Pubdate: Sat, 28 Dec 2013 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2013 Journal Sentinel Inc. Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/general/30627794.html Website: http://www.jsonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265 Author: Gary Storck MEDICAL CANNABIS STILL LANGUISH The bill mandating screening of newborns is not the only health care legislation that state Rep. Erik Severson (R-Star Prairie) and Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) are refusing to hear in committee ("Bills requiring critical newborn test stall," Dec. 22). Also sitting in both committees is the Jacki Rickert Medical Cannabis Act (JRMCA), which was introduced in October by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) and 16 co-sponsors, four senators and 12 assembly representatives. Wisconsinites overwhelmingly support medical cannabis legalization, yet Vukmir and Severson, both with health care backgrounds, are literally holding back the progress of medicine in our state by refusing a hearing. Vukmir has historically been extremely hostile to medical cannabis and put on quite the show at the most recent hearings on medical cannabis, on Dec. 15, 2009, when Democrats held the majority. As one who was born with both heart defects and glaucoma, I am offended that these bills, both with overwhelming public support, should languish and die in committee when so many Wisconsinites can directly and immediately benefit, from newborns to senior citizens. Gary Storck Is My Medicine Legal YET? Madison - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom