MEDICINAL MARIJUANA MERITS LEGALIZATION

We are supposed to be excited when the pharma community fast-tracks a
new and wonderful drug to market, for the good of mankind, of course.
But watch the TV ads for these new drugs. Smiling, happy people are
shown, but most of the commercial time is used listing the side
effects, which may include illness or even death.

Yet we have a medicine that's been used for over 4,000 years, tested
by billions of patients with no recorded deaths or serious side
effects. It's called cannabis, and it was put here by our creator.
How can our Legislature deny sick and dying Wisconsin citizens legal
access to this medicine?

For many years, patients have travelled far and at considerable
discomfort to go before our legislators in the hope that compassion
would reign once they heard their stories. But like kicking old
furniture to the curb, some of these legislators insulted sick and
dying patients, some who will not survive to return.

All these patients want is to treat their illnesses with dignity and
safety, the same as anyone else. But thanks to career politicians,
the compassionate and moral solution is beyond their grasp. Shame on
them for putting career before people they represent. Remember them
at the next election season.

- - Bruce Rideout, Madison