80% WOULD LEGALIZE POT FOR SICK IN POLL

A statewide poll released today shows that 80 percent of Wisconsin
residents support legalizing marijuana for medical use.

The polling was done by Chamberlain Research Consultants and commissioned
by medical marijuana advocates.

The poll found that 80.3 percent of respondents said they "support the
Wisconsin state Legislature passing a law to allow seriously ill or
terminally ill patients use marijuana for medical purposes if supported by
their physician." Sixteen percent were opposed and 3.7 percent had no
opinion or refused to answer. The margin of error was about 4 percentage
points.

Chamberlain Research surveyed 600 people over age 18 in all 72 counties of
the state.

Gina Dennik-Champion, R.N., executive director of the Wisconsin Nurses
Association, said, "WNA is hopeful that the results of this poll will spur
legislators to rethink their position on patient access to medical marijuana."

A bill was introduced in January by Reps. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Frank
Boyle, D-Superior, that would allow medical marijuana use.

"I can't understand why it has taken the politicians in Madison so long to
allow sick and suffering patients to receive what many doctors think is the
best medicine," Ed Thompson, the Libertarian candidate for governor, said
in a telephone interview.

"Doctors and patients know more than bureaucrats, and the people of
Wisconsin are behind medical marijuana."

All regions of Wisconsin favored medical marijuana, though support was
highest in Dane County, where 91.7 percent said yes. In Milwaukee the
percentage was 81.9 percent, and the Fox Valley area came in at 79.6
percent. The lowest percentage was in the northwest, where 70.7 percent
supported such legislation.

Democrats supported medical marijuana at 84.2 percent, compared with 78.2
percent of Republicans.

All age groups supported the measure, with 18- to 24-year-olds having the
highest percentage and those over 65 the lowest.

A total of 80.3 percent of those identifying themselves as professionals
answered yes, almost exactly the same as blue-collar workers, with a
percentage of 80.1 percent. More women (82.1 percent) than men (78.5
percent) supported use.