STATE SHOULD LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Marijuana has long been maligned and misunderstood in American
society, blamed for everything from frantic piano-playing to
irreversible corruption of youth.

But instead of science, we've been relying on fabricated results, fear
mongering and gross generalizations to produce our policies on pot.

In the process, we've propped up criminal organizations that use
murder and intimidation to run their businesses. But it doesn't have
to be that way.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) has introduced a bill that would legalize
medical marijuana in Wisconsin. So far the proposal has 13 co-sponsors
and Gov. Jim Doyle has said he supports the move so long as doctor
approval is a requirement.

National opinions and trends also lend weight to the idea. The
American Medical Association recently recommended that marijuana be
removed from the dangerous drug classification so that more research
could be done about it. Thirteen states have already legalized
cannabis for medical use, and the Obama administration has stated that
it will not seek to enforce federal drug laws in those states. The
many and varied legitimate uses of marijuana and its hempen
counterparts are well documented.

The most important one is, perhaps, its medicinal properties. People
suffering from various types of cancer, HIV, hepatitis C, PTSD and
even Alzheimer's patients have benefited from regulated usage of the
drug. It can, for instance, help to relieve chronic pain and restore
otherwise destroyed appetites.

I fully support the legalization of well-regulated medical marijuana
not only in Wisconsin, but nationwide.

It's ridiculous that our deeply ingrained and somewhat irrational fear
of the stuff has led to such thorough stifling of important research
- - science that could help lead to a higher quality of life for those
patients whose conditions would qualify them to use it. It's high time
to legalize it.

Dave Lavet, Sheboygan