Marijuana Policy Project

Are Wisconsinites ready to allow marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes? Recent poll results suggest state residents are, and Rep. Gregg Underheim agrees.

"It is clear the public is way ahead of politicians," Underheim said. "The public is ready to accept the use of marijuana as a medical tool."

Marijuana Policy Project, a national marijuana policy reform organization, released results this month showing Wisconsin residents support medical marijuana legislation by a margin of greater than four to one. Support was strong in all age groups and all political affiliations, the results stated.

The results were released at a time when Underheim is actively working toward legislation to make medicinal marijuana legal in Wisconsin. A bill has been drafted and is currently being tweaked to make it workable in the state, Underheim said.

"The bill is in the process of finalization so we can have a hearing," he said. "The plan is to have a hearing in November."

Essentially, he said, the bill would make it legal for patients with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses to use marijuana medicinally with a physicians recommendation.

Bruce Mirken, director of communications for Marijuana Policy Project, said the organization is pleased with the results of the poll, but not surprised.

"The support is very strong," he said. "It's interesting how support cuts across age groups and party affiliations. People mistakenly think of this as a liberal issue, but it's really not."

Mirken said the organization, which tries to bring about sensible marijuana laws on both a state and federal level, has been working with Underheim during the process of introducing his bill into legislation.

"Our current marijuana laws hurt people. They cause harm rather than prevent it," Mirken said. "The most glaring example is laws that subject seriously ill patients to arrest or jail who absolutely without a doubt benefit medically from marijuana use."

Underheim said patients who are undergoing chemotherapy are typically those who benefit from medicinal marijuana use because it enhances the productivity of legally prescribed pain medications, which allows the patient to be less dependant on pain-killers. Marijuana can also increase appetite, which is greatly diminished during chemotherapy and also in people who are on medications for the AIDS virus, he said.

Underheim said a long process awaits before such legislation might pass, however.

"First the bill has to pass the (Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long-term Care Committee), and there's no guarantee that all the members will go for it," Underheim said. "Then it has to pass the Assembly. It's really going to be up to the public to support this and contact their legislators."

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Poll Question: Under Wisconsin law, the use of marijuana is illegal, including for medical purposes. Currently in Wisconsin Legislature, there is a bill pending that would allow people with cancer, multiple sclerosis, or other serious illnesses to use marijuana for medical purposes, as long as their physician approves. Do you support or oppose this bill?

POLL RESULTS

Overall: 75.7 percent support, 18.2 percent oppose, 6.2 percent other

Poll results divided by political affiliation and age

Republican: 68 percent support, 24.4 percent oppose, 6.4 percent other

Democrat: 83.9 percent support, 10.9 percent oppose, 5.2 percent other

Age 18 to 24: 75.4 percent support, 17.5 oppose, 7 percent other

Age 25 to 34: 73.4 percent support, 20.3 percent oppose, 6.4 percent other

Age 35 to 44: 82.2 percent support, 11.9 percent oppose, 5.9 percent other

Age 45 to 54: 71.7 percent support, 22.8 percent oppose, 5.5 percent other

Age 55 to 64: 83.5 percent support, 11.8 percent oppose, 4.7 percent other

Age 65 and over: 70.2 percent support, 21.8 percent oppose, 8.1 percent other

(c) 2005 Gannett Co., Inc.

Newshawked-by: Kirk
Posted-by: Richard Lake