Gov. Jim Doyle supports legislation to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in Wisconsin.

Doyle spoke last Wednesday at Maine Elementary School in Wausau, Wis. After explaining his plan for Wisconsin education, he said he agrees with the Obama administration’s decision not to prosecute those in possession of medical marijuana in the 14 states where it has been legalized and believes that if a doctor prescribes it, a patient should be allowed to have it.

Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin say that in comparison to other legal substances, marijuana is relatively user-safe.

Bruce Mirken, director of communication for the largest marijuana policy reform group in the country, the Marijuana Policy Project, said medical marijuana is currently used primarily for symptom relief of illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.

“It is downright criminal that the (effect of using medical marijuana as treatment for certain illnesses) hasn’t been studied more in humans,” Mirken said. “There is tantalizing evidence that it may protect nerve cells from damage, slow the development of some illnesses … and may even have anti-cancer activity.”

The Marijuana Policy Project focuses on the states it feels have the best chance to pass legislation, Mirken said.

“We are the folks who got medical marijuana legislation passed in Michigan in 2008,” Mirken said.

In Wisconsin, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act is currently sponsored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison). However, both lack the co-sponsor necessary to bring the bill to the floor of either house. The Rickert Act is based off the legislation passed in Michigan, where two-thirds of Michigan voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana, according to the Marijuana Policy Project Web site.

Lee Sensenbrenner, spokesman for Doyle, said the governor used to be a prosecutor and understands the impracticality of prosecuting people for using a substance if it could be prescribed by their doctor.

“Of the states that have legalized marijuana, the governor thinks some have done a better job than others of closing loopholes (in medical marijuana reform),” Sensenbrenner said. “As far as legislation goes, those kinds of things would be up to the legislature and would have to be debated before they came to the governor’s desk.”

A local pro-marijuana lobbying group called Milwaukee Area NORML, which meets at the Brewing Ground for Change Café, 2008 N. Farwell Ave., is delighted by Doyle’s remarks, said Jeffrey Peterson, executive director of Milwaukee Area NORML.

“(Doyle) has indicated in the past his willingness to sign a bill if it ever reaches his desk,” Peterson said. “Legalization is our final goal. In my eyes, it’s a civil right.”

Milwaukee Area NORML is a chapter of a national organization called NORML that lobbies for legalizing marijuana in 40 states, including a Wisconsin chapter, a Madison chapter and now the Milwaukee chapter, which received its charter in August.

“We want to get out and educate the public about the truth about cannibus,” Peterson said. “And not just for medical purposes. The effect of marijuana is safer than alcohol in many ways.”