cannabisnews.com: Boyle, Others Testify on Medical Marijuana Bill 





Boyle, Others Testify on Medical Marijuana Bill 
Posted by FoM on April 13, 2001 at 09:48:11 PT
By Andy Hinkel, Capitol News Service
Source: Daily Press
A Wisconsin State Assembly committee heard the testimony of a law enforcement official, medical personnel, a lawmaker, and a woman suffering from chronic pain this week on the topic of the medical use of marijuana.The Committee on State Affairs, chaired by Rep. Rick Skindrud, R-Mount Horeb, was not considering any bill on the subject, but rather holding an informational hearing. However, Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, who testified before the committee, plans to reintroduce legislation which would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for chronic pain and appetite problems often associated with cancer and AIDS.
In the past several years, several states including California and Arizona have passed referenda legalizing the prescription of marijuana, but federal law still prohibits the practice. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether states have the ability to override federal law in this instance.One of the major issues at the hearing revolved around the difference between smoked marijuana and delivery of its active ingredient, THC, in pill form. Some patients claim that pills do not offer the same relief from pain and appetite stimulation that the plant delivers when smoked.Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin testified that he was against the prescription of smoked marijuana, with the understanding that his position might change if it could be proved to him that THC pills do not offer the same benefits as smoked marijuana.Dr. Michael Miller of the Wisconsin Medical Society argued against the prescription of smoked marijuana, and Gina Dennik-Champion of the Wisconsin Nurses Association testified in favor of THC prescription without taking a position on whether it should be used in pill or smoke form.Skindrud said that while he wants to learn more about the research that has been done on the drug, he is inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to those suffering from chronic illness."If it can be proved that marijuana helps somebody, where other drugs do not, it seems rather ridiculous to me that we don't use it," he said.Asked whether the legalization of medicinal use of marijuana would create problems for law enforcement, Skindrud admitted that it could, but argued that the needs of patients should justify some risk."We have all kinds of law enforcement problems, but that's why we have police departments. Some people will abuse it, but people abuse everything out there," he said.Boyle pointed out that other drugs which are illegal for the general public are currently used in medical settings."We allow medical prescriptions for cocaine and heroin derivatives, and these are drugs that hold a great deal more potential for addiction (than marijuana)" he said.Source: Daily Press, The (WI)Author: Andy Hinkel, Capitol News ServicePublished: April 13, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Daily PressContact: ashpress win.bright.netWebsite: http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/Related Articles & Web Sites:Is My Medicine Legal Yet: http://www.immly.org The State Medical Society: http://www.wismed.org Wisconsin Nurses Association: http://www.wisconsinnurses.com/Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin: http://www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/Patient Touts Benefits of Medical Marijuana: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9339.shtmlMedicinal Marijuana Debate Opens in Legislature: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9333.shtmlCommittee Holds Hearing on Benefits of Marijuana: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9326.shtml 
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