Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2010
Source: Baraboo News Republic  (WI)
Copyright: 2010 Capital Newspapers
Contact: http://www.wiscnews.com/speakup/form.php?pub=bnr
Website: http://www.wiscnews.com/bnr/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1002
Author: Gary Storck

REP. RIPP IS NOT NONPARTISAN

Fred Clark is a great representative, but I disagree with his saying
that Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) entered the legislature with a more
nonpartisan attitude than may have existed before, "Dells mayor to
challenge Clark in Assembly."

If so, why would Ripp refuse to support current state medical
marijuana legislation that would allow Wisconsinites with debilitating
medical conditions to use cannabis?

One of the bill's qualifying conditions is post-traumatic stress
disorder. Due to heavy deployments and two wars, millions of veterans
are suffering from PTSD. Rep. Ripp has many constituents who are
veterans with PTSD and find relief with cannabis instead of toxic
medications not suitable or safe for long-term use.

Recently, Rep. Ripp shrugged his shoulders when a 26-year-old vet who
served three tours in Iraq asked him if he cared that he had to risk
arrest to treat his service-related disability with medical cannabis.

Clearly, Rep. Ripp cannot be termed nonpartisan when he won't even
listen to the pleas of his own constituents, much less ever claim that
he supports veterans needs unconditionally.

And please, whoever your state legislators are, time is running out
for AB554/SB368 the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA).

Please call your legislators and ask them to support the JRMMA: (800)
362-9472.

Gary Storck, Madison, director of communications, Is My Medicine Legal
YET? 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D