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Following the lead of neighboring states Minnesota and Michigan, Wisconsin lawmakers introduced a bill Monday that could legalize marijuana for medical use.
At a press conference Monday, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, introduced the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, which would allow people suffering from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS to use cannabis as relief for pain associated with the diseases.
The bill also lists post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy as conditions that could allow patients to receive prescriptions for cannabis.
The bill would allow for the distribution of up to 3 ounces of marijuana to individual patients from “compassion centers” throughout the state or would allow patients to grow up to 12 marijuana plants on their property for medicinal use.
According to Erpenbach, the legislation singles out especially debilitating diseases as qualifications for a medical marijuana prescription, but does not limit the allowance to those illnesses. He said the state’s Department of Health Services will compile a list of additional ailments that could qualify for cannabis use.
Erpenbach said there are restrictions included in the bill that will prevent patients from driving or operating heavy machinery while under the influence of medical marijuana.
He added medicinal cannabis is still the best way to find any source of relief from pain, stimulating appetite and holding food throughout serious illness.
Pocan said the bill is part of healthcare reforms currently taking effect across the country. He added the distribution centers will be nonprofit institutions.
“This issue is first and foremost about compassion,” Pocan said. “A patient and their doctor should have as many options as possible available when treating a patient’s condition.”
Pocan said he expects Gov. Jim Doyle to sign the bill into law as long as the requirement for a prescription stays in the bill. Doyle previously told the Capital Times he is not opposed to the idea of using marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Julie Laundrie, spokesperson for Erpenbach, said the bill will ensure medical marijuana is distributed responsibly and not for recreational purposes.
“It’s a decision between an individual and their doctor,” Laundrie said. “It’s not going to be an easy process at all.”
Laundrie added the legislation will help many Wisconsin hospice patients.
Kimber Liedl, spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the Senate Republican Caucus has not yet discussed the bill, but Fitzgerald currently opposes the idea of medical marijuana.
However, she said Fitzgerald is still investigating the matter and reviewing research on the use of marijuana for medicinal practices.
“[Fitzgerald] is open to looking at some research about the issue,” Liedl said.
Medicinal marijuana has already been legalized in 13 states, while 17 states are considering legislation that would legalize its use. According to documents from Pocan’s office, Illinois is considering similar legislation, while Minnesota’s Legislature passed a bill that was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Michigan voters allowed medical marijuana in a statewide referendum last year.
Pocan said the bill will be considered in a Dec. 15 hearing for the Assembly Committee on Public Health.
IP hash: 90dfee95
I’ve commented before on this BH…stop using the word “weed” in your articles! You delegitimize the MMJ (medical marijuana) movement when you use it and words like that refer to MMJ solely as a dirty drug. Serious scientific research on the benefits of MMJ in treating a number of ailments has gone on at universities worldwide and it will be only a matter of time before most realize it (correctly, I might add) to have merit as serious medicine - as serious and broad in scope of treatable issues as drugs like aspirin or penicillin. I would sincerely hope that the UW, this world-renowned research institution I have the privilege to attend, will be at the forefront of MMJ research and growth in this state should this legislation pass.
I very much applaud Sen. Erpenbach and Rep. Pocan for including provisions against patients driving under the influence or participating in other dangerous behavior while medicating. With responsible legislation like this and the support of state and local governments, I see MMJ legalization as the best thing to happen to our state in a long time, and a step in the right direction for decriminalization of marijuana for responsible adult use.
My only question is: where and when will the first dispensary open? Madison? Milwaukee? Green Bay?
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You are absolutely right about the language that be should used when referring to this plant. One point of contention however, marijuana is also a form of slang that should really be avoided in effort of keeping our discussions more precise. The only proper word for referring to this plant would be it’s scientific name, or at least a shortened form of it, Cannabis. Oh course, many people, who have honestly experienced its efficacy in pain mitigation would none so gratuitously refer to it as….Miracle, or Godsend.
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Well past time to re-legalize cannabis.
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Maybe allow private suppliers of cannabis, with a license from the state, instead of the patients being able to grow their own. I can only imagine the results if an old lady grows cannabis in her vegetable garden. Robberies and a more widespread illicit trade, for instance.
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Great Comedy!
An article about legalizing smoking marijuana… on the same page as an article about banning smoking on the UM campus and why UW should do it here! Is this Liberal Dislexia?
Really - Great Comedy!!!
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You don’t necessarily have to smoke the plant matter itself to get the medical benefit. In fact, patients would most likely not smoke it on account of the conditions they are treating. Topical THC sprays, infused oils, sublingual applications, tinctures, vaporized forms, teas, and even edible options are available for those who either cannot or choose not to smoke.
TL;DR
You don’t have to smoke it at all EVER to get the benefits.
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The point is, liberals feel smoking cigarettes create the end of the world while smoking marijuana should be all well and good to prevent the end of the world. Hilarious hypocrisy.
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Numerous studies have proved a causal relationship between smoking cigarettes and getting lung cancer. The same cannot be said for marijuana. You’re a fucking idiot if you think smoking cigarettes and smoking weed are even comparable.
Now smoke my pole.
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Cigarettes kill more than half a million people in the U.S. alone, Cannabis, on the other hand, has killed no one. Shut the fuck up with your perceived comical fallacies. You have obviously been spoon fed lies your entire life when it comes to cannabis. There is no humor in legalizing the most medicinal plant on this planet. People are suffering and we are fighting a war against a plant that has endless healing properties, on behalf of the giant pharmaceutical companies. Open your eyes you fuckin’ peasant.
And also, smoke my pole as well.
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The marijuana debate is not just about medicine. It’s time to drive a wedge between the criminal drug dealers and our kids. Licensing, taxing, and regulating the distribution of marijuana, whether for medical or other purposes, is the surest way to put the criminal drug dealers out of business and protect our children from the money-hungry criminal element. It�s time to protect our children and take the marijuana business out of the hands of criminals. License, tax, and regulate the marijuana business, medical or otherwise. And while we�re at it, let�s implement a personal cultivation permit. Limit the size of the growing area or the number of plants, and put a small user-fee on it to cover administrative costs, something like a fishing license. Maybe high enough that there will be a little something left over for education or fixing the roads.
One possibility:$100 per year for a permit to cultivate a dozen plants. It’s a win-win.
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YEAH LETS TAX THE SHIT OUT OF PPLS MEDICIN SO YOUR HUMMER DONT HIT A POT HOLE. ppl like you have no clue. the point of making it leagle is so we are not ripped off by dealers. if i do not pay tax on my merck or pfizer meds why is this one different? the pharmasudical companies make millions while paying no taxes. every penny they are supost to pay gets writen off or tax credited, so why should i pay a tax that a true drug dealer does not pay? when merck and pfizer start paying taxes then talk about fees on mmj untill then shut the f*^& up because it already cost patients growing there own enough money to grow it.
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As host of a compassion club here in Michigan, I have had the pleasure of seeing a person who has lived in pain for years being introduced to medical cannabis. To see the pain drift off their bodies after a few innocent puffs of this amazing healing herb and knowing that soon they will get off the opiate based medicine that has been literally killing them, is a wonder. I don’t need scientific research to show me that cannabis therapies work, I see it on a daily basis.
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I think that it is about time the government got their head out of their ass and realized that mmj is a virtual godsend to those of us who suffer with fiber myalsia each and every day of our life. The drugs they now have me on(vicadin) is very addictive and it loses it’s effectiveness after a period of time so they are forced to increase the doseage. Not to mention the cost!!! I hope they legalize it soon.