TIME TO REJECT THE HYPERBOLE AND HYSTERIA

Regarding "Not a good choice for those in pain," when one's health is
in question, we consult a health care professional, not law
enforcement professionals such as Charles Wood (Your Opinions, Dec.
7).

The truth is that in the 16 states and the District of Columbia where
medical cannabis is now legal, the experience has been mostly
positive. Fees from state medical cannabis programs have helped
balance state budgets. California estimates it gets $100 million per
year in state tax revenues from medical cannabis.

Federal interference has been the biggest negative factor in fully
implementing these laws. Recently, the governors of Rhode Island and
Washington petitioned federal authorities to reschedule cannabis from
Schedule I to a lower schedule to ease the federal-state conflicts.
The American Medical Association supports cannabis rescheduling so
research can be expedited.

How can Wood continue to maintain the 42-year-old classification of
cannabis as a Schedule I drug with no medical use and a high potential
for abuse is still valid despite literally tens of thousands of
studies conducted in that time demonstrating the efficacy of medical
cannabis?

Currently, an Iraq or Afghani war veteran takes his or her own life
every 80 seconds due to post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical
cannabis has long been known as a remedy for PTSD. It's time to reject
the hyperbole, the hysteria and the fear-mongering of the Capt. Woods
of our state and give Wisconsin veterans, seniors, our sick, disabled
and dying the right to legally access medical cannabis like any other
medication.

Gary Storck

Co-founder, Is My Medicine Legal YET?

Madison