MEDICAL MARIJUANA BACKERS TO DEMONSTRATE TODAY AT ONALASKA WALMART

Backers of proposed legislation to legalize medical marijuana use in
Wisconsin say they will demonstrate this afternoon at many Walmart
stores in the state, including the Onalaska store.

The peaceful demonstrations will begin at noon and are expected to
last about four hours.

Besides promoting the proposed legislation, participants also have
criticized Walmart for firing an employee in Battle Creek, Mich., who
was using marijuana for medical purposes.

"It's not a 'hate Walmart' protest," said Jay Selthofner of Green
Lake, a field director with Wisconsin's National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. "It's really to increase
awareness of the bill."

Walmarts were chosen partly because the discount chain is high
profile and people know where its stores are, Selthofner said.

Members of the Facebook group Wisconsin Residents for Assembly Bill
554 and other medical marijuana supporters will conduct the demonstrations.

They hope the Legislature will pass the bill before it ends regular
business April 22, as Gov. Jim Doyle - who is not seeking re-election
- - has said he would support legalized medical marijuana if users have
a doctor's prescription.