SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

After his own bout with prostate cancer, the chair of the Wisconsin
Assembly's Committee on Public Health, Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, is
about to introduce legislation that would permit the use of medical
marijuana for Wisconsin patients suffering from serious medical conditions
including cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain and
other ailments. But, with little time left for the Assembly to hold
hearings and vote on the bill, it is imperative that state residents
contact their elected representatives and ask that they move this bill
through the legislative process without delay.

No one wants to use an illegal medicine. But when all legal remedies have
been exhausted, patients and their caregivers understand there is no choice.

Failing to pass this bill this session means that suffering Wisconsinites
who can benefit from medicinal cannabis will have to continue to choose
between breaking the law or going without and suffering needlessly for
another two years. Many will not live that long; some will die today.

Polls show public support for medical marijuana at over 80 percent
statewide. There is virtually no other issue with the overwhelming public
support medical marijuana has. It's time for our elected representatives at
all levels of government to listen to the people and move swiftly to make
this tool available to patients, instead of criminalizing them and their
caregivers for trying to ease their suffering. Please contact your state
senator and representative and ask them to co-sponsor Underheim's bill and
work to pass it this session.

Gary Storck, communications director, Is My Medicine Legal YET?, Madison