DON'T MISS JAN. 20 RALLY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

Dear Editor: It is time for our lawmakers to adopt the Jacki Rickert
Medical Marijuana Act. Too many have passed already who could have found
relief with legal medical cannabis, too many have been arrested and
incarcerated for trying to manage their own pain. Costs for interdiction
and incarceration rise: Now is the time to move forward with compassion.

Supporters of the medical marijuana bill introduced by Rep. Mark Pocan
and Sen. Jon Erpenbach will gather at noon Jan. 20 in the Capitol
rotunda in Madison for a memorial remembering Mary Powers and other
patients who simply ran out of time. The price they paid, the pain
they endured, is enough. It is time to stand up with the now 14 states
that have recognized the legitimacy of medical pot.

Following the noon vigil, supporters will canvas the Capitol to urge
their elected representatives to support AB 554/SB 368. If you and
your friends cannot make it, please call your legislators and have
their phones ring all day in support of medical marijuana. The
Legislative Hotline is 800-362-9472. Or look up your representative at
www.legis.state.wi.us/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.

We cannot miss this opportunity to act -- to do something, whether in
person or phone, to get this bill passed now. We cannot be that state
that does not look forward. We are much better than that.

Patrick Brumm

editor, WisconsinCompassionCenters.org

Madison