TIME TO TAKE CLOSER LOOK AT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Jacki Rickert of Mondavi is an unlikely drug abuser. The 98-pound woman, who
uses a wheelchair, suffers from a painful connective tissue disorder.

But Rickert, who was using marijuana to cope with the pain of the disease
and improve her appetite (she weighed only 68 pounds before she started
using marijuana) made a mistake.

When she called police to tell report the theft of her legal,
doctor-prescribed morphine, from her home, she told them she had marijuana
in the house. The police then had little choice but to search the house,
seize the marijuana, and charge Rickert with possession.

Rickert, and others like her, are in a terrible position. They haven't found
any substance that works better to help control nausea and pain, but it's
not legal. They're forced to self-medicate and use something that makes them
criminals.

Some states have already made allowances for the medicinal use of marijuana,
and studies continue as to its use as a drug.

In Wisconsin, Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, has unsuccessfully tried to
introduce legislation legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, under
tightly controlled conditions.

It seems ridiculous that someone like Rickert, who can legally use morphine,
a potentially addictive drug that, when used properly, is safe, can't use a
substance like marijuana.

It's time to revisit medical marijuana use.