MEDICAL MARIJUANA

NO WONDER FOLKS ARE LEAVING

News that a majority of Wisconsinites feel that the state is losing
its best and brightest is no surprise in light of the failure of state
lawmakers to pass a medical marijuana bill this year, "Poll finds
'brain drain' a statewide concern" (Page 1B, Aug. 29).

The failure to pass medical marijuana has fueled an exodus of people
and their assets out of our state. Those with the ways and means are
leaving for states as close as Michigan where medical marijuana is
legal under state law.

Also departing are young people and others who want to work in the
thriving medical cannabis industry in the 14 states and Washington,
D.C., where it is now legal.

Wisconsin can no longer afford to listen to the special interests
whose job security lies in denying medical marijuana to our veterans,
seniors, our sick, disabled and dying. State residents are missing out
on both medicine and jobs because we keep electing fossils with no new
ideas and zero political courage.

The only way to stop the brain drain is to vote out those who want to
keep us living both in the past, and for all too many, living in
severe pain, when we go to the polls this fall.

Gary Storck

Executive Director

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Wisconsin chapter Madison