IMMLY PRESS RELEASE: Wisconsin Medical Marijuana Activists Laud U.S. Supreme Court Decision To Uphold Physician's Rights To Discuss Medical Marijuana With Patients
For immediate release Tuesday, October 14, 2003
WISCONSIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVISTS LAUD U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION TO UPHOLD PHYSICIAN'S RIGHTS TO DISCUSS MEDICAL MARIJUANA WITH PATIENTS
Madison & Mondovi - Members of the group, Is My Medicine Legal YET? (www.immly.org) had high praise today for the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear an appeal of
a lower court decision prohibiting the federal government from punishing doctors who discuss or recommend the medical use of marijuana with patients in the case Conant v. Walters.
IMMLY Founder Jacki Rickert, whose late physician gained approval for her to obtain federal medical marijuana supplies to treat several painful and severe medical conditions, only to have the government close the program to new applicants in 1992 without supplying her with any marijuana, said, "They've done the right thing, the only ethical choice there could possibly be, by letting doctors be doctors and politicians be
politicians". Rickert also noted, "This decision means hope for Wisconsin patients who can benefit from medical marijuana. And we hope this is the beginning of the end for the federal government's lies and hypocrisy that have kept this medicine from so many of our fellow citizens, and a new beginning for respecting patients and physicians rights."
Gary Storck, IMMLY's director of communications and a glaucoma patient whose doctor first documented marijuana's beneficial effects during an eye exam 31 years ago, stated, "The Court's pronouncement finally ends a chilling attack on the First Amendment. With Wisconsin lawmakers again about to take up the issue of medical marijuana, this decision removes a significant impediment to Wisconsin patients finding physicians willing to discuss or recommend the medical use of marijuana. This decision sends a strong and very welcome message that big brother has no place in our doctor's offices."
For further information contact Jacki Rickert at 715.926.4950 or Gary Storck at 608.241.8922.
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