ON MEDICAL POT, LAZICH SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT SHE PREACHES

Dear Editor: State Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, concluded a recent
letter by stating, "Here's to less taxing and spending in 2010 in
Wisconsin with far less fraud, government intervention, and regulation."

I'm confused. At the combined Assembly/Senate health committee
hearings on Dec. 15 on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, I
heard Lazich propose so much government intervention and regulation as
to render the new proposal impotent! Her very attempts to sound
reasonable while discussing the bill were fraudulent.

Patients in 13 states now have the choice of medical cannabis among
potential treatments for debilitating conditions. Wisconsin does not.
Lazich, unlike some other opponents such as Rep. Leah Vukmir,
R-Wauwatosa, stuck around long enough to hear patients describe how
medical cannabis has been of immeasurable benefit. She heard patients
say over and over how conventional treatments had failed or were too
harsh and the side effects too toxic.

Lazich owes it not only to her constituents but also to all
Wisconsinites by virtue of her committee post to keep an open mind
when considering this issue. She should abstain from voting if
unwilling to give the 105 people who registered in support, compared
to just six opponents representing special interests, the true weight
their support deserves.

This is an election year. The overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites
support protecting medical cannabis patients by passing the medical
marijuana act intact. Voters should look for less toxic alternatives
to politicians like Lazich this fall.

Gary Storck

Madison