Is My Medicine Legal YET? Founder Jacki Rickert Hails Proposed Wisconsin Medicinal Marijuana Legislation

For Immediate Release December 11, 2001 

[Mondovi & Madison, WI] Jacki Rickert, the founder of Is My Medicine Legal YET? (www.immly.org), a Mondovi and Madison Wisconsin-based group that supports legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana, is very pleased that Wisconsin legislators Rep. Frank Boyle (D-Superior) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) will be announcing their plans to introduce bipartisan medicinal marijuana legislation in the Wisconsin Legislature at a press conference Tuesday December 11th at 11:00 A.M. in the Assembly Parlor at the State Capitol in Madison.

Rickert, who is unable to attend the news conference, issued the following statement in response to the announcement.

Legalization of Rx Marijuana (Cannabis) in Wisconsin would allow sick and/or dying patients a "quality" of life rather than merely existing. Just being able to eat, maintain weight, reduce muscle spasticity, etc. Giving back dignity to those in need of this miraculous medicine is a huge step FORWARD.

In these last few months, America has seen and felt the ugliness of terror. Our lives, families, and beliefs are the things we hold dear and sacred. With fear and terror lurking, we seem to spend more time looking over our shoulders, always on full alert, rather than spending loving, quality time with friends and loved ones. The time we have on this earth is precious. We all want to live life to the fullest, not having to worry if our doors are going to be rammed in, or if our lives and the lives of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors are going to be the next victims of fear or war. This botanical war that makes us weigh the scales of right and wrong, harmony or fear, takes away harmony and the chance to concentrate on healing and living, rather than existing within hidden bars. I don't consider myself a criminal nor will I ever consider myself a criminal. Yet, I'm imprisoned in my body and my bars, my ribcage.

I thank God for these legislators who have seen and heard the truth. They will always have my respect for trying to help do what is right, rather than cower behind lies. Please call, write, email, fax, or visit your state representatives about this issue. Tomorrow it could be you or a loved one in need!

Thank you,

Jacki Rickert

Founder of IMMLY

Rickert, a longtime Wisconsin medicinal marijuana patient/activist, is afflicted with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Advanced Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, two serious illnesses with debilitating symptoms, leaving her wheelchair-bound and suffering chronic unrelenting pain. Currently, she weighs less than 90 pounds, but was down to 68 pounds before she began utilizing marijuana to stimulate her appetite and control nausea from conventional medications. She found a compassionate doctor who after exhausting every available option agreed that marijuana offered significant benefits for her and worked hard to get her approved for participation in a federal program that still supplies 7 patients with 300 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes each month. In 1990, her application was approved but federal authorities reneged on their promise, suspending the program in 1991 and then closing it to new participants in 1992.

In September 1997, Rickert led a 210-mile “Journey for Justice” with other medicinal marijuana patients from Mondovi to Madison, for the introduction of an earlier medicinal marijuana bill sponsored by Rep. Boyle and then Assembly Rep., now U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. That bill never made it out of committee.

In March 2000, police responding to a theft complaint by Rickert conducted a ten-hour overnight search of her home, seizing small quantities of alleged medicinal marijuana and other items. Rickert was never charged.

On April 10, 2001, Rickert testified at an informational hearing on medicinal marijuana held by the Wisconsin State Assembly’s State Affairs Committee chaired by Rep. Rick Skindrud (R-Mt. Horeb).

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