Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 Source: Marshfield News-Herald, The (WI) Copyright: 2004 Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers Contact: http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2236 Author: Gary Storck MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS ANOTHER OPTION Editor: Nelson Moffat makes some good points with his letter, "Death with Dignity Act needed in state" (June 5). But before Wisconsin considers legalizing this option, it should first legalize medical marijuana, because it has the potential to treat symptoms and improve the quality of life to the degree that someone might want to give life a chance. Conventional drugs and other treatments all come with side effects, and some patients cannot tolerate them. Marijuana offers another option. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has also recently ruled in favor of patients using medical marijuana. It has become clear that legal medical marijuana is now a matter of if rather than when. For the sake of sick and dying state residents who need medical marijuana today, state lawmakers need to make passing a state medical marijuana law an urgent priority when they reconvene next January. In the interim, voters must educate themselves as to where candidates stand and vote accordingly this fall so that the legislative leadership does not again kill the bill as they have every legislative session since 1997. Gary Storck, Director of communications Is My Medicine Legal YET? Madison - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin