Pubdate: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 Source: Racine Journal Times, The (WI) Copyright: 2003, The Racine Journal Times Contact: http://www.journaltimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659 Author: Gary Storck Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1613/a03.html MEDICAL MARIJUANA Thanks for your editorial, "Court raises hopes on medical marijuana" (Oct. 16), about the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to reject an appeal by the U.S. Dept. of Justice of a lower court decision prohibiting federal authorities from punishing doctors who discuss or recommend the medical use of marijuana to patients. The decision has now prompted a Wisconsin Republican Assembly member, Rep. Gregg Underheim, chairman of the Assembly's Health Committee, to propose legislation that would legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin. It is refreshing to see a member of the Republican Party demonstrate that medical marijuana is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan apparently does see medical marijuana as a partisan issue, as evidenced by his July vote against a medical marijuana bill in Congress, and his refusal to cosponsor the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, HR 2233, which would reclassify marijuana so doctors can prescribe it, and allow states like Wisconsin to set their own policies on medical marijuana. Ryan's lack of compassion for sick and dying Americans who can benefit from medical marijuana cannot easily be explained away by the congressman, without coming out looking like a hypocrite. Yet he seems perfectly content in his hypocrisy, and apparently has no qualms about withholding this tool from doctors and patients. With the Wisconsin legislature about to take up medical marijuana, now is the time for the silent majority - the over 80 percent of Americans who support medical marijuana - to speak up by contacting state and federal lawmakers and asking them to support medical marijuana bills. It's time to make them put the "represent" back in representatives by actually following the will of their constituents for a change. Gary Storck Director of Communications Is My Medicine Legal YET? www.immly.org - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake