Jason Glaspie did everything he could. The former Marine, a veteran of the first Iraq war, has endured numerous treatments for brain and spinal cancer that left him disabled and often in terrible pain. One thing that alleviates his suffering is smoking marijuana.
And so when it looked as though Wisconsin might join the 14 other states (and the District of Columbia) that allow the medicinal use of cannabis, Glaspie became an activist for the cause.
The Fitchburg resident attended hearings and events held in support of the proposed bill. He starred in a TV commercial on the issue and let his story be told in the press. And, in the end, like hundreds of other people in Wisconsin, he was bitterly disappointed. The bill died in the just-ended legislative session after state lawmakers failed to bring it forward for a vote.
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MADISON: Twelve Dane County Supervisors have signed on to District 6 Sup. John Hendrick’s resolution that would put an advisory referendum on support for passage of state medical marijuana legislation on the Nov. 2010 Dane County general election ballot.
The thirteen cosponsors of RES. 70, 10-11 Referendum On Medical Marijuana, comprise neatly one third of the 37-member panel. The thirteen, with District number preceding their names, are resolution sponsor and Dane County Board First Vice-Chair 6-John Hendrick, 17-Tom Stoebig, 31-Gerald Jensen, 13-Chuck Erickson, 4-Brett Hulsey, 36-Cynda Solberg, 11-Al Matano, 14-Melanie Hampton, 34-Patrick Miles, 2-Barbara Vedder, 37-Bob Salov, 5-Analiese Eicher and 29-Dave Ripp.
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MADISON: A draft resolution that would place a Medical Cannabis advisory referendum on the Dane County ballot for the November general election is being circulated by District 6 Supervisor John Hendrick for supervisors to sign on at the Thursday June 17 Dane County Board Meeting.
The resolution will be formally considered at a later date.
The draft resolution includes this passage:
“There are individuals suffering from serious illnesses who desperately need cannabis to manage their symptoms and they cannot find legal relief in Wisconsin. To further the public debate on whether the State of Wisconsin should allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, Dane County voters should have the opportunity to voice their opinion via a referendum.”
The resolution would place this question on the Dane County November general election ballot for voters to consider:
“Should the Wisconsin Legislature enact legislation allowing residents with debilitating medical conditions to acquire and possess marijuana for medical purposes if supported by their physician?”
Advocates are asking Dane County residents to contact their County Supervisor and ask them to sign on and support the “Referendum On Medical Marijuana” resolution.
Map of Dane County Supervisory Districts
Directory of Dane County Supervisors with contact information
Medical Cannabis advocates have begun collecting signatures in River Falls to place the referendum on the ballot there this November, according to Bob Hughes, an alderman who is leading the effort. Other locations are currently being looked at by local activists around the state, including Mondovi, Superior, Lodi, Milton, Edgerton and possibly La Crosse, and advocates are hoping to add more.
MADISON: On June 2, 2010, the Appleton Post Crescent published an editorial, “Bipartisanship becoming political flaw.”
Here is a portion of the Editorial:
The public typically likes the word “bipartisan.” It doesn’t like fighting between parties — especially when it takes over debate and gets in the way of Madison or Washington getting things done for us.
We say we like it when both sides work together for the public good, even if that has to include a compromise sometimes.
But what we say and how we act and vote are growing apart. Increasingly, moderates from both the Republican and the Democratic parties are losing power. Increasingly, just working with the “other party” poses political risks. — Appleton Popst Crescent. “”Editorial: Bipartisanship becoming political flaw, June 2, 2010.
The editorial inspired me to write the following, which was submitted to the Post-Crescent but not published, so here it is, revised for this venue:
As a longtime medical marijuana advocate and frequent Capitol visitor, I personally have observed how bipartisanship has withered away in the state legislature.
