MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL MAY HAVE A CHANCE OF PASSING

Madison - Advocates for medical marijuana say they have their best
chance yet of passing a bill through the state Legislature.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle said recently he supports the idea, and the
lead co-sponsors of the bill on Monday announced committee hearings
would be held Dec. 15 on the bill.

"I do think the chances are pretty good for this to become law," said
Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee), the chief Senate author of the bill.

Erpenbach said Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) was "open
to the idea" of scheduling a floor vote on the bill. Rep. Mark Pocan
(D-Madison), the lead Assembly sponsor, said he was confident the
Assembly Public Health Committee would approve the bill and forward it
to the full Assembly.

Advocates for medical marijuana have pushed their efforts for years
but have made little headway in the Capitol. Gary Storck, who has
congenital glaucoma, said Wisconsin's laws must change to protect
those with cancer, AIDS and other serious illnesses.

"We're not criminals. We're people just trying to get on with our
lives," said Storck, a board member of the group Is My Medicine Legal
Yet?

The bill would allow people with debilitating medical conditions to
grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy up to three ounces of marijuana
from new, non-profit "compassion centers." Patients would have to
register with the state Department of Health Services.

If patients bought marijuana on the street, they could use their
medical condition as a defense at trial.

Patients would not be allowed to drive or operate heavy machinery
while under the influence of marijuana. They could not smoke it in
schools, parks and many other public places.

The bill would cover people with cancer, AIDS, Crohn's disease,
Hepatitis C, Alzheimer's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and
other maladies.

Jason Glaspie of Madison said he welcomed the bill because marijuana
was crucial to managing his pain as he went through chemotherapy and
radiation for a cancerous brain tumor.

"I personally feel there's no reason you can have morphine or
something that has huge side effects and you can't grow a plant in
your garden that makes you feel better," he said.

Erpenbach and Pocan said they saw several signs of improving
conditions for their bill. They noted President Barack Obama's
administration has taken a hands-off approach in dealing with states
that have medical marijuana laws. In the past, federal authorities
have conducted raids on dispensaries in California and other states
because marijuana is illegal under federal law.

Last week, the American Medical Association called for more research
of medical marijuana, which proponents said was another sign of
support for medical marijuana laws.

Erpenbach said the Assembly and Senate health committees would
consider the bills together at the Dec. 15 meeting.

"It's a combined hearing - not a joint hearing, but a combined
hearing," he said.