Time to take closer look at Medical Marijuana

Source: The Daily Press (Ashland, WI)
Pubdate:(03-20-2000)
Website: http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/
Email: ashpress@win.bright.net
Fax: (715) 682-4699
Address: 122 West 3rd Street Post Office Box 313 Ashland, WI 54806

TIME TO TAKE CLOSER LOOK AT MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

Jacki Rickert of Mondavi is an unlikely drug abuser. The 98-pound woman,
who uses a wheelchair, suffers from a painful connective tissue
disorder.

But Rickert, who was using marijuana to cope with the pain of the
disease and improve her appetite (she weighed only 68 pounds before she
started using marijuana) made a mistake.

When she called police to tell report the theft of her legal,
doctor-prescribed morphine, from her home, she told them she had
marijuana in the house. The police then had little choice but to search
the house, seize the marijuana, and charge Rickert with possession.

Rickert, and others like her, are in a terrible position. They haven't
found any substance that works better to help control nausea and pain,
but it's not legal. They're forced to self-medicate and use something
that makes them criminals.

Some states have already made allowances for the medicinal use of
marijuana, and studies continue as to its use as a drug.

In Wisconsin, Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, has unsuccessfully tried to
introduce legislation legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, under
tightly controlled conditions.

It seems ridiculous that someone like Rickert, who can legally use
morphine, a potentially addictive drug that, when used properly, is
safe, can't use a substance like marijuana.

It's time to revisit medical marijuana use.