Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jun 2002
Source: Racine Journal Times, The (WI)
Copyright: 2002, The Racine Journal Times
Contact:  http://www.journaltimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659
Author: Aaron Biterman

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

As many of your readers may have heard by now, Ed Thompson, Libertarian for 
Governor, supports significant reform of this nation's marijuana laws. What 
your readers may not know is that Wisconsin's members of Congress will have 
their own opportunity to weigh in on this subject when Congress debates, 
later this summer, whether to allow a medical marijuana initiative in the 
District of Columbia to take effect.

The Libertarian Party of Wisconsin strongly urges members of Congress to 
defend the will of the people in D.C. This is not simply a question about 
the effectiveness of medical marijuana; it is a matter of respecting the 
doctor-patient relationship as well as the idea of democracy. If the people 
of the District believe that doctors should be allowed to recommend 
marijuana to their patients and that patients should be allowed to use it, 
then Congress should not interfere.

Standing in the way of legal medical marijuana is one of the most egregious 
examples of the misguided War on Drugs. This is one of the reasons why the 
national Libertarian Party has targeted U.S. Representative Bob Barr (R-GA) 
- -- the primary opponent of medical marijuana in D.C. -- for defeat in his 
upcoming primary.

The War on Drugs is wasting billions of taxpayer dollars in order to deny 
Americans a measure of personal freedom.

While we do not expect the federal government to admit defeat and retreat 
completely from this battle, we wholeheartedly urge members of Congress to 
make an initial common sense concession and allow seriously ill patients in 
D.C. access to marijuana if they -- and their doctors -- believe is 
necessary for their well-being.

Aaron Biterman

Libertarian Party of Wisconsin

Brookfield, WI
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MAP posted-by: Beth