Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report: Wisconsin Bill Would Give People with AIDS Legal Access to Marijuana
KAISER DAILY HIV/AIDS REPORT
A free service of kaisernetwork.org
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/hiv
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Thursday, December 13, 2001
ACROSS THE NATION
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1. Massachusetts Legislature to Vote on Budget Restoring $2.5 Million in
AIDS Spending
2. Wisconsin Bill Would Give People with AIDS Legal Access to Marijuana
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2. Wisconsin Bill Would Give People with AIDS Legal Access to Marijuana
A bill introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature Tuesday would allow state
residents with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and some other diseases to legally grow
and smoke marijuana with their doctor's consent, the St. Paul Pioneer Press
reports. Not-for-profit organizations would also be able to grow and sell
medical marijuana while being regulated by Wisconsin's Department of Health
and Family Services. Many people with AIDS and other diseases use marijuana
to manage pain and increase their appetites, the Pioneer Press reports.
Marijuana is "the only thing that allows me to function normally," glaucoma
and arthritis patient Gary Storck, who has been illegally using marijuana for
medicinal purposes for 30 years, said. The bill, introduced by state Reps.
Frank Boyle (D) and Mark Pocan (D), has also gained support from Libertarian
gubernatorial candidate Ed Thompson, who is the brother of HHS Secretary
Tommy Thompson. While the State Medical Society of Wisconsin supports
legalizing clinical trials to test marijuana's medical efficacy, it does not
support legalization for medical use because of "potential risks, including
increased addiction," Dr. Michael Miller, former Dane County Medical Society
president, said. "We know [medical marijuana] works, but we need proof in
the scientific community," Wisconsin Nurses Association representative
Tiffany Richards said, adding that clinical research would ultimately
"ensure" legalization of marijuana for medical purposes (Wyatt, St. Paul
Pioneer Press, 12/12). Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes has been a
"perennial loser" in the Wisconsin Assembly and the bill faces "substantial
opposition" in the Legislature, the AP/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports
(AP/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12/12). The bill is modeled after a similar
measure signed into law in Hawaii last year. In seven other states, voters
have approved ballot initiatives permitting medical marijuana use (St. Paul
Pioneer Press, 12/12). In May, however, the Supreme Court ruled in a
California case that "medical necessity" is not a valid defense against
federal law prohibiting marijuana distribution (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report,
5/15).
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© 2001 by National Journal Group Inc. and Kaiser Family Foundation. All
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