IMMLY PRESS RELEASE Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act To Be Introduced Sept. 18

IMMLY PRESS RELEASE: Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act To Be Introduced Sept. 18

For immediate release Monday, September 17, 2007

IS MY MEDICINE LEGAL YET?: JACKI RICKERT MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT TO BE INTRODUCED SEPT. 18

Mondovi & Madison - Ten years ago in September 1997, Jacki Rickert led 15 medical marijuana patients on a 210-mile wheelchair "Journey for Justice" from Mondovi to Madison that reached the Capitol on Sept. 18, 1997. On Tuesday Sept. 18, 2007, Jacki will again be at the Capitol for the "Quest for Justice", this time after a brief "Last Mile" wheelchair march honoring fallen comrades, with other patients and supporters up State St. to the Capitol steps. The march leaves Library Mall at State and Lake at 12:30 pm, arriving about 1:10 pm. Upon arrival, Jacki will proceed to a 1:30 pm press conference in the Senate Parlor with Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Frank Boyle (D-Superior) and others, announcing the introduction of medical marijuana legislation named in her honor: "The Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act".

In 1991, Jacki, who suffers from several incurable medical conditions including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, was approved for participation in a small federal program that still supplies 5 living Americans with US government supplied medical marijuana. Jacki ultimately never received her medicine from the government when the program was suspended and then closed to new participants. One of the last people approved for the program, George McMahon, from Iowa, will be at the Capitol with Jacki and will join the press conference. Unlike Jacki and other Wisconsin patients in attendance, George will be able to legally use his medicine when the need arises.

Former gubernatorial candidate Ed Thompson from Tomah, a representative from the Wisconsin Nurses Association and patient-activist Gary Storck are also expected to join the press conference.

"Serious illness affects not just the patient, but also their families and friends. Watching a loved one suffer, and knowing the only medicine that helps is illegal is a cruel position far too many families face. Today, we are asking the legislature to put patients and families first. We have never asked for any special treatment, merely treatment," said Jacki Rickert.

Gary Storck, a glaucoma patient, said, "I met Jacki 10 years ago Sept. 18 and I've seen the difference medical cannabis makes in her life when she is able to access it. It's incomprehensible to me that in these 10 years, state lawmakers have passed hundreds of bills pushed by special interests, while failing to pass legislation protecting chronically and seriously ill patients that has overwhelming support among the people of Wisconsin."

Is My Medicine Legal YET? is a Mondovi and Madison based grass roots patient and caregiver organization dedicated to advancing public education about the medicinal benefits of marijuana. For further information contact Jacki Rickert or Gary Storck at 608.241.8922 or visit the IMMLY website at www.immly.org.

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Updated Sunday, September 16, 2007