STATE MULLS LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS

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 that involves 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 in this story -- 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.

If approved, the two bills would permit certain patients, such as
those suffering from HIV, cancer, and other debilitating illnesses
and whose doctors recommend marijuana treatment, to 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 restricted, 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 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.