Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2002 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.captimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Author: Gary Storck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

THOMPSON COULD PULL OFF SURPRISE

I was sorry to see The Capital Times did not cover the Libertarian Party of 
Wisconsin's convention that was held at the Alliant Center in Madison on 
April 13.

Cap Times readers would have been interested in Republican New Mexico Gov. 
Gary Johnson's well-spoken and sensible call for the legalization of 
marijuana and adoption of harm reduction strategies in dealing with other 
drug use. Another high point was Ed Thompson's impassioned support for 
allowing sick and dying Wisconsinites to use marijuana as medicine and 
lauding the work of his Buffalo County campaign director, Jacki Rickert, a 
well-known medical marijuana activist.

And it was interesting to hear both the Republican Johnson and the Democrat 
John "Sly" Sylvester endorse Thompson.

At this point, Thompson seems like the only candidate with the courage to 
take on the tough issues and address the budget meltdown and caucus 
scandals that the two-party system has inflicted on this state.

With grass-roots support growing among voters from college students to the 
elderly, this could be the year of a "November surprise," not unlike when 
Jesse Ventura scored his upset in Minnesota. Thompson represents a real 
alternative to the partisan train wreck that has paralyzed state government 
and left ordinary Wisconsinites with little respect or confidence in the 
people they trusted to lead them.

Gary Storck, Madison
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MAP posted-by: Ariel