BOYLE, OTHERS TESTIFY ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

MADISON - 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.