[color photo caption:] Robin Cardell of Oshkosh carried Jacki Rickert to
the grave of Dr. William E. Wright this morning at Oak Park Cemetery in
Mondovi. Wright was influential in getting marijuana federally approved for
Rickert's use before his death in 1993. Rickert, of Mondovi, and about a
dozen others started a journey this morning to Madison in an effort to get
the use of medicinal marijuana approved in Wisconsin.

[boxed sidebar:] "The people who have shared stories and given me support
have been unbelievable." Jacki Rickert, seeking legalization of medicinal
marijuana

Woman seeking to use marijuana gets support for Madison trip

By Chuck Rupnow
LeaderTelegram staff

MONDOVI Jacki Rickert began her "Journey for Justice" this morning but
said it will not end until people get the marijuana medication they're
entitled to.

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

Rickert and a number of supporters started a nearly 200mile trek to
Madison, which is expected to culminate next week with the introduction of
a legislative bill calling for legalization of marijuana medication.

"I'm nervous, totally pumped," Rickert said about the trip. "I'm just
totally nervous."

A handful of supporters, from as far away as Texas and Florida, arrived
Wednesday and helped Rickert make signs and final preparations for the
journey.

"If everything works out, there will be 15 patients, three caregivers,
drivers and helpers involved," Rickert said. "There will be 'patients' on
the road at all times."

Rickert, 47, will roll her wheelchair at times on the trip and spend other
times in one of the support vehicles.

Rickert, stricken with two rare illnesses that cause her tremendous pain
and restrict her movement, was one of a select few approved in December
1990 for a federal program allowing her to use governmentgrown,
freezedried marijuana cigarettes for medical purposes.

But she never received the marijuana, which she said decreases the pain and
allows her to perform functions she is unable to do with synthetic drugs.

Rickert was one of 43 people approved for the project. Fifteen people
received the drug while the other 28, including Rickert, were thwarted,
according to government reports.

"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,"
Rickert said in an earlier interview. "It's definitely going to be hard,
but it's something I have to do."

Rickert suffers from EhlersDanlos syndrome and reflexive sympathetic
dystrophy. Rickert has sever muscle spasms and has difficulty keeping food
and medications down. She also suffers from loosejointedness as part of
the illness.

Rickert said she received calls from supporters and patients from as far
away as Texas and Washington after a LeaderTelegram article last month
about her effort.

"It's been completely overwhelming. à It's been very heartwarming," Rickert
said.

The 15year federal program wad dropped in 1992 in part because of an
overwhelming number of applications from AIDS victims, who thought
marijuana might alleviate the nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments.

Marijuana, or its active ingredient, Marinol, is believed by some to
benefit people with glaucoma and AIDS.

Kay Lee of Ohio, who has been involved in a number of nationwide efforts
to help legalize marijuana for medical purposes, is assisting Rickert's
effort. "People need to be able to put a face to the pain, and that's what
this trip is about," she said.

Rep. Frank Boyle, DPhillips, plans to announce his sponsorship of the bill
to legalize medicinal marijuana on the state Capitol steps next Thursday.

"There is a very compelling and convincing argument to legalize marijuana
prescribed by doctors," Boyle said.

Boyle said his bill would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana and
pharmacies to fill the prescriptions.

Federal officials say marijuana alters behavior, including judgment, memory
and learning. When smoked, it produces pathological changes in lung tissue
and function.

A Public Health Service report, referring to the experimental marijuana use
program, said scientists "have concluded that existing evidence does not
support recommending smoked marijuana as a treatment of choice of any of
the conditions of patients who have applied under this program."

"I came here so many people could see we are ordinary people in need, not
criminals," said Tiffany Landreth, of Dallas, Texas, who suffers from
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," Landreth
said.

The journey began after a vigil at Mondovi's Oak Park Cemetery, where
Rickert and others paid tribute to the late Dr. William E. Wright. Wright
prescribed marijuana for Rickert and assisted her in getting federal
approval for its use. He died in 1993.

Rupnow can be reached at 8339208, Ext. 305, or (800) 2367077.