A Little Heard-of Public Hearing

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL MISSES THE NEWS

In the conservative climate of the state Capitol it certainly is a
rare day when legalizing marijuana for medical purposes gets a public
hearing. But it did, for a bill sponsored by Republican Gregg
Underheim of Oshkosh that would make Wisconsin the 11th state to
permit the seriously ill to use marijuana with a doctor's advice. A
statewide poll in July found 75.7% of respondents supported the measure.

Since the public hearing received absolutely no media coverage in
these parts, here are some highlights.

. Thomas Rayson, a doctor from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton,
explained that marijuana can help chemotherapy patients take care of
the nausea and vomiting from radiation and also helps the terminally
ill.

"It is simply cruel and irrational to criminalize individuals for
using potentially life-saving treatment" if prescribed by physicians,
Rayson said. "It is out of ignorance and fear that this medication is
not offered."

. Mitch Earlywine, a psychology professor at New York State University
in Albany and author of a marijuana usage book, said legalizing
medical marijuana does not increase recreational use, which he
acknowledged may have been a concern to members of the Assembly health
committee. He also said synthetic marijuana pills are problematic,
since people with nausea and vomiting have trouble swallowing them.

. Gina Dennik-Champion, executive director of the Wisconsin Nurses
Association, said marijuana can benefit those undergoing chemo, as
well as those with glaucoma or AIDS. "Marijuana should be able to be
used as a possible option for patients when conventional medications
do not work or have negative side effects," she said.