It is time to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. As one who is recovering from several surgeries, and the accompanying pain that goes with them, marijuana should be available for pain relief under doctor's supervision.

For years, doctors were stingy with the amount of pain medication given in the hospital and later at home. That seems to be changing, in recent years, painkillers are much more liberally administered to those who need them. Good pain management is proven to speed up the healing process.

Although I am not a marijuana user, I've read reports that people with certain types of cancers and other types of debilitating diseases find pain and anti-nausea relief when smoking marijuana. If we could devise a low cost way to deliver it to appropriate patients through prescription from a doctor, and purchased from a legal outlet, like a pharmacy, I am all in favor of it. Users would have to obey the existing traffic laws and would not be able to resell it to family and friends.

Many of the current drugs we take come from plants. In this case, you would get the relief directly from the plant itself, rather than in pill or liquid form.

If you agree with this point of view, contact your Wisconsin legislator. They are currently discussing this issue.

Alan Gaudynski, president of Alan L. Gaudynski & Associates Inc. in Pewaukee, formerly was the vice president of corporate communications for Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin.