On Monday, November 16, 2009, AB554/SB368, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA) will take another huge step forward when bill sponsors Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) and Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) formally announce the introduction of their legislation at a State Capitol press conference.
Scheduled for 11:30am in the Capitol's ornate Senate Parlor, the event will also feature the JRMMA namesake, IMMLY Founder Jacki Rickert, and IMMLY director of communications, Gary Storck. Both Rickert and Storck are long time advocates for medical cannabis in Wisconsin. Also in attendance will be Wisconsin patients who support medical cannabis as well as representatives of health care and community groups that support the JRMMA.
While the Wisconsin Legislature passed the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act in 1981, and then-Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus signed it into law in 1982, it never reached its potential. While 30 plus US states passed similar laws, the federal government refused to share its monopoly on legal medical marijuana supplies, rendering the laws symbolic. Attempts to pass a comprehensive law died in committee every session from 1997 to 2008. It was only after a change in legislative leadership in Wisconsin in the Nov. 2008 elections that the JRMMA was able to progress to the point where it has strong support in the Legislature and a good chance of passage.
Information about public hearings is also expected to be revealed at Monday's press conference. For updates on the progress of the JRMMA, watch this column, and to learn more on how to help pass the JRMMA, visit MadisonNORML.org, JRMMA.org and IMMLY.org.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Author: Gary Storck
Contact: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website:State Capitol press conference launches Wisconsin?s Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act
Scheduled for 11:30am in the Capitol's ornate Senate Parlor, the event will also feature the JRMMA namesake, IMMLY Founder Jacki Rickert, and IMMLY director of communications, Gary Storck. Both Rickert and Storck are long time advocates for medical cannabis in Wisconsin. Also in attendance will be Wisconsin patients who support medical cannabis as well as representatives of health care and community groups that support the JRMMA.
While the Wisconsin Legislature passed the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Act in 1981, and then-Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus signed it into law in 1982, it never reached its potential. While 30 plus US states passed similar laws, the federal government refused to share its monopoly on legal medical marijuana supplies, rendering the laws symbolic. Attempts to pass a comprehensive law died in committee every session from 1997 to 2008. It was only after a change in legislative leadership in Wisconsin in the Nov. 2008 elections that the JRMMA was able to progress to the point where it has strong support in the Legislature and a good chance of passage.
Information about public hearings is also expected to be revealed at Monday's press conference. For updates on the progress of the JRMMA, watch this column, and to learn more on how to help pass the JRMMA, visit MadisonNORML.org, JRMMA.org and IMMLY.org.
News Hawk- Weedpipe 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner.com
Author: Gary Storck
Contact: Examiner.com
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website:State Capitol press conference launches Wisconsin?s Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act
