Pubdate: Mon, 21 May 2007 Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ) Copyright: 2007 Ocean County Observer Contact: http://www.ocobserver.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1212 Author: Sarah Webster, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) AN ALTERNATIVE TO PAIN Marchers Want to Legalize Medical Marijuana SEASIDE HEIGHTS - If someone would get better by eating rocks, Jason Scheurer said he would give out rocks. Instead, Scheurer, a Libertarian candidate for the Legislature in the 14th District, was marching yesterday in support of the use of medical marijuana. Yesterday, the Libertarian Party and the Coalition of Medical Marijuana embarked on their planned march across the Route 37 bridge to Trenton. Their cause, Walk Across New Jersey, is to deliver petitions and ensure Libertarian candidates are on the ballot this coming November elections. "It is about time that we send a message to Trenton that the Libertarian Party can make a difference," said Lou Jasikoff, chair for the Libertarian Party. "As we add to our candidates, we'll bring national attention to what the Libertarian Party is and what we have to offer." "Our message is that the time has come for open and honest government in Trenton," said Jasikoff. "If the current legislators neither have the heart nor the courage to pass legislature to legalize the medical use of marijuana, we have the candidates that will. It's the right thing to do. We believe that people shouldn't have to go to jail to get medicine. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel here; we're just looking for the same government our forefathers wanted." Jim Miller woke up this morning and prepared the wheelchair for the walk. His wife Cheryl suffered from multiple sclerosis until her death in June 2003. This will be Miller's third walk to Trenton for medical marijuana. He said the bill, which he said had 86 percent public support, was currently stalled in the Senate Health Committee. "We want people to see us walk today and know that we are trying to get something done," Miller said. Mike Kessler from Toms River is a burn victim from a motorcycle accident in 1986. He is going to walk as far as he can. He believes marijuana would be a safer alternative to pain treatment than the current opiates prescribed. Carol Mewherter of Brick suffers from multiple sclerosis and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. She has also been in two major car accidents. She heard about the walk in the newspaper and came out to show support. "This would help everyone who has medical conditions, to legalize marijuana would benefit us all," said Mewherter. "Maybe I wouldn't have to take eight medications a day and get shots if it were legal. I heard that marijuana is a better alternative to taking current medications." Miller said every step is important. "It's a long walk to Trenton and if somewhere along the way we get another multiple sclerosis sufferer, such as Carol Mewherter, to come out and join us, it's worth the walk. "We're walking over the Seaside Heights bridge grid and I have a feeling Carol will not be able to walk that far and she may need to sit in Cheryl's wheelchair," Miller said. "I will be proud to have her sit in it, and I will push her rest of the way." Roy Babecki from Fords has a mother who suffers from glaucoma. His mother, who never smoked or drank, has had operations and laser surgery. "The last thing I would want to see is my mother smoke dope on the couch," Babecki said. "But I have asked doctors about medical marijuana. They told me that they knew smoking marijuana would reduce eye pressure, but they could not prescribe it. It shouldn't be up to the Legislature to decide what is best for my mother. The choice for prescribing marijuana should be a medical decision, not a political one." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake