A small group of medicinal marijuana supporters marched from the Capitol steps Saturday to generate support for a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in Wisconsin.

The Madison Global Cannabis Freedom March ended at the Mifflin Street Block Party and was a part of a nationwide march sponsored by the National Organization of the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an organization trying to legalize medical cannabis in all 50 states.

The turnout for the rally was less than expected. Six individuals were present at the Capitol in order to support the legalization of medical cannabis. The activists began to disperse and then later regrouped and marched down State Street, joined along the way by an additional 20 marchers.

One of the protesters was Kevin Mika of Madison. He and the other protesters are trying to generate support for the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. John Erpenbach, D-Middleton, would legalize medical cannabis in the state of Wisconsin.

The bill would create a list of conditions for which doctors could prescribe medicinal marijuana. The list includes cancer, glaucoma, a positive HIV test, Crohn’s disease, Hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s disease, Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis, nail patella syndrome and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

The bill permits a caregiver to grow 12 marijuana plants and possess three ounces of marijuana for each patient. Each caregiver would be allowed five patients.

Mika believes the legalization of medical cannabis in Wisconsin would be an important medical advancement.

“Marijuana is a plant. Even religious people would have to agree that God puts plants on the earth for a reason. It is important to legalize cannabis because it is good for medical conditions,” Mika said.

Washington, D.C. and 16 states have already legalized medical cannabis, but the federal government still defines it as a drug. Individuals may obtain medical marijuana cards in states that have legalized medical cannabis. The cards provide legal protection for individuals to possess medical cannabis.

Madison citizen Jason Glaspie also said he was strongly in support of the legalization, or at the least the decriminalization of medical marijuana.

“Marijuana should not be classified in the same way as drugs such as crack,” Glaspie said.