MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAKES LIFE BEARABLE

Dear Editor: A recent column, "Dying people shouldn't be denied basic
liberty," makes many good points, but before physician-assisted suicide
is considered, other options should first be available, like legal
access to medical marijuana.

Cannabis has shown the ability to make life bearable again for the
chronically and terminally ill. Patients whose quality of life has
greatly degraded, despite all modern medicine can offer, might find
the will to live if cannabis were a legal option. Families would gain
additional time together.

While medical cannabis legislation has the overwhelming support of the
people of Wisconsin, lawmakers like Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, the
chair of the Assembly Health Committee and a nurse, continue to "play
God." Vukmir stated in April that she would not hold a hearing because
it would be a "circus" and that medical marijuana will not happen on
her watch.

This is the time for citizens to become activists and demand that
lawmakers abide by the will of the people, so when members of our
communities face accident or illness, all options are available.

Bipartisan medical cannabis legislation will be introduced again this
fall in the Assembly by Reps. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, and Mark Pocan,
D-Madison. Callous and prideful lawmakers should not be standing in
the way of this simple God-given herb that can provide so much relief
to our sick and dying brothers and sisters.

Freedom and liberty are more than sound bites. It's time to restore
patients' and families' freedom to utilize cannabis as medicine.

Gary Storck, Is My Medicine Legal YET?

Madison