CALL LEGISLATORS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A recent Associated Press article carried in the Reporter, "Mayville teen
charged with selling drug that's legal" (June 19), contained a statement
that must be challenged.

The article quoted DEA Special Agent Ed Childress as defining Schedule I
drugs as "those that have no medical purpose and a high propensity for
abuse, such as marijuana, heroin and LSD."

While the DEA continues to maintain the legal fiction that marijuana has no
medical use and a high potential for abuse, science says otherwise. With
over 80 percent of Americans supporting legalizing medical cannabis for
patients who can benefit, it is time for Congress to acknowledge reality by
passing HR 2233, the bipartisan States Rights to Medical Marijuana Act,
which would reschedule marijuana so doctors can prescribe it, as well as
let states set their own policies on medical use.

The recently reintroduced legislation already has 33 cosponsors as of this
writing, including Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). Unfortunately, the
rest of Wisconsin's congressional delegation continues to ignore the
overwhelming support their constituents have for medical marijuana. Please
remind them to do the right thing, by calling the House Switchboard at
(202) 224-3121 and asking to be connected to the office of your representative.

Gary Storck

Madison