Pubdate: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 Source: Scene, The (Appleton, WI) Copyright: 2009 The Scene Newspaper Contact: http://scenenewspaper.com/company/email-the-editor.html Website: http://scenenewspaper.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4578 Author: Jim Lundstrom Referenced: The Assembly bill http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB-554.pdf Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Jacki+Rickert Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Gary+Storck Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - United States) CONSERVATIVES TROT OUT TIRED STORIES AT HEARING Spell check Rep. Leah Vukmir's name in a Word document, and "vomit" is the first suggestion that comes up for her last name. Witness her boneheaded testimony at the Dec. 15 Joint Committee on Health and you will want to vomit. In her lap. The subject was medical marijuana, or, specifically, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act, which was jointly introduced by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D. Middleton) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison). Pocan and now retired northwoods Sen. Frank Boyle introduced similar legislation in 2007, but it died in committee; Vukmir chaired the Assembly health committee at the time. Vukmir - a pediatric nurse who has represented the Wauwautosa constituency since 2002 and now is running for the 5th District Senate seat - was a vocal opponent of the first medical marijuana bill, but she outdid herself at the Dec. 15 reintroduction of the bill named for Mondovi resident Jacki Rickert (go here for her story: immly.org). medmarYou can view the entire 7-plus hour hearing on the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act before the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee on Health in the online archives of Wisconsin Eye (wiseye.org). Shortly after Rickert and Gary Storck give dramatic testimony about how marijuana helps their chronic conditions, Vukmir swoops down like the Wicked Witch of Wauwautosa at 43 minutes and 26 seconds into the hearing to accuse Pocan and Erpenbach of having ulterior motives. "I think what I resent most is this facade you are putting forth, using people who are dying of cancer and other illnesses as your shield, and I think it's something more than a ruse for you to move towards full legalization of marijuana. I wish you would just come out and admit that." Her statement is followed by gasps of disbelief, laughter and boos. She goes on to recite the same tired arguments against medical marijuana: there are legal alternatives; you have to smoke it and smoking is bad; FDA hasn't approved it; there's no research. You get tired of refuting that stuff, but conservatives trot it out like a broken record. Instead of talking about it, Vukmir and other doubters need to spend some time with ill people who find some modicum of relief through marijuana. It doesn't make them stupid or listless or absent like some of the prescription drugs they have to take for their conditions. It improves their apppetites AND lifts their spirits. What sort of nurse would deny a suffering person a simple weed that can ease their pain? There are many galvanzing moments at the hearing as people testify to the healing power of marijuana. There are also idiotic moments, such as Vukmir and Charles Wood, vice president of the Wisconsin Narcotics Officers Association and commander of the Waukesha County Metropolitan Drug Unit, who, naturally, is opposed because the concept of medical marijuana undermines his authority and could afffect funding of police drug forces. Well, at least the lines are drawn and those in support of medical marijuana in Wisconsin know who their enemies are. Gary Storck, one of the leading advocates for medical marijuana, said the next step is to get the bill through Senate and Assembly health committees. "Kanavas and Lazich are against in the Senate, Vukmir and likely Strachota in the Assembly committee," Storck said. "We aren't sure about the rest. People need to keep contacting their representatives and senators, writing letters, getting friends and family to do the same. We need to let lawmakers know we want this and are serious." n Assembly health members in our area: Amy Sue Vruwink, D.-70th Assembly District; 608-266-8366; 715- 652-2909; fax 608-282-3670; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Penny Bernard Schaber; D-57th Assembly District; 608-266-3070; fax 608-282-3657; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Senate health members in our area: Julie Lassa, D-24th Senate District; 608-266-3123; 715-342-0526; fax 608-267-6797; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake