MEDICINAL MARIJUANA HELPFUL TO CHRONIC ILLNESS

Editor: While the legislature has promptly addressed the crisis of chronic
wasting disease in deer by passing a law in special session that Gov.
McCallum is reportedly ready to sign, it has turned a blind eye to the
suffering of Wisconsinites chronically wasting away from illnesses like
cancer and AIDS who could benefit by having legal access to medical marijuana.

And cancer and AIDS represent just two subsets of the many illnesses that
respond favorably to marijuana's medicinal properties.

With the medical marijuana bill that was introduced in January bottled up
in committee, thanks to the cynical manipulations of Assembly Speaker Scott
Jensen, the chances of the legislature acting to protect sick and dying
Wisconsinites from arrest and jail if they choose to employ this therapy
are, at this point, just about nil.

Despite the fact a February 2002 Chamberlain Research Poll found over 80
percent of Wisconsinites support the passage of a bill, only a few
legislators have had the political courage to embrace the bill, with the
bulk of legislators too worried about getting re-elected to do the right
thing. "Silent Scott" McCallum, our erstwhile governor, has also been mute
on this issue, like most other issues.

While it looks like Wisconsin patients will be forced to wait another year
before the legislature takes up the issue again, there is a way to
guarantee that medical marijuana legislation will receive serious
consideration and that is by electing Ed Thompson governor. Thompson has
been outspoken in support of legalizing this option since he began
campaigning. While other candidates grudgingly give quiet support to
medical marijuana, others like McCallum and Tom Barrett either have no
position or a history of opposition.

With the state caught in a budget crisis and caucus scandal thanks to the
failure of Democrats and Republicans to put partisan issues aside and do
what is right for the state, it is time to send a strong message by
electing Libertarian Ed Thompson to return the state of Wisconsin to
government by the people, not special interests.

Gary Storck

Madison