Letter to the Editor: Learn more about the medical marijuana bill in state legislature

TO THE EDITOR:

The Ripon and surrounding area could be alive again with hemp and cannabis plants once supporters and legislators have their current bills passed, but with under 20 days left this session, the plants future may just remain in the past for another legislative cycle.

Industrial Hemp should be grown again in Wisconsin (Assembly Bill 206 – sponsored by District 41 Representative Joan Ballweg and others). What if hemp can provide food, clothing, shelter, fuels and energy; could hemp help turn Wisconsin green and help heal our local economy? Can a revenue source for the state, county and county sheriff, Wisconsin municipalities, public schools and veteran affairs hospitals be developed from the hemp and cannabis plants?

As the legislation year comes to an end the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (Assembly Bill 554 / Senate Bill 368) is still alive and growing. Since the 1970’s the race has been on to duplicate nature with synthetic marijuana medicines and since the 1980’s marijuana based medicines have been available by doctors and patients state wide. I urge you to learn about research available, read the latest studies, understand the research obstruction behind medical cannabis and current forms of FDA medications available.

Please, find out where our legislation stands on the current Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (Assembly Bill 554) and Assembly Bill 206, be informed about what the Medical Marijuana Act is set to accomplish, learn about the opposition against both bills by contacting your District 14 Senator Luther Olsen (Rep) at 608-266-0751 and your District 41 State Assembly Representative Joan Ballweg at 888-266-8077 or confirm your legislator at the following site: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

There is overwhelming support from the public on both issues. The patients and economy in Wisconsin are still hurting, and I predict the cannabis plant could help heal both local economies and patients. I urge you to join NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and express your feelings to your elected officials.

— Jay Selthofner, Green Lake