Patients favoring medicinal marijuana begin wheelchair ''march''

MONDOVI, Wis. (AP) A 210mile hike by people wanting marijuana legalized
as medicine began from a graveyard, led by a woman in a wheelchair and
headed for a rally next week in the state capital.

Jacki Rickert, who organized what she calls the Journey for Justice, uses a
wheelchair because of a bone disease.

''We're just ordinary people trying to do an extraordinary thing,'' she said.

With about twodozen participants from several states, the sevenday march
began Thursday at a cemetary that contains the grave of a physician who Ms.
Rickert said recommended marijuana for her health.

The itinerary included Black River Falls today, Tomah Saturday, Elroy
Sunday, Wisconsin Dells Monday, Sauk City Tuesday, Middleton Wednesday and
Madison for the Capitol rally Thursday at noon.

The demonstrators favor legislation that would allow physicians to
prescribe marijuana. They said they expect Rep. Frank Boyle, DSuperior, to
announce the legislation during the rally.

''I came here so many people could see we are ordinary people in need, not
criminals,'' marcher Tiffany Landreth said.

She came from Dallas, Texas, she said, and has arachnitis, an inflammatory
ailment.

''This is for all the people who could medically benefit from marijuana,
not those who want it for recreational use; that's not our purpose,'' she
said.

John Precup of Ohio said he has multiple sclerosis. Government is
inconsistent by allowing some drugs but not marijuana, he said.

Ms. Rickerts said she suffers from muscle spasms, nausea and
loosejointedness because of EhlersDanlos syndrome and reflexive
sympathetic dystrophy.

The demonstration will include 15 people in wheelchairs, three medical
professionals, drivers and helpers, she said.

Participants will alternately travel by wheelchair and be driven in one of
the support vans, with people on the road at all times, sponsors said.

''I'm going to try to make this trip to Madison to bring awareness to the
people and hopefully bring justice to those of us who need this drug,'' Ms.
Rickert said in an earlier interview. ''It's definitely going to be hard,
but it's something I have to do.''

Last year, voters in California and Arizona approved ballot issues
legalizing marijuana for medical use, but Arizona's lawmakers blocked it.

In February, a committee selected and sponsored by the National Institutes
of Health met to review studies on medical uses of marijuana and to hear
testimony from patients and other doctors.

They recommended last month that the NIH facilitate research into the
medicinal benefits of marijuana.

The eight member committee of private doctors and nurses recommended
studying marijuana's effect on improving the appetite of patients with
weight loss; controlling nausea and vomiting for cancer patients;
regulating some neurological disorders, such as epilepsy; abating pain; and
treating glaucoma, a serious and progressive eye disorder.

For treatment of some conditions ''marijuana looks promising enough to
recommend that there be new controlled studies,'' committee chairman Dr.
William Beaver of Georgetown University School of Medicine is quoted as
saying in the report.