STATE WEIGHS MEDICAL CANNABIS

Bills Would Legalize Doctor-Prescribed Marijuana

After more than 30 years of pain, Chuck had nearly given up hope.
Since childhood, the pain the 42-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man
experienced from his muscles seizing had grown from occasional and
mild to frequent and debilitating.

At doctors' urging and through his own research into pain management,
Chuck said he tried herbal medicine, physical therapy, countless
medications and even yoga over the years. None significantly eased his
pain.

About 18 months ago, Chuck decided to try cannabis --
marijuana.

It worked.

"I can go from on the floor crying in pain to sitting relaxed in
minutes with a minute amount of cannabis," said Chuck, who suffers
from myotonic dystrophy, a disorder where the person suffers
progressive muscle wasting. "I'm talking about two puffs."

Possession of marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin -- which is why
Chuck's full name is not being used -- but lawmakers and marijuana
advocacy groups are pushing for Wisconsin to join the 13 other states
where medicinal marijuana is legal. Bills to do so were introduced
last week in the Senate and Assembly.

Gary Storck of Madison, a vocal leader for legalizing medicinal
marijuana and co-founder of Is My Medicine Legal Yet?, said he ingests
cannabis vapors to treat glaucoma and a heart ailment. Stork said
there is a groundswell of public support and Democrats, who control
the Legislature, have been more favorable to efforts to legalize the
drug in the past.

The two bills propose that certain patients, such as those suffering
from HIV, cancer, and other debilitating illnesses and whose doctors
recommended marijuana treatment, can possess up to 12 marijuana plants
or 3 ounces of the drug. The state Department of Health Services would
issue registration cards to approved patients, allowing police to
identify those who legally can possess marijuana. Distribution
centers, known as "compassion centers," would be created and licensed
to distribute marijuana.

There appears to be a growing interest in marijuana's use by the
medical community. The American Medical Association earlier this month
asked the federal government to reclassify marijuana to make it less
restrictive, opening the doors to clinical testing.

Matt Hattenhauer, an ophthalmologist at the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin in
Wausau, said he welcomes additional research, and frequently is asked
by patients about the drug. Hattenhauer said marijuana is not as
effective lowering the pressure in a glaucoma patient's eye as
available prescription drugs.

"The effect is too short-lived and you need large doses," Hattenhauer
said of marijuana.

Chuck said that until medical marijuana is legalized in Wisconsin, he
will be forced to buy his drug on the black market and from others who
are in his same situation.

"If (marijuana) is going to help, I have to make a decision -- I don't
use it and lose my job and go on disability, or do I take a risk
here?" Chuck said.