cannabisnews.com: Boyle Wants To Legalize Medical Marijuana Use Boyle Wants To Legalize Medical Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on April 07, 2001 at 08:05:12 PT By Andrew Hinkel, Capitol News Service Source: Daily Press Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, will join with fellow Democrat Mark Pocan of Madison to introduce a bill next week to allow Wisconsin doctors to prescribe marijuana.The legislation would be similar to that in the eight other states, which have legalized the drug for pain and appetite disorders. Boyle said that distribution would be tightly controlled and penalties would exist for abusing the law. The US Supreme Court heard arguments, last month in a case, which could determine whether measures legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes can take effect. Currently, the federal government from actually putting them into practice has blocked the states, which have passed such laws.Boyle said that he believes that those suffering from chronic pain from illnesses like cancer and AIDS have the right to treatment, and that he has known and heard from several people who insist that marijuana has been the only effective treatment for their conditions."There's a huge medical block of evidence that indicates that medical marijuana is, in some instances, the only resolution to pain associated with chemotherapy, and AIDS patients indicate that it is a tremendous help in stabilizing their digestive system," Boyle said during an interview in his office on Wednesday."To deny patients the legitimate drug that could help to alleviate the symptoms of a critical disease is unconscionable," he said.Boyle, along with then Rep. Tammy Baldwin, introduced a similar bill in 1997.He said the bill has a better chance of passage this time because the political climate around the issue has changed a great deal in the last few years. Ballot initiatives authorizing medicinal marijuana have passed by large majorities in several states. Boyle said he is also encouraged by the fact that the Republican chair of the State Affairs Committee, Rick Skindrud of Mount Horeb, has scheduled an informational hearing on medicinal marijuana.The hearing, at which the committee will hear testimony from invited speakers on the issue, including law enforcement personnel and medical experts, will take place in the Capitol on Tuesday at 10 a.m.Source: Daily Press, The (WI)Andrew Hinkel, Capitol News ServicePublished: April 7, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Daily PressContact: ashpress win.bright.netForum: http://www.ashlandwi.com/Website: http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/Is My Medicine Legal Yet?http://www.immly.org/Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsinhttp://www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 08, 2001 at 19:38:37 PT: News Brief From The Associated Press Assembly Committee to Hold Hearing on Medical MarijuanaStatewireSource: Associated PressPublished: Saturday, April 7, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Associated PressMadison, Wis. (AP) -- An assembly committee this week will hear from members of the State Medical Society and law enforcement groups on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Advocates of medical marijuana say the drug can ease side effects from chemotherapy, save nauseated AIDS patients from wasting away or even allow multiple sclerosis sufferers to rise from a wheelchair and walk. There is no definitive science that the drug works, or works better than conventional, legal alternatives. Nine states have laws allowing the legal use of marijuana to treat a host of ailments. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last month on whether marijuana can be provided to patients as a medical necessity even though federal law makes its distribution a crime. The Assembly State Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear testimony on the issue at 10 a.m. Tuesday in room 328 Northwest in the state Capitol. The committee also is scheduled to consider Assembly 235, concerning bartenders' licenses, and Assembly Bill 249, concerning the effect annexations have on liquor license quotas. Wisconsin Legislature: http://www.legis.state.wi.us Medical Marijuana Information Links [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: