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Wisconsin Green Party
www.wisconsingreenparty.org
June 7th, 2005
Contacts:
Arif Khan, Chair, Libertarian Party of Wisconsin, 920-251-0844
Rolf Lindgren, Press Secretary, Libertarian Party of Wisconsin,
608-279-5889
Jill Bussiere, Co-Chair, Wisconsin Green Party,
920.388.0529, cell 920.255.2175
spokespersons@wisconsingreenparty.org
Wisconsin Libertarian and Green Parties Decry Supreme Court Ruling on
Medical Marijuana
The Wisconsin Libertarian and Green Parties noted
today that the recent Supreme Court ruling on medical marijuana was a
victory for pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies, but a loss
to the well being of United States citizens, by impinging upon their
rights to pursue life and liberty.
"This ruling is not only a blow to the elderly,
sick and terminally ill, but also represents the further decline of
states' rights," said Arif Khan, Chair of the Libertarian Party of
Wisconsin. "It is important that Wisconsinites do not minimize this
issue by believing that it only affects 'pot smokers' as it is a much
deeper debate involving the intrusion of the federal government upon the
states, the power of the prescription drug lobby, and the decline of
individual freedom."
Jill Bussiere, Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Green Party
agreed, adding, "It doesn't make any sense to prohibit an available
and affordable remedy such as marijuana to qualified patients. This
court ruling isn't about citizens' well being - it is about the
inappropriate use of the power of the federal government. The ruling,
which was pushed forward by the Bush administration, not only lacks
compassion for the sick but is also a clear encroachment upon states'
rights."
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the
federal government can continue to arrest and prosecute sick and
terminally ill Americans who use marijuana for medical purposes. The
decision supersedes state laws and the votes of citizens that allow the
medical use of marijuana.
While the people of ten states voted for the right
of sick and dying patients to use marijuana as a medical treatment, the
Supreme Court's ruling permits the federal government to ignore the
recorded decisions of an electorate.
The Wisconsin Libertarian and Green parties support
legislation such as the medical marijuana bill of the last session of
the Wisconsin Assembly that would allow qualifying patients to invoke a
"medical necessity defense" protecting them from the current
laws forbidding citizens to possess, grow, or purchase marijuana, or to
possess marijuana paraphernalia.
The Libertarian Party is a long-standing advocate
for individual liberty and believes that Americans should be responsible
for their own actions and, in this case, be able to use alternative
forms of medication outside of the realm of insurance companies and the
pharmaceutical lobby.
Wisconsin Greens stand firmly for civil liberties,
and advocate for a medical system in the United States that puts the
well being of citizens before the profits of pharmaceutical
corporations, and for an end to the senseless, expensive, and
ineffective U.S. War on Drugs. The Wisconsin Green Party is affiliated
with the Green Party of the United States, and stands on the four
pillars of Social & Economic Justice, Grassroots Democracy,
Nonviolence, and Ecological Wisdom.
The Wisconsin Green and Libertarian Parties have a
history of standing together on issues of civil liberties.
For more information
Wisconsin Green Party, visit http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org
The Green Party of the United States' website is http://www.gp.org
Wisconsin Libertarian Party, visit www.lpwi.org/
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