PT Progressive Dane Drug Policy Task Force... Not, "Drug Police Task Force". A nice article nevertheless.It was a good Madison MMJ Awareness Week!Here is a link to the text of Madison's historic ordinance 23.20, which passed with 60% of the vote on April 5, 1977: Madison Ordinance 23.20 -- REGULATIONS CONCERNING MARIJUANA AND CANNABIS. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment