MADISON: On Sept. 16, I published the first article in the series, “Profile in Cowardice” on the actions of WI State Assembly Rep. Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake). This time we’ll be taking another look at Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) who represents Wisconsin’s 47th Assembly district. The 47th sits in northern Dane County and southern Columbia County.
Ripp first won election to the seat, long represented by GOP moderate Eugene Hahn, a supporter of industrial hemp and medical cannabis, by a 30-vote margin in a recount in 2008. Ripp is again facing Trish O’Neil, the opponent he defeated in the 2008 recount. Ripp’s Assembly bio notes he is a farmer and small business owner and will turn 49 this November. It does not list any military service.
During the 2009-2010 session, a former US Marine Sergeant who had served three tours in Iraq, Erin Silbaugh, repeatedly contacted Ripp. Silbaugh, suffering from severe PTSD, asked Ripp to support AB554/SB368 the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA). The JRMMA specifically lists PTSD as a qualifying condition. Only the state of New Mexico currently explicitly includes PTSD as a qualifying condition. Had the JRMMA passed, Wisconsin would have been a leader in making medical cannabis therapy available to those suffering post traumatic stress.
MADISON: More than 25 medical cannabis patients and supporters turned out to make it clear that many Wisconsinites remain very unhappy about State Sen. Julie Lassa’s decision to join Republican opponents on the Senate Health committee to kill AB554/SB368 the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA). Her action means that medical marijuana bills have died in Wisconsin legislative committees for at least the last 7 sessions or 14 years despite overwhelming public support.
Protesters lined up in front of the Madison Club and the adjacent Hilton Hotel with signs. A sign reading “Honk for Medical Marijuana” was popular with passing motorists. Honking, sometimes by several cars at a time, frequently punctuated the evening air
Support for medical marijuana was frequently expressed by attendees passing by on their way inside. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) offered a verbal “honk” for medical marijuana. A young woman on her way inside was asked by a patient to ask Sen. Lassa about mmj. When the woman later exited , she gave a thumbs up, indicating that medical marijuana was a topic both inside and out.
The Badger Herald published an article today with a quote from Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, saying “medicinal marijuana is not a big issue in the November elections”. McCabe was also quoted as saying, “I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue unless the candidates are smoking it,” McCabe said. “The economy and jobs are the dominant issues.”
MADISON: Sunny skies and pleasant fall-like temperatures combined with low winds to bring thousands of marchers to the annual Harvest Fest parade Sunday.
Smoke billowed over blocks of marchers making the annual trek from Library Mall at one end of State St. to the Wisconsin State Capitol on the other. Longtime Harvest Fest organizer Ben Masel estimated that around 3200 people paraded this year. Not only were crowd numbers up, but attendees seemed very enthusiastic about flexing the activist muscles gained in the fight for medical cannabis in Wisconsin.
Before heading to the Capitol, attendees warmed up with live music from Venice Gashouse Trolley and Nama Rupa. Rocker-T, returning to Harvest Fest from the West Coast, joined Nama Rupa onstage part way through their set. Speakers included Ben Masel, Jim Miller, Jacki Rickert and Gary Storck, Charmie Gholson of the Michigan-based Midwest Cultivator, SAFER’s Mason Tvert, T. A. Sedlak and State Supreme Court candidate Joel Winnig. Sedlak reprised his Saturday speech about having to leave Wisconsin because of a recent cannabis bust and the need to change the law so people do not have to live in fear as well as the brain drain cannabis prohibition is triggering.
MADISON: Thousands of people attended day one of Madison’s two day 40th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival Saturday despite chilly winds and mostly gray skies. The festival, which began in 1971, entered its fifth decade this weekend. The festival continues Sunday – attendees will return to Library Mall after 12:30 for live music and speakers before the traditional parade to the State Capitol at the other end of State St. The parade is slated to depart Library Mall at 3:15pm for a 4pm rally on the State St. steps of the Capitol with a concert by the Milwaukee area reggae band Recalcitrant.
On Saturday afternoon, in between a selection of Wisconsin bands featuring a number of musical genres, speaker after speaker denounced marijuana prohibition from every angle. Among those speaking was Jacki Rickert, namesake of the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA), which failed to make it out of committee despite strong legislative support, overwhelming public support and an 8-hour public hearing in Dec. 2009. The legislator who stopped the JRMMA in its tracks, State Sen. Julie Lassa (D-Milladore), who joined the Senate Health committee Republicans in opposing the bill and killing it in committee was a frequent topic.
