MEDICAL MARIJUANA OFFERS RELIEF

Gary Storck endures pain on a daily basis. Storck was born with
Noonan's syndrome and has had multiple open-heart surgeries to address
the heart problems that come with that condition. Storck also suffers
from glaucoma, and his intraocular pressure often reaches 40, twice
the highest limit of the normal range. In addition, he battles
post-traumatic stress disorder. After only a brief inventory of
Storck's medical background, one might expect him to curse the hand he
was dealt.

But that is not how Storck views himself. "I consider myself a medical
miracle," he said. "I can find relief for my glaucoma, heart
conditions and anxiety all in one medication. I am living research."

The medication that Storck is speaking of is marijuana. And despite
the relief that it offers him, Storck is technically committing a
criminal act whenever he self-medicates with cannabis. That has the
potential to change, however. Wisconsin Assembly bill 554 and Senate
bill 368 are both pending in committee; the bills, identical in
wording, would enable residents of the state suffering from serious
medical conditions, including cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease,
glaucoma and other medical conditions that cause severe pain,
seizures, wasting away and muscle spasms to possess and use marijuana
for relief. People with these conditions would obtain a registry card
with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, entitling them to
possess up to three ounces for personal use.

A unique set of circumstances in Madison means that this bill has a
slightly higher chance of passing into law. Democrats, who generally
support medicinal marijuana use, have a majority in both the senate
and assembly. Supporters of medicinal marijuana also have an ally in
Governor Doyle, who has vowed to sign the bill into law if he is given
the opportunity.

Locally, the bill has support from Platteville's representative in the
Assembly, Democrat Phil Garthwaite. "For me the big issue is how
people deal with pain," said Garthwaite. "We let doctors prescribe
things far more dangerous than marijuana."

Platteville's representative in the state Senate, Republican Dale
Schultz, could not be reached for comment regarding the bill.

In an e-mail correspondence, Thomas Caywood, chair of UW-Platteville's
department of criminal justice, expressed his support for the measure.
In response to state Attorney General Van Hollen's remarks that the
bill would make things difficult for law enforcement trying to enforce
current drug law, Caywood wrote, "Other states already have similar
laws on the books. There are a number of medical benefits for
prescribing marijuana. The most logical route would be to treat it
just like other controlled drugs dispensed by a pharmacy only with a
doctor's prescription."

And that is exactly what this bill would do. This bill is not a
referendum on recreational drug use; this bill is a referendum on
compassion for the sick. Every day, there are people who suffer
debilitating conditions that make their lives a hellish existence. Who
would deny them every available option to relieve their pain? Take a
few minutes out of your day and let's make medicinal marijuana a legal
and viable option for people suffering in Wisconsin. Call the
legislative hot line at 1-800-362-9472 and express your support for
the measures.