Earlier this week, I joined Senator Mary Felzkowski and Representative Pat Snyder to testify in front of the Senate Health Committee on our bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin.

Illness does not discriminate – it affects people from all walks of life, including mothers, sons, co-workers, neighbors, friends and loved ones. While there are often medications that doctors can prescribe to help combat diseases and ailments, many come with side effects that can make living a normal life much more difficult.

However, there is an alternative. Forty other states have passed laws allowing patients with certain medical conditions to access medical cannabis if their doctors recommend it. We are excited to help Wisconsin become the next state in that group.

Under our proposed legislation, healthcare professionals would be enabled to recommend and prescribe medical cannabis to treat a variety of different conditions. Medical providers would also be required to monitor a patient's side effects – just like they do with any other prescribed medication.

A majority of Wisconsinites have already expressed an interest in our state having the conversation of legalizing medicinal marijuana. In a recent poll, more than 85 percent of Wisconsin residents said they are in favor of medical cannabis. It is evident that we as a state need to begin having a real discussion about medical marijuana legalization, and it is our hope that this bill will be the first step.

This should not be a partisan issue. It’s well past time that Wisconsin provides its citizens with another option when it comes to their healthcare.