NURSES STAND UP FOR PATIENTS

Regarding the two letters saluting nurses and noting that May 6-12 is
National Nurses Week, "Nurses assure public health" and "Thank nurses for
their care" (May 6), I would like to take a moment to offer my thanks and
appreciation to the nursing profession and state nurses organizations.

In 1999, both the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) and the Wisconsin
Public Health Association (WPHA) passed resolutions supporting giving
patients legal access to medical marijuana and both urging, "the Governor
of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Legislature to move expeditiously to make
cannabis available as a legally prescribed medicine where shown to be safe
and effective."

When Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a medical marijuana bill in late 2001,
the WNA issued a press release stating "It is the position of the WNA that
advocacy for this issue needs to occur, and that it is difficult for RN's
to remain silent while seriously ill patients are denied access to an
effective medical treatment."

The WNA is not alone in its support for medical cannabis: the Nurses
Organizations of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and the National
Nurses Society on Addictions are all listed on the group, Patients Out Of
Time's list of "Organizations in Support of Therapeutic Cannabis" at
http:MedicalCannabis.com/Grouplist23.pdf.

Thanks you, nurses, for having the courage and integrity to stand up for
what's best for your patients! Now only if state lawmakers could
demonstrate the same integrity by passing a medical marijuana bill this
session.

GARY STORCK

Director of Communications Is My Medicine Legal YET?

www.immly.org

Madison