MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS UP TO DEMOCRATS IN STATE SENATE

Dave Zweifel' did a great job of pointing out the hypocrisy of
Republican legislators at both the federal and state level, "3 bills
show how GOP flip-flops on values", 12.6.99.

A prime example of government intrusion into people's lives can be
found in the prohibition of the medical use of marijuana. In
Wisconsin, inaction on protecting sick, disabled and dying state
residents from arrest and jail for using marijuana to ease their
suffering is the fault of legislators from both parties. Despite the
public's support for providing this medicine to sick people,
Democratic legislators are for the most part too timid to act, while
Republicans must adhere to the party's rigid prohibition against
medical marijuana.

At this point, only Reps. Frank Boyle and Mark Pocan have taken a firm
stand in support of medical marijuana. The Republican's control of the
Assembly ensures that if legislation were introduced there, it would
languish and die in committee like the bill introduced in the prior
session.

The only hope at this point for medicinal marijuana legislation in
Wisconsin to move forward rests with Democrats in the State Senate. As
of this writing not one has stepped forward to do something that would
protect some of our most vulnerable residents from arrest and jail.

Gary Storck
Madison